Can anyone confirm that Spitfire L1059 Mk1a of 58 OTU which was lost at Hillhead Farm, Slamannan, near Falkirk. which dived in from a low height whilst circling in misty weather in the hills at 1040 Hours on 14-02-41 killing Sgt John Tristram Silvester #956162 aged 22 was dug last weekend or recently? possibly by Dumfries Aviation Museum if so how much was recovered?
Thanks
Paul
By: paulmcmillan - 3rd December 2013 at 10:15
Picture of dig:
By: Johnny Kavanagh - 3rd October 2013 at 14:48
Afternoon Chaps
I missed the dig itself but will have the job of helping to clean the recovered material this weekend – it won’t take long as there isn’t much to clean. The prop is the biggest piece, there is no wing structure and very little fuselage structure, mainly fuel tank forward. The engine itself is properly shattered. The site was picked clean but there was barely enough to fill a one ton bag (prop aside). There being no rear fuselage I suspect the recovery crew cleared the vast majority of the wreckage when recovering the pilot at the time.
Be rest assured, any ‘rumours’ of substantial wreckage being recovered are utter tosh, and it will NOT be at Legends……
Bob
By: paulmcmillan - 3rd October 2013 at 13:24
From RAFCommands and other sources
It was on strength of 603 squadron from 16/09/1939 to 01/10/1939
When L1059 (piloted by Plt Off James Storrs Morton’s #90727 survived) landed on top of L1047 ‘XT-M’ (pilot
F/O James Alexander Brownlie Somerville
#90196 aged 26 killed and
aircrft w/o) at RAF Grangemouth,
and was sent off to AST Hamble for rebuild.
It was then issued direct to 266 on 04/06/1940 and did not return to 603.
The full story of the accident on 1st October is supposed to be contained in
David Ross’s “The Greatest Squadron of Them All” Though I do not have it
I then has an Cat 2 accident 09/08/40 struck building landing Wittering
when being piloted by Sgt Arthur William Eade #563253 who was OK
Sent to 1 Civilian Repair Unit (Colwey) for repair and then to 58 OTU
Can’t find 152 Sqn reference
* All above needs to be cross referenced from primary sources
By: G-ORDY - 3rd October 2013 at 13:11
We aren’t all on a sabattical
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd October 2013 at 12:48
I don’t have the AM Form 78, but I see from AB that it was also on the strength of 152 Squadron at some point.
Do you have dates, Paul, as to which units and when? 603? 266?
By: paulmcmillan - 3rd October 2013 at 11:43
Martin
Thanks managed to see propeller image now the rumour is quiet a large amount of wreckage recovered, I wonder if this would be worthy of an inclusion in Vol 1 of the book – its a massive shame someone on here on sabbatical !
Paul
By: wieesso - 3rd October 2013 at 11:05
Paul, have you noticed this
https://twitter.com/MorrisLeigh/status/384048814471913472/photo/1
Martin
Sign In
October 3, 2013 at 9:56 am