Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Hello,

I am new here. I am trying to identify an early Spit (probably a MkIIA). The firewall dataplate reads:

SERIAL No. HAI 6S 75198
DRWG No. 30027 SHT 7 ISSUE 14
PASSED 83

Any chance to identify the aircraft’s RAF serial and history? All I know is that the plane crashed in the North of France, place and date unfortunately unknown.

Any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Roger

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

This data plate is from the 'Frame 5' firewall, which was a sub contracted part by Supermarine (6S) to Heston Aircraft Industries (HAI).

'300' tells us it is a Mk I and '27' that it is from the fuselage group.

If every sub-assembly was sequential, and it varies, the identity of this aircraft would be X4354 by transposition of known data for X4276.

I would therefore start your research on plus or minus half a dozen on X4354 and see if anything looks to be a candidate.

PeterA

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

I'll check it. Thank you very much, much appreciated.

Regards,

R.

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

How about

X4350 1 PRU 15/9/40 Shot down by Flak Lannilis, Finistere 16.12.40 F/O S J Millen Killed

Ignore...

"Spitfire I X4350 - took off at 1415 and shot down into the sea by flak at Lannilis, 20km north of Brest. The pilot’s body later washed ashore near Tréflez, 30km NE of Brest, and is buried there."

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

PeterA, I have a question: I found this old thread.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=15415

here somebody requested almost the same info from a CBAF Spit dataplate.

You explained then that "drawing number 30027 SHT7 Issue 14 is in fact the firewall and because of the CBAF construction number will be a Mk II. Issue 14 for this drawing is dated 10 July 1940 incorporating Modification number 76 which was Mk II specific."

Since my plate carries the same marking 30027 SHT7 Issue 14 should we then deduce that my plane was a MkII as the CBAF example? Or being a 6S Supermarine product the Issue 14 does not apply and is then a MkI?

Thanks for the explanation.

I checked the X435X range, but no real candidates. Only X4342 would fit but was a (converted) MkV...

Thanks for your help.


R.

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Mk I's built by Supermarine in Southampton area. 6S.

Mk II's built by Vickers in the new Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory. CBAF.

Mk II Firewall frame 5 will be interchangeable and service both Mk I & II new build and replacement would be my interpretation. There would be some overlap of Mk I and II build at these two different locations.

Apart from getting the Mk II's up and running at CBAF with some Supermarine help, mostly on the wings, and the proximity of your firewall to X4276, both with HAI sub-contracted firewalls, I would be pretty certain you have a component from a Mk I there.

PeterA

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Hold on..

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4165

"Among those still unindentified crash sites found in this north west Brittany area, one is near Lannilis, on Loc-Brévalaire commune. The particularity of this recovery, is that absolutely no ammunition was found. But at least five or six oxygen bottles of different sizes. The engine was fitted with twinned exhaust pipes, and very thin valves what, for my research friend Jean Tréguer of Kernilis, would indicate an old engine. "

Is this from the same aircraft... If that is the case I would go for 'X4350'

X4350 1 PRU 15/9/40 Shot down by Flak Lannilis, Finistere 16.12.40 F/O S J Millen Killed

""Spitfire I X4350 - took off at 1415 and shot down into the sea by flak at Lannilis, 20km north of Brest. The pilot’s body later washed ashore near Tréflez, 30km NE of Brest, and is buried there." "

Prehaps he bailed out... and aircraft actually crashed on to land..... and that is what has been found.. Notice how the aircraft mentioned crasjed near 'Lannilis' and carried 'no ammunition' a PRU aircraft like X4350 would be un-armed

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Roger

So you have more wreckage than just the dataplate?

Can you give a more specific area??

Paul

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

The previous owner lived in the north-east, so I suppose the wreck was found in that area (another point which for me discards X4350 as Lannilis is far in the north-west). I have no other data, sorry. The previous owner passed away and with him all information on where the wreckage was found.

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Another possibility may be X4332, another early P.R. variant ...

"FF 16-8-40 PDU HAL 17-8-40 Cv PRIII Type C PRU 31-8-40 FTR 17-10-40 FH11.15"

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

This is one where Air Britain Mark 1 Production List (Aeromilitaria Winter 2008) and the 'Spitfire The History' book diverge..

Spitfire the history has as quoted. Air Britain says

"X4332 Delivered Heston Aircraft 17.8.40 (Converted PR 111); PRU 31.8.40; Destroyed on ground by enemy bombs, Heston Cat E 29.10.40"

The key to solving this is probably a better location for the loss or even some other indicator on wreckage etc..

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

If this was definately a European recovery.. X4342 looks a possiblity.. But that was lost in 1942 after converion to Vb.. All other 'near' ones were lost in UK

The next possible one (other than X4350) is X4385 which reportedly force landed with engine failure at Deelen in Netherlands on a PR mission to Hamburg on 22.9.41 while with 3 PRU (Flt Lt P. Tomlinson POW)

X4386 was also lost on continent, but shot down at Texel 12.1.41 (Flt Lt MArshall POW) on mission to Bremen while with 3 PRU

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Hi,
I know this is a tadge old now, but I am reseaching my lineage. My late uncle served in the RAF during WW2. I have just come a photograph of him and my father standing next to a spitfire, with X4342 painted on the fuselage. I wondered if it was the one you were looking for or had anymore info about it. My uncle survived the war so was not the pilot shot down in 1942.
Thanks

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Can you tell what unit was that, in which your uncle got himself photographed by the Spitfire?

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Thats what I am trying to find out. I know he served in North Africa, and then Greece in 1943. I have documents which relate to 39th Squadron in his handwriting, battle reports, photos of damage etc, but cant find him listed on Internet. I am guessing, but I think he may have been in training when picture taken..I`ll upload it so you can see it

Re: Early Spitfire dataplate, ID needed
 

Well, absence of Sky band around the rear fuselage dates the image before December 1940.
Cannon-armed Mk I in the Battle of Britain period - a rare photo.
The spinner finish (two- or three-tone) might suggest a leader's aircraft at 7 OTU at Hawarden (where X4342 was used in September 1940).