Hurricane Mk.I V6796 at Acaster Malbis airfield.
This account is based around what I think happened because the AM Form 1180 does not give the full picture. It appears that during the morning of 31st May 1942 a pilot of No.15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit based at the unit's satellite airfield of Acaster Malbis took off from there without obtaining permission to fly it. The aircraft was on charge with 288 Squadron but it was at Acaster probably for part of the unit's role in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. He flew for thirty minutes but during the flight a oil leak resulted in his vision being obscured and the landing back at Acaster Malbis airfield at 11.30hrs was heavy. A tyre burst and the undercarriage eventually collapsed. 288 Squadron were based at Digby, Lincolnshire and formed as an anti-aircraft cooperation unit in November 1941 within No.12 Group, Fighter Command. No.15 (P)A.F.U. were not part of Fighter Command. It well have been that the 288 Squadron pilot who landed at Acaster Malbis and what would then be the pilot when it was damaged had had a chat on the ground and the 288 Squadron pilot had allowed his to take the Hurricane for a flight but without obtaining the proper consent for this from his superiors.
Pilot - F/O R U Williams (Probably F/O Richard Ulick Williams RAFVR (102158)).
F/Lt Richard Ulick Williams was killed on 26th September 1944 when 183 Squadron Typhoon MN130 was hit by flak and crashed off Dunkirk. He baled out but drowned, he is buried at Calais Canadian War Cemetery and was twenty two years old.
Hurricane V6796 was built to contract 85730/40/23a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at their Hucclecote factory and was flown to 19 MU at St.Athan on 22nd September 1940. It was then taken on charge by 151 Squadron on 26th September 1940, they were at Digby at the time and moved to Bramcote on 28th November 1940 and Wittering on 22nd December 1940. On 22nd March 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 255 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey who later moved to Hibaldstow on 15th May 1941. On 27th August 1941 the aircraft was transferred to No.12 Group A.A.C. Flight at Digby where, on 18th November 1941 this unit was re-designated as 288 Squadron. As a result of the damage sustained at Acaster Malbis on 31st May 1942 a Cat.B/FA damage assessment was made. On 7th June 1942 it went to Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for a repair in works. On 8th July 1942 it was returned to 288 Squadron at Digby. On 6th September 1942 it was transferred to 32 Squadron at West Malling. This unit moved to Honiley on 9th September 1942 and Baginton on 5th December 1942. On 5th December 1942 it was transferred to 55 OTU at Usworth. On 4th January 1943 it went to Field Aircraft Services Ltd. at Croydon for a repair in works. On 19th August 1943 it went to 5 MU at Kemble and on 1st October 1943 it went to 52 MU (Packing Depot) at Pengam Moors, Cardiff. On 29th October 1943 it embarked on the S.S. Havildar for India. No date is known when it arrived there but it then went to 304 MU aircraft erection unit, Santa Cruz, Bombay. After this nothing more of the history is known other than it was struck off charge on 30th June 1944.