Spitfire X4336 at Catterick airfield.
On 19th July 1941 this 131 Squadron aircraft overshot on landing and was deliberately swung to avoid running into a dispersal pen and hitting other aircraft, this aircraft's
undercarriage then collapsed and it was slightly damaged but was later repaired.
Pilot - Sgt David Alexander Edward Bremner RCAF (R/71701), of Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada.
David Bremner was born in Orillia on 26th December 1919 to David Edward and Louise (nee Corneliussen) Bremner, later of Tillsonburg, Ontario. His father
was born in the UK in 1890. Sgt Bremner died of injuries as a result of a flying accident on 23rd October 1941 while still serving with 131 Squadron. He is
buried at Atcham Churchyard, Shropshire and was aged twenty one years old. His brother F/Lt Frank Bremner RCAF (J/16540) died on 26th June 1944 while
serving with 73 Squadron and is buried in Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia.
Spitfire X4336 had a long service history, it was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh and was first test
flown on 2nd September 1940, the following day it was flown to 24 MU at Ternhill. On 13th September 1940 it was taken on charge by 19 Squadron at Fowlmere, on
25th September 1940 it suffered damage in mishap with Cat.R/FA damage recorded but how this came about is not known. The next day it was dismantled by 54 MU
of Cambridge (Repair & Salvage) and transported to General Aircraft Ltd. at Hanworth for repair, arriving there on 4th October 1940. On 21st November 1940 it
was flown to 24 MU at Ternhill and on 19th December 1940 it was taken on charge by 610 Squadron at Westhampnett, on 4th January 1941 it was transferred to
602 Squadron at Prestwick and on 15th April 1941 it moved with this unit to Ayr. On 20th April 1941 ist then pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage on
landing at Ayr and Cat.M(u)/FA was assessment, it was repaired on site. In the paperwork it was scheduled for transfer to 61 OTU at Heston on 20th April 1941
but this move appears unlikely to have taken place as it was being repaired on the same date. On 17th July 1941 it was taken on charge by 131 Squadron based
at Catterick and two days later sustained this Cat.R(b)/FA damage at Catterick. It was then repaired on site and used by 131 Squadron until 3rd September
1941 when it was transferred to 59 OTU at Crosby on Eden (which seems a strange move as this was a Hurricane unit and therefore could be an error in the
paperwork). On 31st December 1941 it was transferred to 58 OTU at Grangemouth, on 17th March 1942 it sustained Cat.B/FA damage when it's engine cut due to
fuel shortage and its then pilot belly landed in a field near Avonbridge, Grangemouth. On 24th March 1942 it was delivered by road to Scottish Aviation Ltd.
at Prestwick for repair. On 18th July 1942 it was flown into storage at 45 MU Kinloss although on 7th September 1942 it was transferred to the RNDA, on 10th
September 1942 it was flown to RNAS Yeovilton. On 6th October 1942 it was on charge with 58 OTU at Grangemouth but was being operated for RN training purposes
at Yeovilton. It later served with 759 Squadron FAA at Yeovilton and on 29th January 1943 it sustained Cat.X/FA damage when the undercarriage collapsed on
landing at Yeovilton. It was again repaired on site and in February 1943 it was taken on charge by 762 Squadron FAA at Yeovilton. On 14th March 1943 minor
Cat.S/FA damage was recorded when the propeller clipped the ground whilst turning on
rough ground at Yeovilton. It was again repaired on site and in May 1943 it was in the care of 761 Squadron FAA at Henstridge. Nothing more is known of the
aircraft after September 1943.