Spitfire door identity

Will it be at Leg… 😀

With a part number change I think it would be a different 300 number as well??????

Hi Qldspitty, no the 30027 part of the number stays the same, only the end part changes. 30027-1477 changed to 30027-1839. It has to stay 30027 because this designates fuselage.

Steve

With a part number change I think it would be a different 300 number as well??????

Steve I wondered if any of these stampings referred to mod or issue status on the drawing that would be dated in the LH column. A mod or issue date would point us toward the mark of Spitfire.

Mark

Hi all, ive looked at the door drawing Peter and cant see any of the numbers on the door on the drawing except the part no.30027 1863 sht 59 G. There was a part no change on 18-2-1939. The top corner gusset part no was 30027 1477 but was changed to 30027 1839. So if we could find out part no of gusset you could tell if pre or post 1939.

Steve

If those are 20mm holes, that is remarkably good grouping!

Funnily enough, was having a telephone conversation with Mark12 earlier this evening when we commented on exactly that point! I rather suspect we could be looking at axe, pick-axe, wrecking bar type damage.

I’ll look forward to the identity being revealed on G-INFO;

It’s more than a lot of projects have started with……:p

Judging by the size of the bullet holes looks like it was hit by 20mm

If those are 20mm holes, that is remarkably good grouping!

Hi all, Peter i looked at door drawing and the above numbers are not on there. The post says “written”, so does this mean the numbers were penciled on?

Steve.

Steve I wondered if any of these stampings referred to mod or issue status on the drawing that would be dated in the LH column. A mod or issue date would point us toward the mark of Spitfire.

Mark

Mark

He has found this written on the door, no sign of any other wreakage the door must have been blown off, judging by the size of the holes in it im not surprised.

DB 5465 / A1251 / LTD133B

ENG 21925

SFB99802

Does any of this help?

Hi all, Peter i looked at door drawing and the above numbers are not on there. The post says “written”, so does this mean the numbers were penciled on?

Steve.

My contact picked this piece up from the ground in France so I think you must be confusing it with another Spit door Andy.

No, I have either seen this item or photos of it before. Definitely!! Possibly when I was in France in from one of my French contacts, but I have an idea there was even some discussion as to which aircraft/pilot may have been involved and a short list of possible identities emerged.

Was it on another forum in the last 18 months or so??

I just need to wrack my brains as to where I know it from and what the story was. I am pretty much 100% certain we worked out the aircraft serial no, sqn, pilot etc etc and it was CERTAINLY an early Mk, either II or V. It seems unlikely there is a door with identical damage etc in the Pas de Calais.

Graham, the hinges don’t look as if they’ve parted company with their mounts by force. A very nice find.

I Agree it’s very nice unfortunately it’s not mine, not yet anyway:D

Its a bit of a mystery Mark also says it wasn’t shot off, so how it ended up in a field on its own is a bit strange, perhaps it was removed as a souvenir and the person got board with carrying it and threw it into a field, who knows?

Fantastic find!
Any more info? – when was this gem found and was it just laying on the surface?

Not sure when it was found fairly recently I believe, will find out. yes it was just lying on the surface.

The two vertical top hat stiffeners are missing and the paint evidence indicates that were separated some time after the incident as the paint thereunder is less distressed.

This part has been ‘tampered’ post initial find

It has been laying for many years outer skin to weather.

If the 3×3 1/8 rivets are mag alloy (the remains of one is still evident,) I suggest that it finally fell off the datum longeron at the crash site or scrap yard.

Can you polish up a bit of the external paint colour?

Mark

Hello Mark

I will ask him , will post a pic as soon as i get it.

This looks very familiar.

I have seen it before somewhere.

My contact picked this piece up from the ground in France so I think you must be confusing it with another Spit door Andy.

Steve,

A good point.

Can you pull the assembly drawing from the AA store and see if any of those digits, past the basic drawing number, refer to mod state or issue level in the left hand column?

Mark

I’ll have a look on monday Peter & see what it says.

Steve

Hi all, door could be from a MKI because the catches at either end of canopy rail look like they are made of stainless because they have’nt gone rusty. I think on later MK’s they were just steel.

Steve.

Steve,

A good point.

Can you pull the assembly drawing from the AA store and see if any of those digits, past the basic drawing number, refer to mod state or issue level in the left hand column?

Mark

This looks very familiar.

I have seen it before somewhere.

spitfire door identity

Hi all, door could be from a MKI because the catches at either end of canopy rail look like they are made of stainless because they have’nt gone rusty. I think on later MK’s they were just steel.

Steve.

The two vertical top hat stiffeners are missing and the paint evidence indicates that were separated some time after the incident as the paint thereunder is less distressed.

This part has been ‘tampered’ post initial find

It has been laying for many years outer skin to weather.

If the 3×3 1/8 rivets are mag alloy (the remains of one is still evident,) I suggest that it finally fell off the datum longeron at the crash site or scrap yard.

Can you polish up a bit of the external paint colour?

Mark

Fantastic find!
Any more info? – when was this gem found and was it just laying on the surface?