Spitfire AR438 at Catterick airfield.
At 15.00hrs on 5th August 1942 this 403 Squadron aircraft was in the process of taking off from Catterick airfield to begin a training flight and the aircraft left the ground but the pilot then raised the undercarriage lever too soon. The aircraft sank toward the ground and the propeller hit the runway. Very minor damage to the aircraft resulted.
Pilot - F/Sgt Fred George Turner RCAF (R/64429).
This pilot was also involved in two flying accidents in 1941 and then with three other flying accidents in 1942. On 17th April 1942 he crashed 19 Squadron Spitfire BL573 at Hutton Cranswick. On 19th December 1942 he crashed 91 Squadron Spitfire AB276 at Lympne and on 26th December 1942 he crashed 91 Squadron Spitfire W3606 also at Lympne.