Spitfire R6917 at Scorton airfield.
At 12.00hrs on 10th March 1942 this 122 Squadron aircraft landed at Scorton airfield following a formation flying and cine gun training exercise but swung off the central line of the runway. The swing was not counteracted in time and it ran into soft snow banked at the edge of the runway, over-turned and the pilot sustained arm injuries.
Pilot - Sgt W Griffin RCAF (R/84340). Injured.
Spitfire R6917 had a long service history prior to this mishap at Scorton. It was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh as a Mk.1a variant and was first test flown on 11th July 1940 and flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton on the same day. Whilst at Brize Norton it had Mk.1b cannon wings fitted. On 14th July 1940 it was taken on charge by 19 Squadron at Duxford and a week later it moved to Fowlmere with the unit. On 3rd September 1940 it was transferred to 7 OTU at Hawarden and on 21st September 1940 it crashed on take off at Hawarden. It was initially deemed Cat.M damaged but was taken to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at the Melton Mowbray factory for a repair in works on 28th September 1940. On 12th December 1940 further work was clearly required as it was transported to 1 CRU at Cowley. On 4th March 1941 it was taken on charge by 9 MU at Cosford but was then placed in the hands of 1 CRU at Cowley in April 1941. On 11th April 1941 was converted to Mk.Vb status by the fitting of a Merlin 45 engine by Rolls Royce at Hucknall and with this complete by the end of the month it was flown to 9 MU at Cosford again. It was then taken on charge by 74 Squadron on 16th May 1941 at Gravesend. On 15th June 1941 it bounced on landing at Gravesend and the undercarriage collapsed, it was assessed on site four days later by 43 Group.D.A. Cat.A(c)/FA damage resulted in a repair on site. The repair was complete by 14th August 1941 and it was taken on charge by 609 Squadon at Gravesend who then moved to Biggin Hill with it on 24th September 1941. Four days later it was flown to AST Ltd. at Hamble where modifications were completed. On 14th October 1941 it was flown to 5 MU at Kemble and then taken on charge by 122 Squadron at Scorton on 26th November 1941. As a result of the crash there on 10th March 1942 Cat.E/FA damage was the initial assessment, but it was later re-assessed and Re-Cat.B/FA. Presumably it was then taken away to a repair facility but then during the repair it was re-assessed again on 27th March 1942 and Re-Cat.E/FA and struck off charge.