Photos 8-1-05

[kaki3152]

The picture of ZD*A,P9317, ex-222 Sq.,captured June 1,1940 is a great picture of first captured flyable Spitfire. This plane was flown by PO H.E.L. Falkhurst who landed this plane on June 1,1940 during the battle of Dunkirk.
It was probably later tested at Rechlin under the code 2+1.

According to Alfred Price, the Luftwaffe had captured four flyable or repairable Spitfires by the beginning of the Battle of Britain:

Possible candidates:
(1) Spitfire I , P9317, 222 Sq, captured 6-1-40.
(2) Spitfire PRIB, P9331, 212 Sq, captured after fall of FRance
(3) Spitfire I , K????, 54 Sq, captured May 23,1940
(4) so-called French Spitfire (1 export version of Spitfire I) captured in damaged condition after fall of France.