Spitfire AB190 at Catterick airfield.
During the afternoon of 16th January 1942 this 145 Squadron aircraft was flown on a formation flying exercise and took off from Catterick airfield at 15.00hrs. At 15.45hrs the landing was attempted at Catterick in a slight crosswind. The landing was heavy and the aircraft ran over a bump which caused the aircraft to bounce. The port wing dropped and the undercarriage collapsed. This was the pilot's first crash in two days.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Dominic Forestell RCAF (R/75999).
Thomas Forestell trained at 61 OTU once in the UK. On 10th December 1941 he crashed Spitfire R6989 at Heston. He was posted to 611 Squadron on 23rd December 1941 and then to 145 Squadron on 6th January 1942. He crashed Spitfire AB190 at Catterick on 16th January 1942 and then Spitfire BL425 also at Catterick on 17th January 1942. He was then posted back to 611 Squadron on 19th January 1942 presumably as the commanding officer of 145 Squadron did not rate his flying abilities. He was then posted to 289 Squadron on 13th February 1942. He was then killed on 31st March 1942 when 289 Squadron Hurricane W9241 crashed into the sea off Inverness. He is buried at Inverness (Tomnahurich) Cemetery.