Hurricane HW232 at Catterick airfield.
On 1st October 1943 the pilot of this 1472 Flight aircraft overshot on landing at Catterick airfield slightly damaging the aircraft when it tipped onto the nose and overturned. The aircraft was a Hurricane Bomber variant.
Pilot - F/O J A Irwin.
The unit is given as being 1472 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight in pretty much every modern reference to this number unit that I can find. The 1472 Flight record book gives the unit title as being 1472 (D-B) Flight, or 1472 (Dive-Bombing) Flight. Which is correct is anyone's guess. As the scribe of the orb was there at the time I'm leaning towards 1472 (D-B) Flight being correct.
Hurricane HW232 was built to contract B.62305/39 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at Langley / Brooklands and was awaiting collection in September 1942. The aircraft was initially placed in MU store until being taken on charge by 174 Squadron at Manston in late 1942. The aircraft then moved with 174 Squadron to Odiham on 6th December 1942, to Chilbolton on 1st March 1942, Grove on 11th March 1943, Zeals on 12th March 1943 and to Gravesend on 5th April 1943. Later in April 1943 174 Squadron ceased operating the type of aircraft and it found it’s way to MU store where it remained for some months. It was later taken on charge by 1472 Flight at Catterick on 21st September 1943. The aircraft sustained minor Cat.A/FA damage on 1st October 1943 and would have been repaired on site at Catterick. 1472 Flight disbanded on 15th November 1943 so the aircraft was placed in MU store until being taken on charge by 1 T.E.U. at Tealing in early 1944. On 31th July 1944 this unit disbanded so the aircraft was placed in MU store. It was then struck off charge on 7th July 1945.