Spitfire X4242 at Catterick airfield.
On 12th January 1941 this 54 squadron aircraft was being taxied at Catterick when one of the wheels sunk into soft ground and the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - P/O Christopher Colebrook RAFVR (86344).
Christopher Colebrook was almost certainly born in Darlington, Durham in 1919. He joined the RAFVR around July 1939 as a trainee pilot, he was called
up in September 1939 and after completing his training he was posted to 54 Squadron in October 1939. He received his commission on 21st September 1940,
with seniority back dated to 14th September 1940. P/O Colebrook was reported as missing on 20th April 1941 flying a 54 Squadron Spitfire which was shot
down during a patrol off Clacton, Essex. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Spitfire X4242 had an exceedingly long service history, it was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston
and first test flown on 18th August 1940, two days later it was delivered to 37 MU at Burtonwood with the Battle of Britain in full swing. On 3rd
September 1940 it was taken on charge by 54 Squadron at Catterick where it remained for some months in use by them. On 12th January 1941 it sustained
very minor damage as a result of the accident detailed above and after inspection Cat.A/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft repaired on site and
returned to the unit. On 22nd February 1941 it transferred to 41 Squadron at Catterick who moved in to Catterick from Hornchurch on that date, swapping
aircraft with 54 Squadron who transferred to Hornchurch on that date. On 19th April 1941 X4242 transferred to 452 Squadron RAAF at Kirton in Lindsey,
on 21st May 1941 it transferred to 313 Squadron at Catterick but on 16th August 1941 it transferred to 61 OTU at Heston. On 12th September 1941 the
aircraft sustained Cat.R(b)/FA when it's then pilot made a heavy landing at Heston and the undercarriage collapsed. On 1st October 1941 repair on site
was commenced by a team from Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, the repair was completed by 25th October 1941 and it was returned to 61 OTU. On 15th December 1941
it sustained Cat.A/FA damage when it landed at Heston with undercarriage partly lowered which then collapsed on touch down, the then pilot was not injured.
On 20th December 1941 it was dismantled and transported to General Aircraft Ltd. at Hanworth for repair but in the process of repair it was converted to a
PR.III variant. It is recorded as being ready for collection on 6th March 1942 and two days later it was delivered to 6 MU at Brize Norton. On 14th March
1942 it was delivered to RAF Halton but immediately returned to 6 MU at Brize Norton. On 26th March 1942 it was delivered for the personal use of The
Commanding General of Staff, AOC Benson. On 6th May 1942 Cat.A/FA damage was recorded when the undercarriage failed to lock down and it then again collapsed
on landing at Benson, the aircraft was again repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 27th May 1942 it again sustained Cat.A/FA when it ballooned on
landing at Benson and the port wing hit the ground. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 2nd August 1942 it transferred to 12 MU at
Kirkbride. On 20th October 1942 it was sent to 3 PATP at Newhouse, Motherwell for packing and on 8th November 1942 it was shipped on S.S. Peter Maersk
for Port Sudan and left as part of Convoy ON-149 which departed Liverpool for New York on 26th November 1942. Once out into the Atlantic the Peter Maersk
and a number of other ships left the convoy and set course for their individual ports sailing independently however on 7th December 1942 the ship
torpedoed and sunk by U-185 West of The Azores with the ship with the loss of all on board. This was also an inglorious end to a well used aircraft
in and after the Battle of Britain.