Hurricane Mk.IIc BN235 at Clifton airfield.
On 14th July 1942 a ground accident occurred at Clifton airfield and a member of No.60 M.U. was injured. The aircraft was on the books of 43 Squadron based at Acklington and had been slightly damaged at Clifton on 31st May 1942. It was process of being repaired by 60 M.U. at the time of this incident and was having its engine run up on the ground during the final inspection with a fitter was at the controls. One member of the repair team was lying on the port wing. The aircraft's tail slowly rose and this was un-noticed by the fitters, the tail continued to rise until it reached balancing point then it tipped onto its nose. The fitter on the wing was flung sideways and fell to the ground sustaining minor injuries.
Fitter - AC1 Robert Dall Bousie RAFVR (985094). Injured.
Fitter (Pilot) - LAC Raymond Butler Ross RAF (577841).
Hurricane BN235 was built to contract 110768/40 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at the Brooklands factory and was delivered to 44 MU at Edzell on 24th December 1941. It was initially taken on charge by 256 Squadron at Squires Gate on 5th January 1942 but was then transferred to 43 Squadron at Acklington on 28th January 1942. It sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage as a result of the mishap at Clifton on 31st May 1942 and was repaired on site. On 14th July 1942 a ground accident occurred at Clifton while it was in the care of 60 M.U. when Ac R D Bousie sustained injuries during a run of the engine on the ground. Another Cat.Ac/FA damage assessment was made and it was again repaired on site at Clifton. Once servicable on 4th September 1942 it was transferred to 532 Squadron at Wittering. It then moved with them to Hibaldstow on 11th September 1942. On 22nd November 1942 it collided with Spitfire AD192 whilst taxying at Hibaldstow. Cat.Ac/FA damage was again the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 17th January 1943 it was being flown by 532 Squadron near Louth when it collided in the air with Hurricane Z3893 over Yarburgh, the pilot was sble to land safely but another Cat.Ac/FA damage assessment was made. It was probably repaired on site but on 31st March 1943 it was sent for a major inspection to Morrison's Engineering Ltd. at Horsey Toll. On 14th March 1943 it went to 10 MU at Hullavington and on 19th June 1943 it went to 82 MU (Packing Depot) at Lichfield. On 17th July 1943 it embarked on the S.S.Iceland for India and once there on 30th November 1943 it was taken on charge by SEAAC at Kandy, Ceylon. After this date nothing further of the history is known apart from a struck off charge date of 31st August 1944.