Hurricane R2680 Lea Marsh bombing range.
On 8th December 1942 Hurricane R2680 was being flown on the delivery flight from 32 Squadron to the newly formed 183 Squadron at Church Fenton. The aircraft was landed at Lea Marsh range, some miles south-west of Lindholme airfield during the flight but the aircraft ended up in a ditch. The location is quoted in the unit records as being at Lindholme airfield but the AM Form 1180 confirms that this was not the case. The 183 Squadron orb then lists R2680 as finally being delivered from 32 Squadron to 183 Squadron on 1st February 1943 presumably after repairs had been made.
Pilot - F/O Rhys William Evans RAF (122947).
P/O Evans was posted to 183 Squadron from 59 O.T.U. on 24th November 1942, he had received notification that he had been promoted to F/O on 1st October 1942 with a huge number of other airmen. He was killed on D-Day flying with 183 Squadron.
Hurricane R2680 was built to contract 962371/38 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at Kingston, Brooklands and was delivered to 5 MU at Kemble on 19th July 1940. It was initially taken on charge by 238 Squadron at Middle Wallop on 7th August 1940 and then moved to St.Eval with them seven days later. It crashed on landing on 3rd September 1940. On 9th September 1940 it was salvaged by 50 MU at Cowley within 43 Group and transported to Kidlington. Two days later it was assessed as being Cat.B damaged and a repair in works was needed. It was repaired by Airtraining (Oxford) Ltd. at Kidlington. On 13th October 1940 the repair was complete and it was flown to 46 MU at Lossiemouth. On 14th February 1941 it was taken on charge by 56 OTU at Sutton Bridge. On 25th June 1941 it was flown to De Havilland's SAS (Service Aircraft Section) but the factory is not known. On 31st October 1941 it was flown to 15 MU Wroughton for purgatory storage. It remained there until 11th March 1942 when it was flown to Helliwells Ltd. at Walsall airfield for repair. On 20th April 1942 it went to 27 MU at Shawbury for storage before being taken on charge by R.N.D.A. (Royal Navy Deposit Account). On 14th September 1942 it returned to RAFDA at 27 MU at Shawbury. On 8th November 1942 it was taken on charge by 32 Squadron at Baginton. On 25th November 1942 32 Squadron left service in North Africa but R2680 did not go with them. On 8th December 1942 it was being flown north to join 183 Squadron at Church Fenton when it was damaged at Lindholme. Cat.A(c)/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site by the C.R.O. The 183 Squadron ORB states it was finally flown to join 183 Squadron on 1st February 1943 although the Form AM78 states it was on 17th January 1943. On 2nd March 1943 it moved to Cranfield with the squadron, on 8th March 1943 it moved to Snailwell, on 12th March 1943 it moved back to Church Fenton and on 26th March 1943 it moved with the squadron to Colerne. On 4th April 1943 it was transferred to 55 OTU at Annan but then crashed on 19th April 1943 north of Dumfries sustaining Cat.E2/FA damage. It was struck off charge on 27th April 1943.