Mustang AG541 at Clifton airfield.
On 15th January 1943 this 4 Squadron Mustang was returning to Clifton airfield following a low flying training flight which also included an aerobatic part to the flight at a higher altitude. As the aircraft approached Clifton it suffered engine failure and at 14.35hrs undershot on approach to land at Clifton airfield, it touched down on land ajoining the airfield and then struck a lorry on the road next to Clifton airfield in the region of the Bumper Castle public house. The aircraft then crashed onto the airfield perimeter track and the pilot escaped injury. Sadly the lorry driver was killed, he was an employee of Messers George Greenwood and Son, of Bramham, Boston Spa.
Pilot - P/O George Hindmarsh RAF (126595).
Civilian lorry driver - Mr George Edward Marshall, aged 40, of 24 West Mount Street, Pellon Lane, Halifax, Yorkshire. Buried Christ Churchyard, Pellon, Halifax, Yorkshire.
Ms Heygate's research has found that he may have had a brother, one John Hindmarsh who was a famous motor racing driver of his day and he later became an RAF pilot and later a Hawker test pilot but was killed on 6th September 1938 near Weybridge while test flying a Hurricane. George Hindmarsh recorded an interview in which he stated that he lost a brother in a flying accident before his transfer to the RAF which would make this seem credible. I thank Ms Heygate for contacting me and adding this extra information on the pilot's career and his family.
Ms Sally-Anne Heygate's father served with 2 Squadron at the same time as P/O Hindmarsh later in the War, her research into his aircrew friends adds extra information on George Hindmarsh. He had initially served with the Royal Artillery in the early part of the War but transferred to the RAF and trained at Cranwell with 2 FTS. He was awarded a commission in the RAF as P/O (emergency) on 23rd July 1942. His first operational posting was to 4 Squadron but he later acted as an instructor at 41 OTU at Hawarden in November 1943 and was later posted to 2 Squadron. He survived the War. His service was actually very similar to this Mustang.
Mustang AG541 was built to British Purchasing Corporation contract A-250 by North American Aviation at Inglewood, Dallas, USA and was delivered by sea to Great Britain, arriving at Liverpool Docks in March 1942. From there it was transported by road to No.1 A.A.U. at Speke for assembly and testing. It was initially taken on charge by 4 Squadron at Clifton in June 1942 and as a result of the incident on 15th January 1943 Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment. This required a repair in works so it was taken to Air Training Service at Hamble for repair, after which it was then placed in MU storage. In April 1943 it was taken on charge by 2 Squadron at Sawbridgeworth who then moved to Gravesend on 16th July 1943 and Odiham on 10th August 1943. By the end of 1943 the aircraft was on charge with 41 O.T.U. at Hawarden and it was struck off charge on 27th September 1944.