It’s a bit of a long shot but I wonder if anybody has any photographs of this particular Spitfire . It came to grief on the Skirrid mountain near Abergavenny on 8/3/42 killing the pilot, Sgt Thomas Crowe. I understand that it was one of the first batch of Spitfires ordered from Supermarines. Thanks in anticipation
By: Sopwith - 13th December 2019 at 08:02
Thanks ian, haven’t been in the Crown for years, must have a look. I was in the Abergavenny ATC for a few years, infact one of the original members when it first started. That was before they went aircraft hunting unfortunately.
By: ian_ - 12th December 2019 at 17:32
I doubt the Abergavenny Chronicle will have much info, and it certainly would not have appeared at the time. There is a memorial plaque in the Crown at Pantygelli, looking across the valley to the Skirrid. The crash gets a mention in ‘Spitfires, Thunderbolts an Warm Beer’, the recollections of an American who trained with 53 OTU. The local ATC squadron had a small display of parts back in the eighties, and I have a few small pieces myself. As it broke up through trees, there was very little left.
By: Sopwith - 11th December 2019 at 22:19
Just an update I have contacted the Abergavenny Chronicle and awaiting a reply, but don’t hold much hope. Anyway fingers crossed.
By: Sopwith - 10th December 2019 at 08:55
Hello Ian, thanks for your reply, I grew up at Pandy, and went to school in Abergavenny. I always knew about the Spitfire crash on the Skirrid and I was looking at an old pamphlet on crashed aircraft in the area the other day and it stirred my interest in L1014 as it was so close to my home.
Also my partner’s father was at King Henry VIII grammar school at the time of the event and he remembered some of his classmates going to see it and talking about it the following day when they came into school. I would be interested to see any photos of it or of the accident. I haven’t contacted the Chronicle yet to see if they did much coverage of it.
By: ian_ - 9th December 2019 at 21:49
Hello Sopwith, there is a poor quality photo of the aircraft on it’s belly after a forced landing, probably when it was 610 Sqdn 16/4/40. I can’t remember where at the moment. There’s also quite a bit of info on Sgt Crowe the pilot lost on it’s last flight. He was from the Wirral, and his family donated an album, letters and his flying helmet to the Museum at Fort Perch Rock. The Skirrid is within sight of my family home. What’s your interest in the aircraft?
By: Sopwith - 9th December 2019 at 16:19
Nobody ?. Trouble with this new setup you cannot tell how many have looked at the post. Anyway fingers crossed. Thanks
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December 8, 2019 at 7:59 pm