PRU Spitfire P9382 July 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have a note that P9382 force-landed with battle damage at Dyce on 25 July 1940. Apparently the aircraft was w/o.

Who was the pilot and who/what inflicted the battle damage?

Cheers
Brian

[Revi16]

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p008.html

[Brian]

Thanks Revi16

So it was damaged beyond repair after it had landed at Dyce, presumably during an air raid????

Cheers
Brian

[Martin Gleeson]

Brian.

Not so hasty ! The Air-Britain 'AEROMILITARIA' Spitfire I series which heavily used the Form 78 Aircraft History Cards along with other sources notes no such incident for P9382, although this is NOT proof it did not happen.
The entry for P9382 notes that it was Taken On Charge by 1 PRU on 7 May 1940. Then to RAE for fuel system trials and back to PRU (dates unknown). After this just that it was shot down on 8 October 1940 and Struck Off Charge on the 31st of that month.
According to the ORB for the PRU (AIR 29/413) around this time (July 1940) the unit had a detachment at Wick for operations over Norway mostly. The ORB has no mention of any such incident around this time and there was no sortie this date from Wick. There was one sortie from there over Norway by another Spitfire (P9550) on both the 24th and 26th.
P9382 is noted flying operationally on the 28th from Wick to Norway, and afterwards.
So I do not think this incident happened as you describe. Have you any firmer information ? I would be very interested in this also.

By the way, I received a copy yesterday of 'BLENHEIMS OVER GREECE AND CRETE 1940-1941' It will be a long time before I get around to reading it properly but I am very impressed and delighted to have it. Well done.

Regards,

Martin.