Hurricane V7258 at East Keswick.
On 4th March 1941 the pilot of this No.1 Squadron aircraft became lost and eventually made a belly landing in a field near Vicarage Farm, East Keswick. The aircraft was mid way through a delivery flight to join 59 Operational Training Unit at Crosby on Eden.
Pilot - Sgt Eric Ward RAFVR (944884).
Hurricane V7258 was built to contract 62305/39 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd, at the Langley factory and was initially flown to 15 MU at Wroughton on 27th July 1940. On 17th August 1940 it was taken on charge by 1 Squadron at Northolt. This unit then moved to Wittering on 9th September 1940, back to Northolt on 15th December 1940 and to Kenley on 5th January 1941. The aircraft was force landed at East Keswick on 4th March 1941. Cat.R/FA damage was the assessment made by No.43 Group D.A. and eventually, on 6th April 1941, it arrived at Rolls Royce at Hucknall for a repair in works where it was also converted to a Mk.IIa variant. It was then given a new serial number DG621. On 6th July 1941 it was flown to 20 MU at Aston Down. On 23rd July 1941 it was taken on charge by 59 O.T.U. at Crosby on Eden. On 11th February 1942 it was transferred to 79 Squadron at Baginton but on 21st February 1942 it sustained minor Cat.A/FA damage when it overshot on landing at Baginton. The aircraft was repaired on site. On 8th March 1942 it was transferred to 486 Squadron RNZAF at Kirton in Lindsey who then moved to Wittering on 9th April 1942. On 10th June 1942 minor unspecified Cat.A resulted and it was repaired on site. On 14th July 1942 Cat.B/FA resulted after a heavy landing at Wittering and the undercarriage collapsed. On 22nd July 1942 it was taken to Taylorcraft Ltd. at Rearsby for a repair in works. Once servicable on 23rd September 1942 it was flown to 20 MU at Aston Down. On 18th November 1942 it went to 82 MU at Lichfield (a packing depot) which must have been for a planned transfer overseas but this must have been switched because on 6th February 1943 it went to 48 MU at Hawarden. On 26th March 1943 it was taken on charge by 9 P.A.F.U. at Errol. On 8th October 1943 it went to 22 MU at Silloth and on 28th January 1944 it was taken on charge by No.4 T.E.U. / 55 O.T.U. at Annan. On 11th August 1944 an assessment of it was made and it was declared Cat.E. On 14th August 1944 it was taken to Morrisons Engineering Ltd. at Horsey Toll where it was stuck off charge.