Spitfire JK874 at Sherburn in Elmet airfield.
On 8th March 1943 this aircraft was collected from the manufacturer at the Vickers factory at Castle Bromwich by a pilot from No.7 Ferry Pilot Pool, ATA. The end destination is not known but shortly before 15.20hrs the aircraft landed at Sherburn in Elmet airfield. When it was being taxied around the perimeter track toward a dispersal point with ground marshalls, the starboard wing struck a van. The Spitfire's wing and propeller were slightly damaged.
Pilot - F/O Louis Patrick Murphy ATA (M.679).
Spitfire JK874 was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Castle Bromwich and was awaiting collection on 8th March 1943. On this date it was allotted to 46 MU at Lossiemouth so was collected by a pilot from No.7 Ferry Pilot Pool from Sherburn in Elmet. The aircraft landed at Sherburn in Elmet and sustained minor damage. Cat.A/FA was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 1st March 1943 it was flown to 215 M.U. packing department at Lochabriggs / Tinwalddowns at Dumfries airfield. On 2nd May 1943 it was loaded on the S.S.Barrie bound for Casablanca. On 17th May 1943 it arrived at 145 M.U. at Casablanca and on 31st May 1943 it was taken on charge by N.W.African Airforce H.Q. at Algiers. On 1st July 1943 it was passed to Middle East Air Command at Cairo and on 1st November 1943 it returned to N.W.African Airforce H.Q. at Algiers. On 31st January 1944 it was flown to 118 M.U. at Catania, Sicily and was struck off charge on 29th February 1944.