Mustang AG445 at Hutton Cranswick airfield.
Mustang AG445 had been on charge with No.2 Squadron, this unit was based at Sawbridgeworth and appears to have about to have been ferried to join No.41 Operational Training Unit at Hawarden. It had probably landed at Hutton Cranswick during this ferry flight although the choice of route via Yorkshire seems a strange one to take. 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.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Mustang AG445 was built to contract British Purchasing Corporation A-250 by North American Aviation and was shipped to the UK, arriving in January 1942. In April 1942, after assembly and testing it was taken on charge by 16 Squadron at Weston Zoyland. In October 1942 it was transferred to 169 Squadron at Weston Zoyland and in early 1943 it was transferred to 2 Squadron at Sawbridgeworth but the transfer dates are not known. On 28th June 1943 it was probably being ferried to join 41 OTU when it landed at Hutton Cranwick and was then damage there. Cat.A/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On completion of the repair it was flown to 41 OTU at Hawarden. It later went into an MU store and was struck off charge on 27th September 1944.