Spitfire EP119 near Skirlaugh.
During the morning of 12th December 1944 this Central Gunnery School aircraft was flown on a bomber affiliation exercise and had taken off from Catfoss airfield at around 11.15hrs. At around 12.00hrs the aircraft's engine failed and unable to reach the airfield at Catfoss, the pilot made a forced landing around 500 yards west of Manor Farm, Arnold, near Skirlaugh. The aircraft received a damage assessment of Cat.Ac/FA and was repaired. The engine was inspected and it was found that the flame traps of the cylinder head collapsed causing the engine to overheat. The C.G.S. orb makes brief mention of this incident.
Pilot - F/O Basil Francis Neil Rachinger DFC RAAF (410091). Injured.