Spitfire accident records of 65 and 257 RAF Sqns

[David Sumerauer]

Hello Marcellus,

I finaly got to my Sturtivant book and can correct my information given before. Page 218

August 17, 1941
Spitfire IIa, P8165
presentation aircraft "MARY P LYLE, LUCK"

.. on 17 August Sgt A. Mrtyv (!) (Czechoslovak) undershot landing at North Coates Fitties and hit a ridge on the boundary tearing the undercarrige legs off on returning from operational flight .. Category C damage

Regards. David

[VoyTech]

I presume after "Dark Blue World" everybody is well aware that "mrtvy" means "dead" in Czech...

Both 65 Sqn accidents (P8165 on 17/8/41 and P7530 on 19/8/41) seem to have been recorded for Sgt Mrtvy 787187, but in one case the name and in the other the service number were misspelled (78787 would have been an RAF VR officer's number).

I think I might have a scan of a photo of AD192 RY-K.
IIRC the pic was published in Zdenek Hurt's book "Czechs in the RAF".

Why is it W/O Mrtvy you're interested in?

[Marcellus]

David,
VoyTech,
thanks both for the update. Mrtvy's RAFVR number was indeed 78787. I have the book 'Czechs in the RAF' and I have pictures of the crash when he was in 313 Sqn to which you are refering to.
Why I am doing this?
Well, the BEL institute for veterans wants to bring back memories of Allied soldiers who died on Belgian soil to live through a facebook page. As most are taking USA, Commonwealth and Belgian soldiers, airmen, etc I wanted to emphasise that a lot of other nations have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I am just starting to put all the bits and pieces together with great help out of the Czech Republic. I am planning to come back to the forum to find out more details on RAMROD 753 to Malines Marshalling area on 19.04.1944 and trying to find out why he was shot down approx 35 to 40 Km behind the bombing area? Still escorting bombers on the way back??

Cheers and thanks again,

Marc

[VoyTech]

Marc,
Either it's a misspelling again or you're wrong.
78787 (five digit number) was that of a commissioned officer.
Czech NCOs and WOs had six digit numbers. Mrtvy's no. was 787187.