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| Date: | Thursday 14 September 1939 |
| Time: | 18:25 |
| Type: |  Supermarine Spitfire Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 41 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | K9849 |
| MSN: | 62 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire |
| RAF Catterick |
Spitfire Mk I K9849 (c/n 62 - 62nd production Spitfire of the first production batch of 310).
19-01-39: First flown at Eastleigh, Southampton, Hampshire.
26-01-39: Delivered to RAF Catterick for 41 Squadron and coded "DL-N'.
14-09-39: Written off in a crash at RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire.
15-09-39: K9849 Struck Off Charge. Total Flying Hours 132:10.
On Thursday, 14-09-39, the pilot of this 41 Squadron aircraft was making a night take off into a slight wind blowing from the north. The aircraft failed to climb above twelve feet after becoming airborne and struck the tower of the Watch Office on the northern boundary of the airfield and crashed just behind it.
AC1 George Marshall (328832) was at his post in the Watch Office at the time of the crash and saw the aircraft approach. He was left to duck for cover as it struck the top of the building. The wreckage caught fire immediately and the pilot could not be rescued because of the fire. It was later thought that he had been killed instantly as a result of the impact. It was also thought that he had lost control while taking off. This was 41 Squadron's first fatal accident of the War.
Pilot:
P/O (41258) John James Hawke COPLEY RAF (age 18) - killed.
R.I.P.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1976 page 79)
2. http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york39/k9849.html
3. http://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/aircrewprofile.php?AircrewID=11686
4. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939a.htm
5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119800162
6. http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?13494-41258-Plt-Off-James-John-Hawke-COPLEY
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Jan-2011 22:42 | angels one five | Added |
| 07-Sep-2011 02:22 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 07-Sep-2011 02:27 | angels one five | Updated |
| 25-Dec-2011 05:52 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 25-Dec-2011 05:53 | Nepa | Updated [Nature, ] |
| 10-Jan-2012 16:07 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, ] |
| 13-Jan-2012 09:24 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, ] |
| 22-Jan-2012 19:42 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative, ] |
| 07-May-2012 08:56 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 30-May-2012 00:46 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, ] |
| 29-Oct-2012 02:25 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 28-Nov-2012 17:53 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative, ] |
| 14-Aug-2013 16:12 | JINX | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 18-Aug-2013 13:14 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, ] |
| 08-Nov-2013 23:33 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Narrative, ] |
| 06-Jun-2015 20:14 | Gun | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 21-Apr-2018 21:35 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2019 00:12 | angels one five | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, ] |
| 03-May-2021 09:38 | Adelaida | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Narrative, Operator, ] |
| 24-Aug-2021 08:17 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 29-Jul-2023 04:57 | angels one five | Updated |
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