During the Second World War the inhabitants of Aberford, contributed towards the cost of a Supermarine Spitfire and in June of 1941 an aircraft, a Mark Vb serial number: P8640 was delivered to RAF Brize Norton. A recent enquirer, Johnny Lyttle of Aberford asked if I knew anything about the aircraft.
Being off topic I had not pursued the history of the plane, however I recalled a picture of the plane in a book produced some years ago, titled “Aberford in Times Past” by A.G.Bennett, T. Hayton, K.Hewitt. The entry gave a serial number for the aircraft, so I passed this to Johnny with the suggestion that the MOD might be able to provide more information on the life of the plane. He took up the baton and has been successful in discovering some of the history of the aircraft.
The image is courtesy of Aberford in Times Past, a Countryside Publication, which for those interested has an ISBN number of 086157 115 0
The following is what the RAF Museum sent about the plane:
“Probably named after the village of Aberford, West Yorkshire, Mk. Vb
P8640 was taken on charge at No.6 MU Brize Norton on 2 June 1941 and
delivered on the 26th to No.609 (West Riding) Sqn at Biggin Hill,
engaged on sweeps and bomber escort operations. These duties continued
with its transfer on 6 September to No.92 (East India) Sqn, also at
Biggin Hill, until being sent to No.610 (County of Chester) Sqn at
Leconfield on 15 November for convoy patrols.
On 26 March 1942 Plt Off S. Lanunski P0419 (Polish) of No.1 Delivery
Flight collided with a stationary lorry on the arrow perimeter track at
Kidlington, being unable to zig-zag in the usual manner in order to see
ahead. Although the damage was only classed as Category A, it was flown
to No.1 Civilian Repair Unit later the same day for repairs, returning
to No.6 MU Brize Norton on 1 June to be despatched on the 20th to High
Ercall.
On 12 September it was allocated to No.308 (Polish) Sqn at Heston, but
as this unit was away at armament practice camp, it joined No.302
(Polish) Sqn also at Heston, coded WX-G, engaged on sweeps and bomber
escort duties. On 8 November P8640 was Category B damaged while being
flown by Flg Off E. Horbaczewski P0273 when it was struck by the
propeller of W3702 (WX-A Category A, Plt Off M. Muszynski P2011) while
returning from Circus 235. Both aircraft returned safely to Heston
where W3702 was repaired on site and P8640 sent on the 17th to Air
Service Training for repair, awaited collection on 8 February 1943 then
delivered to No.15 MU at Wroughton on the 20th.
On 13 May it was sent to Vickers for fuel system modifications, being
delivered to No.33 MU Lyneham on 21 June, then returned two days later
to No.15 MU Wroughton, being issued on 7 July to No.416 (RCAF) Sqn at
Digby for Ramrod and Rodeo operations. It was taken to No.3501
Servicing Unit at Cranfield on 15 July, returning to No.416 Sqn three
days later only to be involved in a minor accident on the 20th and
repaired on site. It had joined No.2 Tactical Exercise Unit at
Grangemouth by 9 November, when the engine failed and a forced landing
was made, Category B damage being repaired at a civilian repair unit.
It is next recorded with No.186 Sqn at Tain on 10 February 1944. This
unit was renumbered No.130 (Punjab) Sqn at Lympne on 3 April and began
operating bomber escort duties and also patrols.
On return from a patrol on 28 April Flt Sgt C.H.T. Clay swung on landing
to avoid an overshoot and hit a floodlight post, Category Ac damage
being repaired on site by 23 May. P8640 was then sent to Scottish
Aviation at Prestwick on 8 June, to be waiting for collection on 15 July
and delivered to No.8 MU Little Rissington on the 25th. The aircraft
was despatched on 2 May 1945 to No.6 MU Brize Norton, from where it
joined No.1 Air Gunnery School at Pembrey two days later. On 15 June it
was relegated to No.33 MU Lyneham, being despatched on 4 September to
Portsmouth Aviation to be struck off charge six days later.”
From Gifts of War: Spitfires and other Presentation Aircraft in Two
World Wars. Henry Boot and Ray Sturtivant, I.S.O. An Air-Britain
Publication. RAF Museum Library Ref: X003-9116.
One snippet of information that has never been corroborated is that during the First World War an aircraft landed in Parlington Park, reputedly from the aerodrome at Headley Bar, just north of Hazelwood Castle. One of the hangers is still in existence!