During the evening of 27th July 1944 this 1695 (Bomber) Defence Training Flight aircraft was flown on a combined weather check and also a fighter affiliation exercise. On landing back at Dalton airfield at 23.55hrs the port tyre was found to be flat. It swung off the runway and came to rest with the leg collapsed and the port wing damaged.
Pilot - F/Sgt William Henry Long RAAF (419859).
William Long was killed on 25th March 1945 when Tempest SN138 crashed in Germany, he is buried in Reichswald War Cemetery.
Hurricane LF385 was built to contract 62305/39Vb by Hawker aircraft Ltd. at Brooklands / Langley and was awaiting collection in February 1944. The published history in Air Britain books for this aircraft is poor. All that is known is that the aircraft was initially flown into MU store before being taken on charge by 1695 (B) D.T.Flt. at Dalton on an unknown date. The incident at Dalton on 27th July 1944 was probably a minor Cat.A/FA damage assessment incident that saw it repaired on site. The aircraft later appears on charge with 1669 H.C.U. at Langar but no for the transfer is given. On 16th March 1945 this unit disbanded and this aircraft was placed in MU store pending disposal. It was struck off charge on 17th May 1945.
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