On 22nd August 1942 this 403 Squadron aircraft took off from Catterick at 14.30hrs with the pilot briefed to carry out an aerobatics training flight. While flying at 2,000 feet at 15.10hrs the engine failed. As the pilot was over the general area of Leeming he was able to make a glide towards Leeming airfield where he made a wheels-up landing on the edge of the airfield but on rough ground. The aircraft was extensively damaged but was later repaired. The pilot received minor injuries.
Pilot - Sgt Colin Frank Sorensen RCAF (R/79197). Injured.
Spitfire P8784 had a long history, it was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Castle Bromwich and was delivered by air to 38 MU at Llandow on 6th July 1941. On 24th July 1941 it was taken on charge by 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill. On 31st August 1941 it was inspected by 43 Group D.A. and assessed as having Cat.A damage. A repair on site was made on 10th September 1941 by a team from C.R.O. and two days later it appears to have been transferred to 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. On 27th October 1941 it sustained Cat.A(c) damage and was again repaired on site. On 16th November 1941 it moved with the unit to Fairlop. On 17th November 1941 a repair was carried out at Fairlop by the C.R.O. and it was returned to the 603 Squadron on the same day. On 5th December 1941 it moved with the unit to Dyce and then to Peterhead on 14th March 1942. On 13th April 1942 603 Squadron left for the Middle East and aircraft remained at Peterhead. On 22nd April 1942 it was transferred to 332 Squadron at Catterick who moved to North Weald on 19th June 1942. On 16th July 1942 it was transferred to 403 Squadron at Catterick. It undertook the Dieppe flights in August 1942 from Manston and returned to once this was made. As a result of the crash at Leeming on 22nd August 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E/FA damage which generally meant it was then written off. In this case it was then re-assessed on 26th August 1942 and Re.Cat.E1 but on 15th November 1942 it was still hanging around at 60 M.U. and was Re.Cat.B. On 25th November 1942 it was taken to A.S.T.Ltd. at Hamble for repair. The repair was done by 5th February 1943 and it was awaiting collection. On 20th February 1943 it was flown to 39 MU at Colerne. On 4th March 1943 it was flown to Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at South Marston where the fuel system was modified, the wings stiffened and a Mk.III I.F.F. bomb carrier was fitted. On 28th April 1943 it was flown to Heston Aircraft Ltd. at Heston airfield where on 30th April 1943 a conversion to PR.XIII commenced. On 4th June 1943 it was flown to 39 MU at Colerne. While repairs and modifications were being carried out the aircraft had been transferred to the Royal Navy D.A. on 3rd March 1943. With the work complete it was taken on charge by 761 Squadron F.A.A. at Henstridge in October 1943. On 5th June 1944 it was transferred to 718 Squadron F.A.A. at Henstridge. On 23rd May 1945 it was flown to Eastleigh Royal Navy compound for storage and after this date nothing more of the aircraft is known.
Colin "Frank" Sorensen was born on 15th June 1922 at Hjorring, Denmark but emigrated to Canada with his family in 1939. He enlisted for RCAF service on 27th February 1941. By December 1942 his mother was in Canada while his father was working for Canadian Pacific in their Trafalgar Square office, London. He was later posted to 232 Squadron in North Africa but was shot down on 11th April 1943 and became a PoW. He was held at the PoW Camp Stalag Luft III and was involved in tunnel digging during the prepations for what became known as The Great Escape. In March 1944 he was awaiting his turn to go into the escape tunnel when the breakout was discovered. He died in Canada in 2010.
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