Spitfires captured or crashed on the continent 1940

[Larry Hickey]

As part of a larger project, I'm attempting to locate and identify as many photos as possible of Spitfires downed in France during 1940. I'm estimating that there are approximately 25-35 possible aircraft that came down in such a condition that they could be potentially identifiable from their markings. Most would have been lost during the Dunkirk evacuation period of late-May, early-June, 1940, although there are examples earlier and some later. Today, a new photo that I hadn't seen before was sold on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEDW%3AIT&rd=1. This one clearly carries the individual letter "U," and appears to show the partial serial ??20? There is a village or town in the background that may be readily identifiable as to a location to some of the readers of this board. This is likely a plane lost during the period May-June, 1940, but it may have been later, or even beyond the end of 1940, which is my cut off. Can anyone supply an identification for this Spitfire or the location for the crash?

I'm also trying to identify an ECPA photo that has been published that shows the wreckage of a Spitfire that appears to have made a wheels down landing on a beach in the vicinity of Dunkirk, taken from below the left wing, with the black undersurface visible. The cockpit and rear of the a/c may have been burned out. Other views of the aircraft, possibly with markings info, may exist. Can anyone help with the identification of this a/c?

I would be most interested in exchanging information with others who have an expertise in this subject.

I'll be posting further inquiries on this subject over the next few days.

Thanx

[Chris Goss]

Larry-I have a couple and you can see them (hopefully) when you are here in November

[Franek Grabowski]

Larry
There are tons of photos of Al Deere's Spit, I think the aircraft from ECPA is a survivor at Mimoyeques but I may be wrong. There is a man in UK with a considerable knowledge of beach Spitfire wrecks and a buddy here in Poland has an extensive Spitfire database - no problem with checking, especially if a serial or a part of it is visible.

[Fairlop]

Larry and Franek,

The ECPA photo isn´t an ex-Mimoyeques´ Spitfire N3200 s/d on 26/05/1940. It force-landed without undercarriage and have not been burned out.

Regards,
Michal

[Larry Hickey]

Franek & :Michel,

Thanks for responses.

Franek, who is the UK expert with knowledge of Spitfire Beach Wrecks? I'm not familiar with the location Mimoyeques, but if I interpret Michel's response correctly, the one at Mimoyeques was N3200. I know about this one, QV-(no individual code), N3200 of 19 SQ CL intact on May 26, 1940, by S/L G.D. Stephenson. Michel, is that correct for the a/c at "Mimoyeques?"

While I'm at it, here is another Spitfire beach crash in France that was recently on eBay. This, I think, is another shot of Alan Deere's KL-B. Can anyone confirm that and identify the village/town in the background?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...205804309&rd=1

Another recent eBay auction featured this 92 SQ Spitfire: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

According to "Air Battle Dunkirk" by Norman Franks. These are 92 SQ losses in France that are likely candidates. (Note: It is certain that this is not S/L Roger Bushell's a/c, N3194, that CL 23.5.40; center burned out; Code GR-Z):

23.5.40 - P9370 - Learmond - SD in flames; pilot killed.
23.5.40 - N3290 - Gillies - SD by Bf110 & POW
23.5.40 - P9373 - Klippsch - SD and Killed in combat with Bf110s.

24.5.40 - P9374 - Casanove - POW near Dover. "Reported ex "GR-J"

So, can anybody identify the wreckage of this one or the location?

Thanx

[Larry Hickey]

After looking at my previous post, I think that the wreckage of the latter cited a/c is probably a Fairy Battle of 105 SQ (Code GB) rather than a 92 SQ Spitfire (Code GR).

Thanx

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Agree , never seen a Spitfire with that sort of canopy.

Alex

[Fairlop]

Larry,

Yes, fragments of the N3200 were recovered from the sands in the early 90s and showed at Mimoyecques´ V-3 site for 2-3 years. They were sold ( ? ) later.

Cheers,
Michal

[Larry Hickey]

Michal,

Is the rather precise spot where the N3200 wrekage was found known? I'd like to pin this down on a map, if possible.

Thanx

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Larry Hickey

Is the rather precise spot where the N3200 wrekage was found known? I'd like to pin this down on a map, if possible.

It is from Sangatte I think. The man is Peter R. Arnold.