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Re: Spitfire P9337
Andy,
Thanks for the input. There is no doubt that Smith of No.72 Squadron was in P9438 and Davies of No.222 Squadron in P9337 when they were both shot down during the early evening combats over Kent on August 31, 1940.
As to their crash locations, and despite what was published in BoBT&N in 1980 based on the evidence available (to me) at that time, as you say, P9337 came down at New Romney - a fact confirmed by a No.49 MU salvage collection order that you later copied to me. The relevant ARP Report filed by New Romney Centre (18.35 - 18.41 hours) reads as follows: 'British plane crashed ... Airman baled out, badly burnt.' Unfortunately, this latter detail applied to both Smith and Davies so, as No.72 Squadron were engaged '5 miles N of Dungeness' and No.222 Squadron across a wide area of north Kent roughly centred upon Sittingbourne, I had concluded (wrongly as it happens) that it was Smith that came down at New Romney.
So Trevor, the answer to your original question is that P9337 of No.222 Squadron crashed at New Romney on August 31, 1940.
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