1938 Spitfire losses.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Spitfire losses in 1938.

Sqn - Date - Serial - Pilot - Fate/Details
19 - 20-9-38 - K9792 - ? - To G I 3-11-38.

19 - 28-11-38 - K9808 - ? - To 1238M 9-3-39.

66 - 1-12-38 - K9816 - ? - B U 24-1-39.


Anything on the pilots and events that caused these Spitfires looses ?

Alex

[Graham Boak]

Air Britain is running a series on the early batches of Spitfires. Offhand, I think it is in Aeromilitaria. Do you have access to this? If not, I'll dig them out and check to see it it says any more there.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham,

No I do not have access to the data you mention.
Many thanks for your offer.

What I have is -
For K9792 is that it sheared an axle on landing and overturned at Duxford on the 20.9.38.
For K9808 is that it crashed in a forced landing at Egmere , Norfolk on the 28.11.38
For K9816 is that it crashed on landing at Duxford on the 1.12.38 and was later Broken up to scrap.
Details of these events and the fate and names of the pilots involved would be great.

Alex

[paulmcmillan]

The first article in Aeromilitaria (by the late Henry Boot) did not include pilots names. Subsequent articles by another author (I believe Wojtek Matusiak - but I appologise in advance if this is incorrect) do list the pilots where known. Anyway saying that - I have the following

K9792 first Spitfire for RAF, CFS Cranwell and then to 19.Sqn, also first crash landed Spit of the RAF (3.11.38 ?): stalled in 2m hight, overturned and crashlanded Pilot: SINCLAIR; converted to GI and forwarded to 2 SoTT after 41:35 f/hrs

Note different date: - Aeromilitaria has the date as 20/9/38 and sheared an axle on landing and overturned at Duxford - Unless 2 separate incidents - I note that I had the date as suspect

Just found this in my hard disk:

"K9792 - Crashed 3rd November 1938, Duxford, Pilot Fg Off Gordon Sinclair. Making his first Spitfire landing when the stub axle of the port mainwheel sheared and the aircraft flipped on to its back. Pilot Unhurt: Source: Aeroplane Monthly March 2006 Issue (with Photo)
Note: Aeroplane Monthly has 1939 - Wrong Year!"

Note: Supermarine Spitfire Crash Log - Volume 1 (1938 - 1942) has 20/9/38 19 (Sqn) K9792 Duxford. Crashed on landing.

I am unsure if there was an earlier accident on 20/9/38!


K9808 19 Sqn Egmere, Norfolk, Crashed in forced landing 28.11.38; To 1238M.

[Graham Boak]

Sorry Alex, what you have is what AB quotes in Aeromilitaria Spring 2006.

The later listings are credited to Henry Boot, with the assistance of Wojtek Matusiak

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham and Paul,

Both of you have given great replies.

Thank you for your help.

My info came from Spitfire the History and the Air Britain L1000 -N9999.

Spitfire Crash Log Vols, are these available now or are they now out of print do you know? I have not heard of it before.

Alex