Sea Spitfire PR432

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: A preserved Royal Navy Supermarine Sea Spitfire (Seafire) showing the wings folded for storage on aircraft carriers.

F XVII SX336 Kennet Aviation

RN Seafire with wings folded

Photo: 2006 'Kogo': Released by the author to the public domain

Aircraft Type and Background

RN FAA Supermarine Sea Spitfire ('Seafire') / PR432

A military carrier-borne fighter aircraft operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.

The Supermarine Seafire (official name, Sea Spitfire) was the Royal Navy's version of the Spitfire; later versions being specially adapted with folding wings and arrestor hook for use on aircraft carriers.

The first FAA Seafires were modified versions of the land-based Spitfire Marks Va and Vb, renamed as Seafire Mark II. These variants did not have folding wings. Unfortunately, the Spitfire was never really designed to be converted to a deck-landing Seafire. Modified Seafires found carrier approaches difficult and suffered often from landing gear collapses. Again, at times, the arrestor hooks failed to catch the deck wire and would recoil into the aircraft fuselage damaging the airframe.

The Seafires were equipped with two 20mm cannon and four .303in machine guns in the wings. The could also carry a 500lb bomb load. (Later post-war variants (Mk XVII) were equipped with rocket projectiles.)

In November 1943, the first Seafires with folding wings to enter service with the FAA was the Mark F III, soon to be replaced by the Mark L III. These types made possible below-deck storage. These variants were equipped with Merlin engines.

In May 1945, the first Seafires equipped with Griffon engines appeared. These were the Mark XVs--the type featured on this page. By this time, however, the war in Europe had been brought to a successful conclusion.

The Seafire continued in active service with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) until 1951, and served with the RNVR until the type was decommissioned in 1954.

Preserved versions of the Seafire can still be seen seen at air displays and in museums today.

BELOW: An RCAF Supermarine Sea Spitfire or Seafire

An RCAF Supermarine Sea Spitfire or Seafire

Photo: Original source unknown

Aircraft Accident Details

This particular aircraft was attached to the re-formed 804 Squadron. At the time of the accident, it was on a ferry flight from RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin) in Fife back to its home base at RNAS Maydown (HMS Shrike), a satellite station of RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) in Northern Ireland. (In 1971, HMS Gannet transferred to its present operational base: Prestwick Airport in Scotland.)

From the 804 Squadron record book, this Seafire was one of six that took off. The Royal Navy pilots flying these aircraft were all Sub-Lieutenants (S/Lts): Bain, Brewer, Hartland, Higgs, Knight, and Ashworth. Three of the pilots turned back due to unserviceable aircraft. S/Lt Brewer was in cloud ahead of the others, endeavouring to get a homing signal back. Higgs got through to RNAS Maydown. [Info in this last paragraph was kindly provided by S. Hayton from FAA Records]

Squadron [HQ] signalled all night for S/Lt Knight . However, while enroute to Maydown, the Seafire had crashed into Hill of Stake in North Ayrshire.

It was not until a week later that the wreckage and body of the pilot were discovered at Hill of Stake by a shepherd working out of Tourgill Farm in Brisbane Glen, Largs.

Aircraft Pilot Casualty

The pilot who died in this incident was:

Sub-Lieutenant John Robert Knight (23), RN

S/Lt Knight was laid to rest in Row N, Grave 6, of Whyteleafe (St. Luke) Churchyard in Surrey, England.

Crash Site Photos

Note: The Seafire wreckage shown below was recovered from the site on 21 September 2000 by an RAF helicopter and transferred to the Fleet Air Arm (Preserved Aircraft) branch. Unfortunately, the links on this FAA website are no longer active.

BELOW: Part of the fuselage from the Supermarine Sea Spitfire (Seafire) which crashed at Hill of Stake in 1947.

section of fuselage from seafire wreckage

BELOW: The cockpit section of the Seafire—without the canopy.

view of cockpit remains from seafire

BELOW: Part of the hydraulic landing gear from the Seafire.

hydraulic landing gear from seafire

BELOW: The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine from the Seafire. This type was used in later versions of the Seafire, in place of the earlier Merlin engines.

Remains of rolls royce griffon engine

BELOW: Perhaps one of very few remaining fragments from the wreck of the Supermarine Seafire.

Excavations of the site are still evident, but all other parts of the wreckage, including the power plant or engine, have been recovered. The size of the above fragment can be gauged from the dimensions of the walking pole handgrip, which measures about 5-6" or 13-15cm.

fragment of wreckage from seafire

Update April 2007: Steve White advises that this fragment can no longer be found. Perhaps it has sunk into the boggy ground or has been removed as a souvenir.

Older Photos

BELOW: The Supermarine Seafire engine or power plant, with other fragmented wreckage lying nearby.

At the time this photo was taken, this was the only known part of the wreckage remaining onsite. Apparently, however, the engine has been recovered since this photo was taken.

seafire engine lying amidst debris field

Photo: 1990 Gordon Lyons

BELOW: Another view of the Griffon power plant.

another view of the griffon powerplant

Photo: 1990 Gordon Lyons

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Crash Date / Site

Accident Date: 3 Feb 1947

Accident Site:

Hill of Stake

Region: North Ayrshire / Renfrewshire boundary

Nearest towns or villages:

Greenock

Largs or

Lochwinnoch

Nearest large towns:

Greenock (N) or Largs (SW)

OS Grid Ref. 63 / NS 273629

GPS Ref. N/A

Present Condition: Although crashing near the summit of Hill of Stake in the North Ayrshire / Renfrewshire hills, c.4.5 miles NE of Largs, almost all of the wreckage has now been recovered.

Recovery took place on 21 September 2000, when the wreckage was transferred to the Fleet Air Air Arm (Preserved Aircraft) branch.