Mustang AG546 near Upper Poppleton, York.
On 20th March 1943 this 4 Squadron aircraft left Clifton to ferry the aircraft to the squadron's new airfield of Bottisham, soon after taking off the engine failed. The pilot was attempting to crash land near Upper Poppleton but struck trees while doing so and the aircraft was badly damaged when it then hit the ground. The pilot escaped injury and made the journey to Bottisham within the next day and he is listed in their record book as flying with the unit later in the month.
Pilot - F/O H White.
Mustang AG546 was built to B.P.C. contract A-250 by North American Aviation at Inglewood, Dallas, USA and was shipped to the UK arriving at Liverpool in March 1942. From the docks it was taken by road to No.1 A.S.U. at Speke for assembly and testing. The date it was taken on charge by 4 Squadron at Clifton is not known. 4 Squadron moved to Barford St.John on 1st March 1943, Cranfield on 5th March 1943, Duxford on 8th March 1943. The moved were part of Exercise Spartan. The 4 Squadron contingent moved back to Clifton on 12th March 1943. As a result of the crash at Upper Poppleton on 20th March 1943 Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.