On 25th November 1942 the 316 Squadron ORB states that a slight improvement in weather conditions facilitated the execution of an extended flying programme on this day, the day's aerial activity included practice interception exercises, cine camera gun exercises, aerobatics and affiliation with bomber aircraft. It states that "during one of the exercises, the engine of a Spitfire cut out as the result of a technical failure and a reasonable amount of skill on the part of the pilot brought the machine down in a crash landing on ground adjacent to Willowby Would Farm, near Cayton in Yorkshire. The pilot is named in the ORB and was uninjured but the aircraft suffered some damage." The location of the incident is given in both the squadron records and the AM Form 1180 as "Willowby Wold Farm, Cayton" but there is no farm at Cayton with this name. There is Killerby Hall near Cayton and there is Willerby Wold Farm between Staxton and Foxholes. The latter is the probable location for the incident.
F/O Kowalski is listed in the 316 Squadron ORB as only flying once this day. He took off at 10.05hrs with two other aircraft to undertake a formation flying and dog fighting exercise. The other two aircraft landed at base at around 11.20hrs but his landing time in the squadron records is given as being 10.45hrs. The AM Form 1180 gives the same time and states the aircraft suffered engine failure.
Pilot - F/O Edward Josef Kowalski PAF (P/0235).
Edward Kowaslski was born on 21st July 1917 in Poland. Little is known about him prior to being posted "back" to 316 Squadron in June 1942 which implies he had flown with this unit earlier in the War. On 12th December 1942 he and another pilot of 316 Squadron had been sent to Portreath airfield to collect two Spitfires for use by 316 Squadron, they ferried the aircraft back to the area of Hutton Cranswick but whilst making an attempt to locate the aerodrome, F/O Kowalski apparently misjudged his height and in poor visibility the aircraft collided with one of the outbuildings of South Hall Farm, Hutton Cranswick. The Spitfire W3599 was completely wrecked and the pilot killed. He was buried on 15th December 1942 at Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire and was twenty five years old. This second indicent is detailed on this website.
Spitfire AA735 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh and was first test flown on 13th September 1941. The following day it was flown to 9 MU at Cosford and on 18th September 1941 it was taken on charge by 308 Squadron at Northolt. On 13th December 1941 it was transferred to 316 Squadron at Northolt and moved with them to Heston on 22nd April 1942 and to Hutton Cranswick on 30th July 1942. As a result of the forced landing on 25th November 1942 repairable Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was dismantled on site and transported to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick for a repair in works. On 23rd March 1943 with the repair complete it was taken on charge by 66 Squadron at Hornchurch. It later served with 234 Squadron at Skeabrae, 312 Squadron at Skeabrae, 317 Squadron at Northolt, 52 OTU at Aston Down and the Fighter Leaders School at Milfield. In April 1944 it was flown to Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at South Marston for a major servicing then on 3rd June 1944 it was flown to AST Ltd. at Hamble for modifications to the fuel system. On 9th December 1944 it was taken on charge by 61 OTU at Rednal but crashed on 18th April 1945 near Llangedwyn, Denbigh. On arrival for a repair in works it was re-assessed decalred Cat.E on 7th May 1945 and struck off charge.