Hurricane W9240 near Swinefleet, Goole.
On 11th January 1942 at least two No.56 Operational Training Unit aircraft were flown on a formation flying exercise. No.56 O.T.U. was based at Sutton Bridge, in South Lincolnshire. The flight appears to have taken the pilots some distance north and the formation flew into poor weather. The formation leader (in L2070) should have turned the flight around but he failed to do this and they ended up lost in what must have been a large area of poor weather and visibility. Their radio communications equipment did not function correctly and eventually the fuel levels began to run low. At around 12.10hrs both Hurricane L2070 and Hurricane W9240 made forced belly landings near Park Farm, near Whitgift, not far from Swinefleet. L2070 appears to have made a belly landing and received associated damage because of this. W9240 struck a wing on the ground and tipped on to it's nose though both were deemed repairable.
W9240 Pilot - P/O William Thomas Hicks Gill RCAF (J/7766).
William Hicks was later posted to 73 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd February 1943, for service in the Middle East.
Hurricane W9240 was built to contract 85730/40 by The Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at Hucclecote and was awaititng collection in January 1941. It was initially taken on charge by 245 Squadron at Aldergrove before moving with the unit to Ballyhalbert on 14th July 1941. In July 1941 245 Squadron converted to Mk.IIB's and the aircraft was transferred to No.52 O.T.U. at Aston Down. By January 1942 it was on charge with 56 OTU at Sutton Bridge. On 11th January 1942 Cat.B/FA was the assessment for damage sustained near Swinefleet. It passed to No.59 O.T.U. at Crosby on Eden on 4th July 1942 before moving with the unit to Millfield on 10th August 1942. On 17th May 1943 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was assessment after the engine cut on approach to a practice forced landing and it crashed and overturned at Haggerston, Berwick. It was then struck off charge.