Beaufighter EL401 at Catfoss airfield.
At 16.15hrs on 3rd December 1942 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit was damaged when both undercarriage legs collapsed. It was stated in the unit record book that it was suspected that the aircraft's hydraulics had failed. The aircraft appears to have been parked at the time.
Crew - Probably empty.
Beaufighter EL401 was built to contract B.65570/40 by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. at Old Mixon and awaiting collection in September 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 2 (c)O.T.U. at Catfoss as new but the date it arrived is not yet known. As a result of the incident on 3rd December 1942 Cat.A(c) damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site with it being returned to 2 (C)O.T.U.. On 23rd June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from a training flight that took the aircraft over the North Sea. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork.