On 25th June 1942 this 403 Squadron aircraft was in the process of taking off from Catterick airfield when the tail was allowed to lift into the air too early, the aircraft briefly tipped onto its nose and the propeller blade tips were bent. The 403 Squadron records list the aircraft as being "736" and this appears to have been AA736 which was on charge with them at the time. AA736 was quickly repaired but crashed in August 1942 just prior to being used on the Dieppe operations.
Pilot - Sgt Corran Perry Ashworth RNZAF (NZ.413367).
Corran Ashworth's life is detailed on the website "www.corranashworth.info". He had arrived at 403 Squadron in early June 1942 and only flew a handful of times with them before being posted to 253 Squadron on 26th June 1942. He flew in the Dieppe operations and later with them in North Africa. Before posting back to the UK he served with 14 Squadron. He instructed at 55 OTU and then served at 83 GSU before posting to 65 Squadron. He was killed on 3rd August 1944 flying Mustang FB208 which failed to return from an operational flight over France. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Spitfire AA736 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 was then taken on charge by 306 Squadron on 20th September 1941 at Northolt. On 6th January 1941 it was transferred to 303 Squadron at Northolt and sustained minor damage on 26th January 1942, assessed as being Cat.B/FA damage that required a repair in works. The repair was carried out by General Aircraft Ltd. at Hanworth and with this complete it was taken on charge by 403 Squadron on 2nd June 1942 at Southend. The squadron moved to Martlesham Heath on 3rd June 1942 and to Catterick on 19th June 1942. As a result of the damage sustained there on 25th June 1942 Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site quickly. It flew with the squadron to Manston on 1st July 1941 and returned with them to Catterick on 8th July 1942. It also was to have been used on the Dieppe riad in August 1942 and on 16th August 1942 was flown to Manston with the squadron but overshot on landing and crashed into a blister hangar at Manston. Cat.B/FA damage was the initial assessment and it was dismantled and transported by road to AST Ltd. at Hamble but was then re-assessed and Re.Cat.E. It was struck off charge on 14th September 1942.
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