Spitfire W3626 at Clifton airfield.
The precise reason for this aircraft being in the York area can probably be speculated upon. The aircraft and pilot were on charge with 501 Squadron, based at Ibsley, Hampshire. The pilot's mother and also his wife lived in York and he was almost certainly granted permission to fly from his home airfield of Ibsley to Clifton airfield at York on 1st December 1941 because he had family there. The aircraft took off from Ibsley at 14.50hrs and headed north. The take off time appears somewhat later given the time of year. By the time it reached the York area there was bad visibility and he was probably pre-occupied with this when he landed at Clifton airfield at 16.15hrs but he landed without the undercarriage legs fully locked down. Damage to the aircraft resulted.
Pilot - Sgt Richard Challenor Lynch RAFVR (1058088).
Richard Lynch was the son of Cyril Aubrey and Frances Louise (nee Webster) Lynch and was born in Barbados in 2021 but he must have moved to York as a boy as he attended St.Peters School and loved with his mother in Clifton. He later married to Patricia Farrar whose parents lived in Heworth, York. Sadly he was killed on 17th September 1942 while flying Spitfire EP871 of 501 Squadron when he was shot down by a Fw190 whilst on a convoy patrol. He unfortunately baled out too low and died on hitting the ground in Dorset. He is buried at Fulford Cemetery, York.
Spitfire W3626 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Ltd. at Southampton and was flown to 39 MU at Colerne on 10th August 1941. It was taken on charge by 41 Squadron on 14th August 1941 at Merston. On 7th October 1941 it was transferred to 501 Squadron at Ibsley and on 18th October 1941 it sustained unspecified Cat.M damage that was repaired on site. On 1st December 1941 it crashed at Clifton airfield and the damage was assessed as being Cat.R/FA that saw it repaired on site. On 29th January 1942 and on completion of the repair it was transferred to 145 Squadron at Catterick. On 10th February 1942 it was transferred to 350 Squadron at Valley. On 17th February 1942 it was involved in a ground collision with Spitfire W3525 when landing at Atcham airfield. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. 350 Squadron officially moved to Atcham on 19th February 1942 and they then moved to Warmwell on 5th April 1942 and then Debden on 15th April 1942. On 1st June 1942 it failed to return from an escort mission to Bruges and was believed shot down by Fw190's. Its then pilot was killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge.