Fate of Spitfire W3821

[Phil L.]

Hello All,

Who would be able to give more details on the fate of Spit V W3821? Sources vary A-B gives 28.10.41 for which details are known, but some other sources give as 17.01.42 the date of the accident, being SOC some days later, but no details are known for the latter as far as I know.

Does anyone know any details (if exist) of the accident dated 17.01.42, and the name of the pilot involved?

Thanks

Phil

[Larry]

Air Britains RAF Aircraft W1000-Z9999 (1998 version) actually says W3821 was with 452 Sqn and ground looped on 28-10-41 at Redhill but was not repaired and was eventually Struck off Charge on 17th Jan 1942.

This seems quite logical and not too unusual.

I hope this helps

[Phil L.]

Hi Larry,

I was thinking that too, but wanted to find somebody sharing the same opinion. I had a doubt because the Autorithy took time to take the decision not to repair it.

Thanks

Phil

[Larry]

I think others on the site will know of many examples of RAF aircraft that were kept on charge perhaps in the hope they could be fixed and yet they weren't so the delay occurs in being SOC.

The other explanation which perhaps is more logical is that the aircraft was written off on the day of the accident but someone forgot to record the fact, and with typed up records such as ORB or F540 you cannot insert a retrospective entry as you can now with you home computer, so the aircraft was SOC at a later date when someone remembered to write up the aircraft's fate.

RAF myth has it that the Squadron ORB etc was written by the dimest person on the Squadron, as anyone of use to the unit would be flying or fixing aircraft!