Beaufighter EL328 (/ JL438?) at Lissett airfield.
On 28th June 1943 this aircraft was making a forced landing at Lissett airfield after suffering engine failure on a training flight, the aircraft came to rest with the starboard mainplane and main spar damaged and with the undercarriage torn off. The tail of the aircraft was also badly damaged. The aircraft possibly struck a contractor's lorry which may have killed a number of workmen although their identities are not yet known (when this webpage was created). The aircraft had been repaired following an earlier crash at Catfoss ten months later.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Beaufighter EL328 was built to contract B.65570/40 by The Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. at the Old Mixon shadow factory at Weston-super-Mare. It is listed as being awaiting collection in early August 1942 so must have been taken on charge immediately by No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Catfoss. As a result of damage sustained there on 9th August 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was repaired on site. It remained with 2 (C)O.T.U. until it was badly damaged following the forced landing near Lissett on 28th June 1943 after which Cat.E/FA damage was recorded and it was written off.
Beaufighter JL438 is also suggested as being the aircraft's identity. JL438 was built to contract B.65570/40 by the Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. at Old Mixon. and was flown to 33 MU at Lynham on 6th November 1942. It was taken on charge by 2 (C)OTU at Catfoss on 21st May 1943. If this was the aircraft that was damaged at Lissett on 28th June 1943 then Cat.AC/FA damage would have resulted which would have seen a repair on site made. The aircraft later went to 46 MU at Lossiemouth on 2nd March 1944 and was truck off charge on 28th February 1946.