Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Can anyone provide any identification information on this Spitfire that appears to have been photographed on a French Beach? I'm guessing that this well could have been during the Dunkirk operation. Can anyone ID the ship in the background, which appears to be grounded?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

Thanks

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

The seller is describing it as a French fighter, but it certainly looks like a Spit.

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Hello,

Its so anoying, I' ve seen this before but cannot remember where, or in which publication.

:(
Alex

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Interesting ! This Spitfire was in a photo on ebay 2 weeks ago - but the photo had been taken right after it had come to grief, and it wasn't damaged. Let me see if I can find it again . . .the ship in the background gave it away.Andy.

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Andy,

I figured that it might be the ship in the background that provided the identification for the photo. I would much appreciate it if you can locate the earlier photo, and thus the identity of the Spitfire. It is for an important project!!

Best wishes,

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Righto Larry !

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Larry - this is the photo from ebay, subject of an earlier thread, and I don't think it's the same one . . .it does go to show though how many Spits must have ended up on the French beaches near beached ships!Sorry for the wild goose chase, but that shot was so familiar.Best wishes,Andy.

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Blimey - time to go to bed

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Top-Flugzeug-F...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=2520Now I'm really tired now!

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Andy,

Thanks for the research. However, the ships in the background are different, though in a similar position in the photos. I think mine is a Mk I in mid-1940, whereas the previous one was a Spit V in 1942. I really appreciate the effort. Can anyone else contribute something here. Surely that ship in the background is know to somone.

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Hello,

Re Ship in photo, the ship is not the same one as shown in the other photo ? Are we agreed on that ?

As for ships lost at Dunkirk , at least seven French Destroyers to start with, then -

The Royal navy, here are some of theirs -

Destroyers
Whitley - 19/5/40
Wessex - 24/5/40
Wakeful - 29/5/40
Grenade - 29/5/40
Grafton - 29/5/40
Valentine - in the River Scheldt
Basilisk - 1/6/40
Havant - 1/6/40
Keith - 1/6/40

Minesweepers
Gracie Fields - 29/5/40
Devonia - 31/5/40
Skipjack - 1/6/40
Brighton Queen - 1/6/40
Waverley - 29/5/40

Mine Destruction Vessel
Corburn - 21/5/40

Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft Ship
Crested Eagle - 29/5/40

ArmedBoarding Vessel
King Orry - 30/5/40

LCA
8 -31/5/40
15 - 31/5/40
16 - 29/5/40
4 - 29/5/40
18 - 29/5/40

LCM
12 - 2/6/40
22 - 2/6/40
17 - 3/6/40

Then there were Tugs,Trawers,Drifters Yachts , Motor Canal Boats, River Gun Boats and Special Service Vessels.

And then there were other Allied nations ships such as the Polish Navy ships etc etc.

For what it is worth I think that one of the photos could show the French ship Le Foudroyant. While the first photo looks like a paddle ship/minesweeper.
O.K but I would not bet on either.

As for the Spitfire, I have some down on the beaches, as were some Hurricanes at least one Defiant and then a Ju88 . Were there any other German or French or other allied a/c ?

Question, With all of the troops on the Beaches, was there a special area set out for force-landing/crashing aircraft to come down on in the beach area? It is a wonder if not that some on the ground were not killed or injured by incoming aircraft.

My short list-
22/5/40 - P/O Aubert - 74 - K9867 - Berck sur Mer
24/5/40 - F/O Linley - 54 - P9455 - F/L France ? where
25/5/40 - Sgt Phillips - 54 - P9388 - F/L France ? Where
25/5/40 - P/O Gribble - 54 - N3103 - near Beach, Dunkirk
26/5/40 - P/O Hart - 65 - K9912(YT-O) on Beach
27/5/40 - P/O Stevenson - 74 - L1084 F/L at Dunkirk
28/5/40 - P/O Deere - 54 - N3180 (KL-B) - 3m W of Nieuport
28/5/40 - P/O Smart - 65 - P9435 F/L Dunkirk
31/5/40 - P/O Davies - 222 - N3295 (G) F/L on Beach nr Mardyke
1/6/40 - P/O Morant - 222 - P9377 F/L on beach

Anyone confirm, add to or correct please contact me by private message, thanks.

All for now

Alex

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Hi Andy,

Here (I hope) is the scan of the photo I meant. Taken from another angle.


Alex

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Thanks Alex - that's a lovely shot.

Re: Spitfire down at Dunkirk?
 

Hi Andy,

Its been in my files for a long time and I forget where it came from.

Still does it help to elect a particular Spitfire yet ?

Alex