Spitfire X4247 near Cherry Burton.
On 9th July 1941 this 129 Squadron aircraft had just taken off from Leconfield when it suffered engine failure, the pilot attempted to force land near Cherry Burton when it stalled as he was trying to avoid trees. The aircraft sustained serious damage in the resulting crash but the pilot escaped with minor injuries.
Pilot - Sgt Edward Hugh Earle Welby RAFVR (778255), of Essex Vale, Southern Rhodesia. Minor injuries.
Edward Welby was born in August 1915, as a school-boy at Plumtree boarding school in Matabeleland he was a cadet and was a keen sportsman. On leaving school
he worked for a mining company before joining the RAF in July 1940. After this incident near Beverley he was later posted to 266 Squadron but was killed on 13th
June 1942 when Typhoon R7618 crashed close to Welney Wash. He is buried in Whittlesford Churchyard, Cambridgeshire and was twenty six years old. He was a direct
decendant of Sir William Earle Welby, 1st Bt. The photograph of his grave was found on Flickr and posted by "Beery".
Spitfire X4247 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston/Eastleigh and was delivered to 38 MU at Llandow on
21st August 1940. It was taken on charge by 152 Squadron at Warmwell on 28th August 1940 and was reported as Cat.R damaged just before 7th October 1940, the
repair required it to be taken away and repaired in works and on 7th October 1940 it was taken to AST Ltd. at Hamble. On 27th November 1940 it was flown to
37 MU at Burtonwood for storage when the repair was complete. On 22nd June 1941 it was taken on charge by 129 Squadron at Leconfield. As a result of the
incident on 9th July 1941 it was originally deemed Cat.B/FA damaged and transported to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick for assessment, the assessment
deemed it to be beyond economical repair and it was Re-Cat.E and struck off charge.