Hurricane V7304 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 15th June 1941 this 255 Squadron aircraft suffered an electrical failure in the air, during a downwind landing at Church Fenton airfield the aircraft overshot and received minor damage.
This squadron flew Defiants from Hibaldstow at the time. Why it was at Church Fenton is not known.
Pilot - Sgt J C Cox.
It is possible that the pilot was John Christopher Cox (84989). If so then he was killed in a flying accident on 5th March 1943 flying Tiger Moth T7515 which crashed near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. He is buried Bulawayo (Athlone) Cemetery.
Hurricane V7304 was built to contract 85730/40/32a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at the Hucclecote factory and was flown to 48 MU at Hawarden on 1st August 1940. On 17th August 1940 it was taken on charge by 310 Squadron at Duxford. On 22nd March 1941 it was transferred to 255 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey and this unit went to Hibaldstow on 15th May 1941. On 15th June 1941 it was damaged at Church Fenton which saw a Cat.M/FA damage assessment, after which a repair on site was made. In July 1941 it was transferred to 12 Group AAC Flight at Digby. On 18th November 1941 this unit was redesignated 288 Squadron at Digby. On 19th March 1942 Cat.A/FA resulted following a flying accident at Leconfield. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 5th December 1942 288 Squadron moved to Wellingore and then on 18th January 1943 the squadron moved to Digby. On 23rd June 1943 a belly landing was made at Digby. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but it was upgraded to Re.Cat.B on 2nd July 1943 and was then sent for a repair in works somewhere. On 23rd August 1943 it was flown to 22 MU at Silloth. On 15th November 1943 it went to 52 MU at Pengam Moor, Cardiff (a packing depot). On 12th December 1943 it embarked on S.S.Singkep for India and having arrived at Bombay it was later taken on charge by 151 O.T.U. at Risalpur. After this no details are known and until it was struck off charge in December 1944.