Spitfire BL907

[Spiteful]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could provide any further pictures or information of Spitfire BL907, or provide confirmation of any of the squadron codes it wore? I'm looking for any information on this particular plane as we believe it crashed into my father in laws house in Feb 1945 (the event in the record above), which is at the end of the Cosford run way. When they were rebuild the house, they dug up a few parts of the aircraft, such as the wing navigation lights.
I have previously asked on the Key publishing forum, but thought there may be people here that could also help. The info I have found out so far is:

LFLRVb 33MU 7-2-42 Starveall Farm dispersal 27-2-42 222S 14-4-42 CB ops ros ASTH 610S 29-1-43 350S 27-3-43 133S 17-2-44 132S 7-3-44 504S 15-3-44 landed on top of AD577 Hawarden CAC 10-9-44 AST 23-9-44 FACE 27-2-45 SOC 15-3-45 (copied from http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p025.htm)

From Key publishing response:
Cat. B damage in 222 Sqn was on 19 June 1942, when it was damaged in combat with Fw 190s off Belgain coast, Sgt R. Hoare escaping unhurt. It was repaired by Westlands and went to 38 MU on 10 August, but was damaged cat. B in an accident on 26 August. This time repaired by the AST Hamble, it went to 610 Sqn as in your listing.
In 350 Sqn it was damaged cat. AC on 8 July. Repaired on site it resumed service with No. 350. In late September 1943 it went to 3501 Servicing Unit, presumably for conversion to LF.V.
The "133 Sqn" entry is doubtful: I don't think there was a 133 Sqn in the RAF at the time. This might be a misspelling for 132 Sqn.
After the accident in September 1944, the damage category seems to have been changed to 'B' at the AST on the 23th. Following repair it was allocated to 9 MU on 22 January 1945. I found reference to the landing collision taking place on 17 February 1945, not the 27th.


The ORB:

28th February 1945; “Court of Inquiry assembled on 20th February 1945 to investigate, report and fix responsibility for flying accident on 17th February 1945 to Spitfire BL907. President F/Lt Fleet, 48 MU and member F/Lt Smith 9 MU.”

From Gifts of War book:

Spitfire BL907 was a presentation Spitfire named Spirit of Natal. It was presented through the governor general’s fund and South African Mayor’s fund, the total raised being £26,1949 of which £202,000 was donated by Natal. According to the book it was delivered to 9 MU on 4th October 1944, but on 17th February 1945 crashed while on a test at Donington, near Albrighton. Photo in IWM.

I have obtained the picture of the Spirit of Natal from the IWM, but have noticed something that has got me wondering. The picture appears to show that the canopy is a PR type, with the additional bulges on the side - Please note - copyright of phote belongs to IWM:



The picture shows a gunsight, and external bulletproof windscreen also.

Could anyone provide any further information to help? Could BL907 not be the Spirit of Natal?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks,

Sean