Swordfish DK717 at Sherburn in Elmet airfield.
This Swordfish had been sat for some time at Sherburn in Elmet waiting for collection prior to the damage on 16th February 1942. On this date the aircraft was taken up into the air to check the aircraft but on landing at Sherburn in Elmet airfield at 17.45hrs it ran through a frozen puddle and ice and this damaged the fabric on the underside of the fuselage and tail plane. The damage must only have been minor but it does not seem to have been ever repaired.
Pilot - Second Officer Vincent Chigi ATA (M.669).
Vincent Chigi was born on 25th January 1915 probably in New Jersey, USA. After he had served in the Ferry Command of the RAF he joined the US Navy Reserve serving as a pilot in India-Burma with the Army Air Force 1943-1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Someone with the same name died 10th April 1996 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, USA who is probably the same person.
Swordfish DK717 was built to contract B.31192/39 by The Blackburn Aircraft Co.Ltd. at Sherburn in Elmet and was awaiting collection on 15th February 1942. The following day it was collected by a 6 Ferry Pilot Pool pilot who was based at Ratcliffe and as a result of the mishap on landing after the pilot had checked the aircraft the damage was assessed and minor Cat.A/FA damage was recorded. It doesn't appear to have ever been issued to the Fleet Air Arm so was probably broken up at Sherburn and used in production of other Swordfish aircraft.