|
Registration or Serial: P7540
Operator: Royal Air Force (13 Group; 312 (Czech)
Squadron)
Operating Base: RAF Ayr; (Including
also, RAF 44 Group Transport;
RN HMS Gannett; HMS Wagtail.)
Base
Location: Ayr (Heathfield)
Aerodrome, Ayr, Scotland.
Current Airport Status:
Operational
Civil Airport;
National Air Traffic Services (NATS): Scottish Area
Control Centre (SACC), Oceanic Area Control Centre (OACC),
Military Control, & Engineering.
Current Airport Name:
Glasgow (Prestwick) International Airport (EGPK)
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Type Nickname:
the Spit
Aircraft Type & Background
Designed by R J Mitchell, the
elliptical-winged Supermarine Spitfire was one of the
most capable and effective fighters of WWII. It was produced in a
number of variants, and with different power plants and armaments.
The Spitfire was considered a high performing, agile and stable
fighter platform. Ultimately, 20,000 Spitfires and Sea Spitfires (or
'Seafires'; the naval variant) were produced.
The Spitfire first entered service with
the RAF at Duxford in August, 1938, and many subsequent
variants were produced.
During the Battle of Britain, Mk I Spitfires were
outnumbered by Hawker Hurricanes. Nevertheless, the Spitfires
were usually considered as the most deadly aircraft in the skies
above Britain.
The Mark II Spitfire was equipped with
a Rolls-Royce Merlin XII engine of 1,175hp. The Mark IIA variant—the
type featured here—was fitted with eight .303in machine guns.
Aircraft Accident Details
On 25 October 1941, this Spitfire left
RAF Ayr on a training flight. As it flew over what is now
Dumfries & Galloway, the pilot made a low pass over Loch Doon,
219m (720ft)
up on these hills. However, as he banked away from the loch, his
wing caught the surface of the water, causing the aircraft to crash into
the loch.
The RAF mounted a search for the
Spitfire and its pilot, but they could find no trace of the
aircraft.
It was not until 1977 that a serious
search for the aircraft was resumed. However it was to take 5 years
(until 1982)
before the Spitfire was located in Loch Doon. Ultimately, the
aircraft was
recovered by a team of divers and recovery experts, operating under
RAF license.
A full account of the recovery effort,
together with photos of this aircraft can be found at the
Dumfries
and Galloway Sub Aqua Club, under the Loch Doon Spitfire
Project.
The Spitfire has been
partially restored, and is now on static display at the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum.
The pilot who died in this accident
was:
|
