Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Can anyone identify the Spitfire in this repro photo for sale on eBay:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/2x-selt-Archi...item2a2d402f2c

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Could it be P8327 of 308 Sq.?

John

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Serial appears to start W3???

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

I couldn't see a W at all!

I think the fuselage band in 'sky' helps with the date being post BoB

So a W serial Mk V is possible

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Hello,
How about W3124 , 222 sqdn "ZD-X" MIA 4th September 1941 ?
Alex

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Larry-I have a different photo if this ac & apart from the band all you can see is W.
Alex-a possibility. What can be seen code-wise is X-ZD? I note that 2 were lost this day-Sgt Arthur Sharples baled out of AB801 and Sgt Bill Rudd was in W3124

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Hello Chris,
I take your point about the Squadron code, it could be "ZF" 308 Sqdn.
As for the serial number it can only be "W" as "K","L","P,"R" and "X" do not follow with a "3" while "N" were mainly only Mk 1.
So to add one possible is 17th Sept 41, W3524, could this a/c have been coded "X-ZF" ?
I see from your post above that the code "ZD" is confirmed by another photograph, any chance of including it in the thread ?
Loooks like it is W3124 of Sgt. Rudd.
All the best
Alex

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Alex

Thanks for this. Doubt if it is W3524 as the pilot was killed in this one. The photo I have doesn't show any of the code just W???? but the one on eBay does show the X and a horizontal bar for part of the next letter hence my question mark. Just to answer the puzzle, I have bought the repro photo so will be able to solve this once and for all!

Chris

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Hello Chris,
From the LEMB website, a/c named "Nellie".
Post no 38 by Peter Evans, and reply Post 39 by Góran Larsson in the "Crash-Landed/Wrecked Spitfires" thread.


Alex

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Alex-that solves it then. Thanks

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

With regards the 308Sqn and 17th Sept 41, W3524. Was this the only loss this day? If there was another it is possible serials might have been mixed which is exactly the case of another one I have just helped to research.

regards

Mark

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Hello Mark,
To answer you question, FCL vol 1 revised offers at least ten Spitfires with the serial number starting with "W3" on the 17th September 1941.

However the one that is in the photos and is the point of discussion was W3124 lost on the 4th September 1941.
The main identifing item being the Squadron code and a/c in squadron letter, "X-ZD", "ZD" identifies 222 Squadron while 308 Squadron was "ZF".
All for now
Alex

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

So ZD-X, W3124, ‘Nellie’, lost on 4.09.1941 is the last word, right?

Thanks for all replies,

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

I still think it's W3131, YO-X, 401 Sq lost on Feb12,1942.

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

I see a 4 on the end of the serial!

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire Serial
 

I blew up the serial as much as I could. I still think it shows W3131. The seeming "4" is caused by a line across the "1"

W3134 was stricken of charge (SOF) on June 28,1945 (Spitfire:The History - Shacklady)

Re: Crash-landed Spitfire
 

Hello,
May I refer you to Dénes Bernád's "Bellied Spitfire on the Beach" thread.
Alex