Spit crashed in north italy, summer 1944

[micky]

Some time ago, i've posted a request about a spitfire crashed over the Appennini in a undefined date in mid summer 1944.
According to the latest investigations, the plane seems to be a Spitfire mk VIII with "E" wing, two 20mm hispano and two .50 cal., some shells and bakelite battery cover, with many other debris, was recovered from the crash site, the skin pieces wear green/gray paint.
I know 145 squadron and two SAAF squadron use spit VIII in summer 1944. According to the witness the plane came from east, over the lake of Gazzano the pilot make an half roll and bail out, land in a stream bed and was rescued later by some partisan and evacuated in the Modena area (Romanoro) to avoid capture.
In the area, at the time, a big anti partisan operation was in progress, so may be the date of crash was around july or august.
No data was found in the partisan archives, anyone can help with any kind of informations? thanks again

[ginklo]

It may be MH768, crashed at Montemurlo (Prato) 10/23/1944.
Pilot was Leonard Williams.

[micky]

Hi, sorry but Lt.Williams Spit went down about 120 Kms from this!
This spit is on the north side of Apennine mountains.

[micky]

Anyone know a link to SAAF spitfire squadron who was in italy in 1944? thanks

[micky]

Thanks to Canadian friends, seems to be i have identyfied this guy:

"F/O J.E.R. Locke. He was on a weather recce on 10 August when his Spitfire
JF931 was hit by flak. He bailed out northwest of Florence, near the
village of Pavella (correct Pavullo). The Operational Record Book notes that this was an area controlled by partisans. Locke survived, but I do not know the story after he bailed out."

Anyone can say more? thanks

[Graham Boak]

I don't have my serial books to hand, but the combination of a Mk.VIII with an e wing sounds unique. My understanding is that all production aircraft had the c armament. I presume it would be possible to fit the Mk.IXe wing to a Mk.VIII, although this would lose the inboard fuel tank, and would presumably be done to both side to allow for the different ailerons.

There were conversion kits so that c wings could be converted to e wings, but these were only available just before D-Day for UK-based units. August sounds early for such to have reached Italy, assuming any were so dispatched. Similarly, it seems very early for a production Mk.IXe to have reached this theatre, let alone bits become available for "bodging" a Mk.VIII.

All this considered, is it possible that these were 0.303 Brownings? Or a later crash? Otherwise: very unusual.

[micky]

As you can see, its a .50 cal

[micky]

Originally Posted by micky

As you can see, its a .50 cal

but may be you are right, and it was spit XI, later i'll post other pics of items found in the crash site.

[micky]

Ok, here is some other pieces recovered:









http://www.3wstyle.net/public/files_...isan/05-AM.JPG



let my know your opinion, thanks

[Graham Boak]

JF931 was a Mk.VIII, but is not recorded struck off charge until 29 March 1947. Unfortunately Spitfire the History does not record any unit allocation for it, but does have it in MAAF 21st June 1944. Its first flight was also not recorded - but it was at 9 MU in August 1943.

It could be that it was the aircraft involved in F/O Locke's incident, and records were just not kept.