Spitfire AD517 near Scalby.
In the early morning of 24th June 1942 a number of 308 Squadron Spitfires were scrambled from Hutton Cranswick airfield to intercept approaching enemy aircraft off Scarborough. This Spitfire suffered engine failure in the Scarborough area and the pilot force-landed it on its belly in a field near to Scalby Lodge, to the north of the Scarborough, at 06.35hrs. The flight had lasted twenty five minutes. The aircraft was damaged but the pilot survived. A guard was placed on the site until it was removed by road and taken for repair, following investigation it was found that a seizure of the engine barings had caused the engine to fail and the engine was replaced.
Pilot - Sgt Andrzej Jan de Nahlik PAF (P/792745).
At the time of this incident the pilot had a total of 354 flying hours to his name, with 61 hours being on the Spitfire type. He survived the War and would later write a book on his life "Flight for Freedom". He died in 2008 in Dorset, England.
Spitfire AD517 had a long service history. It was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Castle Bromwich and was delivered to 39 MU at Colerne on 31st October 1941. On 12th November 1941 it was taken on charge by 452 Squadron at Redhill and then moved to Kenley with them on 14th January 1942. On 22nd March 1942 it transferred to 457 Squadron at Redhill and then on 19th April 1942 it transferred to 308 Squadron at Exeter who moved to Hutton Cranswick on 7th May 1942. On 17th June 1942 it was allotted to 20 Squadron but was never taken up and it remained at 308 Squadron. As a result of the forced landing on 24th June 1942 near Scalby the damage was assessed as being repairable Cat.B/FA, it was dismantled and transported for a repair in works to Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at South Marston. The repair was complete by 12th October 1942 but was then moved across the airfield to Phillips & Powys Ltd. as it had been allocated for conversion to a Seafire MkIb under contract 2259. The aircraft was then given the new serial "NX884". The conversion was completed in February 1943 and a note on the card states that it was flown to AST Ltd. at Hamble for a fuel system modification. On 14th February 1943 it was flown to 33 MU at Lyneham where it was placed on the RNDA (Royal Naval Deposit Account). On 22nd April 1942 it was flown to RNAS Stretton for preparation for service then in May 1943 it was taken on charge by 897 Squadron FAA at St.Merryn. In June 1943 it was transferred to 748 Squadron FAA at St.Merryn but on 3rd October 1943 it sustained damage when it nosed over on rough ground at St.Merryn. Cat.S damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site and returned to unit within 48 hours. In December 1943 it was placed in MU storage but in April 1944 it was taken on charge by 759 Squadron FAA at Yeovilton. On 11th April 1944 it sustained Cat.X damage when a tyre burst and it swung off the runway at Yeovilton. It was then repaired on site and remained with 759 Squadron FAA. On 12th August 1944 it overturned / nosed over on soft ground at Yeovilton and was probably repaired on site there as remained on charge with 759 Squadron FAA until the end of the year. Nothing more of the aircraft is known after 1944.