Spitfire K9848 near Catterick.
On 20th April 1939 this 41 Squadron aeroplane being flown in the area around Catterick aerodrome when the engine failed. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a field but unfortunately struck a fence and overturned. The AM Form 1180 states the location was four miles North-West of Catterick, which would put this as being in the Skeeby area. This is unfortunately one of a small number of pre-ww2 incidents that I can find no newspaper report for in the British Newspaper Archive, had I located one it would confirm a location.
Historian Jim Rutland has located some photographs that were taken of a Spitfire incident claimed to have crashed near South Cowton (four miles North-East of Catterick) though from the squadron code on the fuselage this would suggest it relates to a wartime incidents as the squadron code for 41 Squadron changed when war begun. If the coding system included pre-war aeroplanes then it may be K9848. I have not yet identified the aeroplane involved in the South Cowton incident.
Pilot - Sgt James Gillies RAF (519573).
Spitfire K9848 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was taken on charge by 41 Squadron at Catterick on 26th January 1939. As a result of the crash on 20th April 1939 Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge having clocked up just 23.35 flying hours from new.
James Gillies was awarded the DFM for service with 91 Squadron in Battle of Britain. He was later awarded the MC for services in Burma in 1944. F/Lt James Gillies RAF (47317) was recorded as missing on 21st April 1944 whilst flying over Burma.