Seeking Info Possible Interception of Lone PR Spitfire December 23, 1943

[blythsco]

The pilot was Capt. Steven A "Scotty" Scott who was Operations Officer of the 22nd Squadron of the 7th Photo Group based at Mount Farm UK. He was flying Spitfire MK XI PA 851. There were only three sorties that day and his was Sortie AA474. He covered the targets which were Osnabruck and Munster, Germany and had problems on his return. At 1020 hours a coastal flight control station (British) received a distress call. His engine was out and he was gliding at 15,000ft. The control station maintained radio contact for the next 8 minutes and gave numerous vectors to the nearest point of land. They lost radio contact at 1028 hours when he reported his altitude as 5,000ft. Control notified the Air Sea Rescue Service (British) which immediately dispatched Walrus aircraft to the last point of cross vectors. They found a concentrated oil slick on the water at the probable point of the crash which was about 10 miles from the North Sea coast of Suffolk near the town of Southwold. He was way North of where he was supposed to be. I am wondering if there are any reports of interceptions that morning from Luftwaffe pilots or flak batteries in Germany or Holland?

Thanks

Scott Blyth