Spitfire at Scalby Lodge, Scarborough.

In the early morning of the 24th of June 1942 a number of Spitfires were scrambled from Hutton Cranswick to intercept enemy aircraft off Scarborough. This aircraft suffered engine failure and the pilot force-landed the aircraft on its belly in a field near to Scalby Lodge, north of Scarborough. The flight lasted 25 minutes. The aircraft was damaged but the pilot survived. Following investigation it was found that the seizure of engine barings had caused the engine failure. A guard was placed on the site until it was removed by road and taken for repair, the engine was written off and the aircraft, one presumes, had a new one fitted.

Pilot - Sgt Andrzej J de Nahlik PAF, ok. At the time of this incident he had a total of 354 flying hours to his name, 61 being on the Spitfire.

The pilot survived the War and wrote a book on his life.