First Captured Flyable Spitfire

[Chris Goss]

Thanks for this. The 74 and 222 Sqn aircraft landed as a result of combat with no engine (as did K9977 on 21 May-K9867 was 23 May and P9317 was 1 June). The photos I have seen of the captured recce Spit show it in bits in a hangar. Therefore I believe these were non-flyers whilst N3277 was definitely a flier

[udf_00]

Seems there was a memo dated on 9 AUG 1940 following comparison flights at E-Stelle Rechlin and involving at least a Spitfire.
http://www.kurfurst.org/Tactical_tri...g_Aug1940.html

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

The photos I have seen of the captured recce Spit show it in bits in a hangar. Therefore I believe these were non-flyers whilst N3277 was definitely a flier

Hi Chris,

P9331 landed at Rheims/Champagne on 07 Jun 40 with a glycol leak and fuel shortage. The French had rendered the airfield u/s with obstacles but no damage was done during landing. 212 Sqn were unable to recover the aircraft and despite requests for the French to destroy the aircraft it was later captured intact by the Germans.

If the aircraft was only suffering from a coolant leak it seems highly likely the Germans would have been able to return it to flyable condition.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher