Spitfire AB849 at Hutton Cranswick airfield.
At 14.00hrs on 28th June 1943 315 Squadron Spitfire AB849 was being taxied around Hutton Cranswick airfield in a crosswind when the brakes failed. The pilot could not prevent the aircraft was colliding with parked Mustang AG445. Both aircraft received minor damage. The brakes failed because the brake cable had pulled through a securing nipple. The AM Form 1180 for the Spitfire states that the airman in the Mustang could have prevented the incident, so it was clearly occupied and sat with the engine running whilst parked. Mustang AG445 was on charge with No.2 Squadron, this unit was based at Sawbridgeworth and why it was at Hutton Cranswick is not known.
Pilot - F/O Ryszard Dubielecki PAF (P/1715).
Spitfire AB849 was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Castle Bromwich and was initially flown to 33 MU at Lyneham on 27th July 1941. On 9th August 1941 it was taken on charge by 602 Squadron at Kenley. 602 Squadron moved to Redhill on 14th January 1942 and back to Kenley on 4th March 1942. On 4th May 1942 it was transferred to 340 Squadron who were at Westhampnett on this date. It then moved with 340 Squadron to Ipswich on 20th July 1942, Westhampnett on 26th July 1942, Hornchurch on 28th July 1942 and Biggin Hill on 23rd September 1942. On 20th November 1942 it was transferred to 41 Squadron at Llanbedr. On 15th March 1943 it was allotted to 316 Squadron at Northolt but the transfer does not appear to have taken place because on 16th March 1943 it was taken on charge by 306 Squadron at Hutton Cranswick. On 31st March 1943 it was damaged there which saw an initial Cat.B/FA damage assessment but this was later downgraded to Re-Cat.Ac. It was repaired on site at Hutton Cranswick and once servicable it appears to have then been taken on charge by 315 Squadron on 1st June 1943 also at Hutton Cranswick. As a result of another mishap there on 28th June 1943 Cat.A/FA damage was the initial damage assessment. This assessment was later upgraded to Re.Cat.B and it was sent to AST Ltd. at Hamble for a repair in works. Once servicable on 6th September 1943 it was taken on charge by 610 Squadron at Bolt Head. On 16th December 1943 it was transferred to 316 Squadron at Acklington. On 27th April 1944 it was transferred to 130 Squadron at Lympne. It remained with this unit moving around Holland in advance of the German withdrawl in 1944 and 1945. On 27th August 1945 it was transferred to 287 Squadron at Bradwell Bay and after this nothing more is known of the aircraft.