On 23rd March 1939 this 185 Squadron aeroplane's engine was started up in preparation for a take-off from Thornaby aerodrome but
the undercarriage then collapsed damaging the aeroplane.
Pilot - P/O George Glen Avis RAF (39774).
George Avis received a short service commission as Acting P/O on probation on 31st May 1937 and rose to Acting F/O on 1st November 1938 and F/O
on 5th November 1939. He rose to F/Lt on 5th November 1940 and was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1941 then promoted to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st December 1941. He was awarded the DFC for service with 57 Squadron on 18th May 1943. In April 1944 he transferred to the Reserve but was called up for service with immediate effect. He was Mentioned in Despatches for a second time on 8th June 1944 and re-graded as S/Ldr (war subs) on 1st February 1945. He relinquished his commission on the account of being medically unfit for service on 4th May 1946 retaining the rank of W/Co (he must have held the rank of Acting W/Co during the War).
Battle K9437 had a long service history, being built to contract 522745/36 by Fairey at Stockport, it was delivered to 9 MU on
30th December 1938 and issued to 185 Squadron on 30th January 1939. Following the mishap above Cat.R damage was recorded and it was
returned to service. It was transferred to 98 Squadron on 10th October 1939, also on this date it suffered another Cat.R/FA mishap.
It was taken to 13 MU on 20th November 1939 but it was beyond their capacity for repair and was transferred
to Scotish Aviation on 31st December 1939. From here it was moved to Fairey on 6th June 1940 and finally re-issued on completion of the repairs
to 20 MU on 29th July 1940 where it was held in storage until transfer to 23 MU on 6th March 1941. It was later issued to 88 Squadron on 21st April 1941 and suffered another Cat.R/FA on 7th May 1941. Again it was returned to service and taken to 27 MU on 1st January 1942 for storage. It was later issued to 2 Squadron on 16th September 1942 before again going into storage at 27 MU on 11th February 1943. It was finally struck off charge on 30th November 1943.