Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hello friends, my friends of R.A.F. (Romagna Air Finders) have found a Spitfire crashed near Assisi in 1944.
The pilot's body was found still in the cockpit, he wear his flightsuit and shows red hair. Researches are started to identify of the pilot, witness says he went down few days after the front goes to north. For more informations check the RAF site:
http://www.freeforumzone.com/viewmes...f=61117&idd=82
Any informations will be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Michele

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi
That article is in Italian.
Keep us posted in English and we'll see if we can help
Stefaan Bouwer

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi chaps this is very frustrating - no mention of the recovery anywhere in the UK press.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Babelfish translates the first piece as:

Assisi, the common one had asked our participation in order to try one Spitfire. Saturdays 22, the group of the technicians, thanks to the testimonies then, have found the mass. Saturday 29, hours 4,30, departure of convoy R.A.F. destination place of impact in the campaigns of Assisi. they give approximately 7 meters of depth are you go back the route me of the Spit and the rests of the poor pilot, thanks to the torcie electrical workers and generators, the digging has prolongedded until late evening. Largest the satisfaction of all the group and the civil and military organs of the country that has collaborated to the event. To short the report documented with photo. While the searches in order to find the identity and the origin of the poor pilot of the Spitfire have been under way. Thanks soon.

cheers

Allan

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Has anyone any further information on this as the AHB, British Embassy and RAF Cas Branch were unaware until I told them this morning!

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Very last paragraph seems to say they've narrowed it down to 3 likely possibilities, two Englishmen and a South African, so far as I can decipher.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hello,

From what I have read it looks like the names are

Ibbotson, Seddon and Duncan.

From the CWG site I can only find possibles which are -

F/Lt. Desmond Ibbotson DFC + bar RAFVR age 23 died 19/11/1944.

F/O Samuel Maurice Seddon of 268 Sqdn died 30/1/1944.

Air Corporal G. L. Duncan of 8 Sqdn SAAF age 19 died 23/9/1944.

night

Alex

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Thank you Alex, the plane went down in a september sunday, as told by the witness. May be A/C Duncan was our man, but are you sure that 8 sqn SAAF flew Spitfire? thanks

Michele

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Michele,

A tiny note about the possible date. 23/9/44 (Duncan) was Saturday.

Regards,
Michal

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Guys.
8 Sqn SAAF flew Mk V and Mk IX Spits.
If he was SAAF and he still has a recognisable jacket on there should be a red band on his eppulettes.
What worries me is that Air corporals did not fly a/c in the SAAF, only
officers.
Do you have any photo's of this.
I could not load the picture when I went into your link
Stefaan Bouwer

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

In response to Alex's earlier post, disregard the reference to F/O SM Seddon and No.268 Sqdn RAF. They only served in the ETO, and F/O Seddon went missing over the Channel whilst flying a North American Mustang Mk.1A.

The most likely way for this to get solved is from serial numbers on aircraft parts being tied to a particular airframe serial number, which will then lead to a specific aircraft and pilot losss combination.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Micky.
Another thing there was no 8 sqn SAAF in Italy but 8 Wing.
8 sqn never went North during WWII
Stefaan

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hello,

Thanks for the clarification re the name's and Unit's.

As I said they were taken from the CWG site and only as I could find no others there that seemed to fit either time period, age (23 & 19) or name .

As for possible date :

Saturday 23rd Sunday 24th September 1944, sorry I missed the date in the original report.

Sundays then were 3rd,10th,17th,24th,31st.

All for now
Alex

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Thank you Alex, Thank you Stefaan, May be Duncan was a Mechanic? May be he died during a check fliyng?

Michele

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Stefaan, try this:

http://www.freeforumzone.com/viewmes...f=61117&idd=29

(english version)

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

My goodness that is a site and a half. Those guys are doing some good work there. I found it quite emotional.

Thanks Micky.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

..but I am afraid I found the photos of pilot's remains quite disturbing and totally unnecessary. Burial yes but remains, definietly not

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

HI
Thanks for the new site reference.
The shoes may still be SAAF pilot as the dress codes were much more informal than in the rest of the Allied sqns.
If it was a mechanic it would have been an unauthorized flight as they were not allowed to fly.I do not recall reading about such a flight were the pilot crashed.There was one such flight were a senior groung crew member did fly without 1 minute of training and succeeded in landing safely at another field.They stopped him from taking off from there and he was disciplined.
Keep us informed please.
Stefaan

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy- plate found
 

hello friends, my friends of RAF send me a picture of a plate found in spitfire's remains, someone can identify it? here is the link:

http://www.3wstyle.net/public/files_...a%20fronte.jpg

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

maybe something for the blades ...

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

You might have more success on the RAF Commands website. Worth a try, anyway.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy- plate found
 

It is ID plate of some sort of subassembly. Important is that 6S appears and I understand it indicates it was made by Supermarine. This means it is a Mk VIII or one of a few Mk IXs built there, thus allowing to narrow down possible candidates.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Franek,

Agree and also used for c/n for Aldermaston, Keevil too.

Alex

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi again,

Also FL could be for Filton

Alex

Re: Unknown Spitfire recovered in Italy
 

I would suggest that this is the modification plate for the 'Tail Unit'.

6S....Indicates Supermarine as main contractor, so an early IX, if a IX or more probably an VIII

FL.....Indicates usually subcontractor at Filton.

AV....I believe indicates subcontractor to Filton

Mod 193...Indicates a means to draining the fuselage has been incorporated. Introduced on Mks I & II.

Mod 225...Indicates strengthening of the fuselage frame 20 (tail annulus) to cover a) somersault landing b) heavy tailwheel landings. Introduced on Mks I & II

Mod 338...Indicates strengthening fuselage at attachment of tail plane. Introduced on all Mks.

Mod 383...Indicates increased gauge of stern plating. Introduced on Mks I, II & V.

PeterA

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Looks like it was Desmond Ibbotson

Does anyone have the Serial ID for the Spitfire?


http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=55739

Thanks

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi

A friend, a wartime fighter pilot who flew in Italy etc - has just telephoned me to say it was Des Ibbotson. Not sure of his source but he seemed certain.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Dear Brian, dear friends, thanks for the wonderful informations.
I have some questions:
In the crash site was recovered some .303 cartridges, did the Spit IX or VIII use this ammunitions?

Brian, your friend told you that Ibbotson fflew in italy, was both togheter in 601 Sqn?

Thanks in advance

Mick

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Mick

No, my contact wasn't with 601 Squadron. Sorry

Brian

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Both Spitfire marks would have 0.303 ammunition for the outer wing guns. The key distinguishing features are the shorter ailerons and retractable tailwheel of the Mk.VIII. The Mk.VIII also had leading edge fuel tanks near the wingroots. I believe that there are structural differences in the fuselage, but do not know the details of this.

Re: Unknow spitfire recovered in italy
 

Hi Brian, i would know more, Ibbotson belong to 601 sqdn when died, and was buried in Perugia War Cemetery. Can your contact say more about his accident? Thanks in advance.

Michele