Spitfire BL899 at Acaster Malbis airfield.
During the afternoon of 22nd March 1942 this 601 Squadron aircraft was flown with two others on a formation flying exercise and they took off from Acaster Malbis airfield at 17.10hrs. On conclusion of the exercise this aircraft landed at 17.45hrs, five minutes earlier than the other two, at Acaster Malbis airfield. When it was being taxied around the airfield it left the perimeter track and went onto the grass without anyone the tail to act as ballast. The wet state of the grass at this airfield was a problem. When this aircraft ran onto the grass, the wheels sank into the ground and having no weight on the tail, the aircraft tipped up onto it's nose.
Pilot - P/O Erik Lawson Hetherington RAFVR (102091).
Erik Hetherington served in Battle of Britain with 601 Squadron. He flew with various squadrons both in the UK and Malta. At the end of his tour with 249 Squadron he was on the way back to the UK in 511 Squadron Liberator AL516 on 31st October 1942 when it crashed into the sea off Gibraltar and drowned. He is commemorated on the Gibraltar Memorial.