Spitfire BL970 at Church Fenton airfield.
The events leading up to this incident on 5th May 1943 are unclear. The high ranking pilot does not appear to have been a 315 Squadron pilot yet the aircraft was on charge with 315 Squadron. The incident occurred at Church Fenton yet 315 Squadron were based at Northolt so presumably the officer was allocated this aircraft to fly himself from Northolt to Church Fenton. He was a liaison officer at the time. What may have happened when 308 Squadron moved from Northolt to Church Fenton on 29th April 1943, the liaison officer flew up a few days later to assist. On 5th May 1943 Spitfire BL970 took off from Church Fenton airfield but the pilot raised the undercarriage too soon after becoming airborne. The throttle control may not have been securely fastened so the power setting decreased slightly leading to the aircraft descending after it had left the ground. What then happened is not stated on the AM Form 1180 but the pilot probably believed the engine was failing and the aircraft probably lost it's propeller blades.
Pilot - W/Cdr Stefan Witorzenc DFC PAF (76730).