Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Hello everybody,

Anyone in the assistance could be able to identify this Spitfire, crashed in Normandy during the summer 1944. I do have nothing about this a/c, it's seems to crash in the area of Louviers (between Rouen and Evreux). I don't know more about the fate of the pilot and nothing about the Squadron. It's appears to be a Mk.IX version
We are just able to see a "M" letter on the fuselage and the invasion strips on the intrados of the wing.

Suggestions are welcome

Thanks a lot in advance

Kind regards
Loic

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

I think its a "W" not a "M".

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Hello Kaki,
That was my first thought.
But
The panel opening could only be the starboard(right) side of the fuselage.
So an unusual form of "M", perhaps they used the wrong stencil ?
Alex

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Or perhaps no stencil > freehand.

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Hello Kaki,
I have looked again. If it is a fractured fuselage and has been dragged into place in a reversed position then say if the panel is the port(left) side radio access panel then it would be a "W".
But the edge seems to shoe traces of the tail band which is a "duck-egg" colour. But if this is the edge of the fractured fuselage then it may well be natural metal fuselage fragment .
So might be an "M" ?
I tried drawing it both ways and both seem to be possible - if the fuselage was in two prices and brought together to look as one for photographs.
Alex

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Could it be a Mk XVI ?

The battery access hatch is at rear on the starboard side, and the fuselage just

behind the cockpit has a vague curve in the paint,possibly pointing towards it

being a bubble canopy.

The engine looks like a Merlin so not a Mk XIV.

Regards Mike

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

Thanks guys for your contributions. As Alex I think that is an unusual "M" but I really have no idea about this Spit.

At least I can do attached 2 more pictures about the same a/c if you are better than me ;-)

Regards and thanks again

Loic

Re: Help me to identify this crashed Spitfire - Normandy 44
 

To go out on a limb, if you blow up the picture, you can see what looks like the first letter of the Squadron code just behind the cockpit. It appears to be a U, an O, or possibly a D. Some possible candidate for a Spitfire unit operating in Normandy with this possible type of code would be 416 RCAF, code DN or 412 RCAF, code DB.