Spitfire PR.XIT MB788 near Knottingley.
On 6th November 1944 this No.8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft aircraft suffered the engine catching fire during a high level photographic training flight. The pilot considered baling out of the aircraft but was not at a height at which he could safely bale out so, at 11.35hrs, he made a force landed in a field around two miles west of Knottingley. The flight had lasted ten minutes short of three hours. The unit trained pilots on photo-reconnaissance as part of Coastal Command and was based at Dyce.
Pilot - F/Lt D B Graham RCAF (J/5216).
Spitfire MB788 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chattis Hill and was first test flown on 22nd May 1943. Four days later it was flown to Benson and was then taken on charge by 542 Squadron at Benson on 15th June 1943. On 4th October 1944 it was transferred to 8 (C.)O.T.U. at Dyce. As a result of the damage sustained near Knottingley on 6th November 1944 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment. This was later upgraded to Re.Cat.B and it was dismantled and transported to Heston Aircraft Ltd. at Heston for a repair in works. On completion of the repair it was placed in MU storage where it remained until 18th January 1949 when it was sold by the Ministry of Supply and was probably scrapped.