Spitfire BM328 near Hutton Cranswick airfield.
During the afternoon of 4th May 1943 several aircraft 308 Squadron aircraft flew an air firing practice on either targets or towed drogues over the sea. At 15.45hrs a collision occurred between Spitfires BM328 and AD508 around half a mile from Hutton Cranswick airfield. The pilot Spitfire AD508 was able to keep control of his aircraft and make hurried landing at Hutton Cranswick. The pilot of Spitfire AD328 immediately lost control so baled out, he landed safely but the aircraft was destroyed when it came down close to the airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Wladyslaw Sznapka PAF (P/792281).
Wladyslaw Sznapka was shot down over France on 16th August 1943 in Spitfire W3404 and was captured but later escaped and evaded capture to return to England via Spain. In 1944 he flew with 303 Squadron. He married in Blackpool in 1944 and after the war he settled there, he later applied for and was granted British Naturalisation in March 1953. He continued his flying and was granted a commission in the RAF to F/O on 26th September 1957 from the rank of Master Pilot and was promoted to F/Lt on 26th September 1960. After half a lifetime of Air Force service he retired from the RAF on 20th July 1973 while in the rank of F/Lt. He died in Blackpool in 1984.
Spitfire BM328 was built to contract B981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at at Castle Bromwich and was flown to 12 MU at Kirkbride on 28th March 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 313 Squadron at Hornchurch on 11th April 1942 and moved to Fairlop with the unit on 30th April 1942. On 8th June 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 154 Squadron at Hornchurch. On 29th June 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 122 Squadron at Martlesham Heath and moved with them to Hornchurch on 17th July 1942. On 31st July 1942 it was involved in a some form of flying accident that saw an initial damage assessment of Cat.B/FA being made. The damage was the re-assessed and it was reduced to Re.Cat.Ac and was repaired on site. On 11th December 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 611 Squadron at Biggin Hill. On 16th March 1943 it was transferred to 308 Squadron at Northolt who moved to Church Fenton on 29th April 1943. As a result of the crash at Hutton Cranswick on 4th May 1943 Cat.E2/FA was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge and had clocked up 248 hours total flying time.