Spitfire X4475 near Addingham, Ilkley.

On 16th April 1941 the pilot of this 57 OTU aircraft was on a training flight when he became lost in cloud. Probably running low on fuel he opted to bale out and the aircraft then crashed by the side of a railway line near Addingham, a few miles to the west of Ilkley. Details of this incident are vague at the moment and no AM Form 1180 has been traced to add further details. I thank the two Addingham residents for contacting me and for supplying the correct location. The crash location is often referred to as being on Ilkley Moor with "Tockstones" being widely suggested although no such location on Ilkley Moor exists. Research done by local historian Mr Andy Scull confirmed the location by the railway in Addingham some years ago. The crash site is believed to be very close to the newer A65 road built in the 1960s.

Pilot - Name unknown.

Spitfire X4475 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was first test flown on 16th September 1940. It was then flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton on 18th September 1940 and two days later was taken on charge by 19 Squadron at Fowlmere (but at this time 19 Squadron were converting to Spitfire MkII's so the aircraft saw no service with them.) On 5th October 1940 it was transferred to 7 OTU at Hawarden and on 1st November 1940 this unit was re-designated 57 OTU. It sustained the mishap on 16th April 1941 and Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on 25th April 1941.

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