During the afternoon of 20th December 1942 403 Squadron Spitfire BM594 was flown from Thornaby airfield to Catterick airfield in a flight that may have been less than direct as it took fifty minutes. The visbility at Catterick was poor when the aircraft arrived in the landing circuit. Flying control at Catterick were about to divert the aircraft to another airfield when the Spitfire landed across the corner of the airfield and then overshot into an area of muddy ground. The undercarriage either received damage or collapsed. The squadron records are even less than clear, they state that an aircraft "cracked up after landing, plane washed out and pilot was unhurt".
Pilot - F/O Roman Wozniak RCAF (36817).
Spitfire BM594 was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Castle Bromwich and was delivered to 39 MU at Colerne on 24th April 1942. It was taken on charge by 403 Squadron on 3rd June 1942 at Martlesham Heath and moved with them to Catterick on 19th June 1942. It flew down with 403 Squadron to Manston on 1st July 1942 and returned to Catterick a week later. It was again flown south to Manston, via North Weald on 16th August 1942 and back to Catterick on 20th August 1942. It was used on the Dieppe raid on 19th August 1942 flying all four operational sorties with the squadron. On 2nd October 1942 it moved to Kenley with the squadron and returned to Catterick eight days later. As a result of this mishap on 20th December 1942 minor Cat.A(c)/FA was the initial assessment but it was given another assessment and Re.Cat.B and was transported to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick for repair. On 19th April 1943 it was taken on charge by 308 Squadron at Northolt who, on 29th April 1943, moved to Church Fenton. On 21st June 1943 it is listed as having sustained unspecified Cat.A(c) damage that required repair. Nothing is listed in the squadron records that could relate to any accident but on 16th June 1943 all of 308 Squadron aircraft were to be flown to Cranfield to have new engines fitted and the minor damage may have been picked up at Cranfield while they were carrying out the engine change. On an unknown date it was flown to De Havilland at Hatfield for further work. On 14th November 1943 it was taken on charge by 611 Squadron at Coltishall. On 24th November 1943 it was transferred to 1696 (B)D.F.T. Flight at Gransden Lodge and moved to Bourne with them on 28th October 1944. This unit disbanded on 28th September 1945 so the aircraft was placed in long term MU storage. On an unknown date it was flown to Reid & Sigrist Ltd. at Leicester for preparation for sale abroad and was then sold to Portugal on 29th April 1947.
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