Hurricane V7604 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 16th March 1941 this 46 Squadron aircraft swung on landing at Church Fenton airfield and minor damage resulted, probably to the undercarriage.
Pilot - P/O Robert James Curtis RAFVR (89395).
On 6th February 1941 P/O Curtis was involved in an incident involving Hurricane L2101 whilst serving with 55 OTU at Aston Down. On 21st April 1941 he was flying 46 Squadron Hurricane Z4035 which was involved in a mid-air collision with W9148, he crash landed at Wittering and sustained minor injuries. On 4th December 1942 F/O Curtis serving with 81 Squadron was reported missing in action when Spitfire EP840 failed to return from an operational flight over Tunisia. He is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.
Hurricane V7604 was built to contract 62305/39 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at the Langley factory and was flown to 15 MU at Wroughton on 20th October 1940. It was then taken on charge by 46 Squadron on 1st November 1940. They were based at Stapleford Tawney at that time but moved to North Weald on 8th November 1940. On 5th December 1940 the pilot became lost and made a forced landing on a dummy airfield at Bulphan, Essex but appears to have escaped damage. On 14th December 1940 the aircraft moved to Digby with 46 Squadron. The squadron then moved to Church Fenton on 28th February 1941 and Sherburn in Elmet on 1st March 1941. On 16th March 1941 Cat.M/FA damage resulted at Church Fenton airfield and it was repaired on site. On 15th May 1941 it was transferred to 121 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey. On 15th June 1941 the aircraft suffered a burst glycol tank that caused the then pilot major problems. He baled out and landed unhurt. The aircraft crashed near Old Leake, near Congingsby, Lincolnshire. Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge having clocked up 156 flying hours from new.