Walrus X9481 at Sherburn in Elmet airfield.
On 12th May 1942 this aircraft was being taxied at Sherburn in Elmet airfield and it struck Halifax R9389. The Walrus' propeller weathercocked in a strong wind while taxiing and owing to the brakes failing it then ran into the Halifax. Although a seaplane the Walrus had a retractable undercarriage and it was probably mid way in a ferry flight between the Storage Section of the RNAS (at Evanton) to an unknown airfield, possibly for evaluation work to be carried out. It was later repaired and passed to 700 Squadron based at Twatt.
Pilot - L/Hand Caldwell.
Walrus X9481 was built to contract B.43393/39 by Saunders Roe Ltd. at Cowes and was delivered to RNAS Evanton on 5th April 1942. It was later collected by a 7 F.P.P. pilot and flown to Sherburn in Elmet on 12th May 1942 and sustained Cat.X/GA as stated. It appears to have been repaired on site and on 13th July 1942 it was delivered to 700 Squadron at RNAS Twatt. The aircraft later moved with 700 Squadron to HMS Sheffield. On 24th September 1942 it sustained Cat.Z/FA damage following a mid-air collision with Walrus L2329 and the Walrus crashed in the Pentland Firth with the loss of three crew.