Hurricane Mk.IIc LF583 at Thornaby airfield.
During the afternoon of 18th January 1945 this 279 Squadron aircraft was flown on a training exercise. After seventy minutes flying the pilot landed at Thornaby airfield at 15.40hrs, as he slowed the aircraft he made a turn at a runway intersection but in doing so the port undercarriage leg collapsed. 279 Squadron operated a few Hurricanes which flew in support of their main Warwick aircraft.
Pilot - F/O Harry Gill RAFVR (150063).
Later AVM Harry Gill CB OBE.
Hurricane LF583 was built to contract 62305/39/Vc by Hawker Aircraft Ltd, at either the Brooklands or Langley factory. On 25th February 1944 it was flown to 22 MU at Silloth and was then taken on charge by 567 Squadron at Detlington on 13th March 1944. On 24th August 1944 it struck HT cables whilst low flying and was then belly landed in a field at Old Park, Kent. Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was taken to Morrison's Engineering Co.Ltd, at Horsey Toll for a repair in works. Once servicable on 23rd November 1944 it was flown to 22 MU at Silloth and was then taken on charge by 279 Squadron at Thornaby on 11th January 1945. It was then damaged at Thornaby on 18th January 1945. This saw a Cat.A/FA damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 4th July 1945 it was converted to Ground Instructional Airframe 5321M.