Battle L5416 at Driffield airfield.
At Driffield airfield on 27th March 1942 this 1484 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight aircraft collided with a tender with the starboard wing tip causing slight damage.
Pilot - Sgt John Junker.
Battle L5416 was built to contract 540408/36 by the Austin Motor Co. Ltd. at Longbridge and was delivered to 6 MU at Brize Norton on 19th November 1939. On 12th January 1940 it was taken on charge by the Station Flight at Linton on Ouse but the following month it was transferred to 4 Group Target Towing Flight at Driffield. On 1st March 1940 it sustained minor Cat.M/FA damage when the undercarriage collapsed whilst taxying at Linton on Ouse. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. What happened to No.4 Group Target Towing Flight in September I do not fully understand. It appears to have been disbanded and then reformed on 1st October 1941. Their record book stated that Battle L5416 was inspected at Cottam on 19th October 1941 but was not serviceable, it was made servicable and then flown from Cottam to Driffield on 28th October 1941 and joined what was then 4 Group TTF. On 14th November 1941 No.4 Group Target Towing Flight was re-designated 1484 Target Towing Flight. As a result of the mishap on 27th March 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage resulted and it was again repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 2nd May 1942 the starboard uundercarriage leg failed to lock down prior to landing at Driffield, the pilot landed on one wheel sustaining damage to starboard wing when the aircraft eventually settled onto the starboard leg. It was again repaired on site and on completion of repair it was transferred to 24 O.T.U. at Honeybourne. On 12th October 1942 it went to 27 MU at Shawbury and was then struck off charge on 30th June 1943.