At 4pm today it will be the 77th anniversary of Spitfire I P9398 being shot down in flames off Folkestone Pier by Horst Tietzen, taking Sgt Frederick Eley of 74 Squadron to his death. Looking at the history of P9398 shows that it was issued to 74 Squadron on 26/05/40. However this Spitfire is more famous for being involved in a mid air collision with a Bf109E whilst being flown by Al Deere of 54 Squadron. However i can`t find any date for the Spitfire arriving at 54 Squadron. Is it a possibility that Deere borrowed this Spitfire from a neighbouring squadron?.
By: One of the Few - 2nd August 2017 at 15:26
He was`nt. N3183 was shot down on the 9th July 1940 whilst being flown by Pilot Officer Evershed who was killed in action.
By: Engelsted - 1st August 2017 at 16:40
Al Deere was flying N3183 on the 9th of July.
By: Firebird - 31st July 2017 at 21:46
I seem to recall that 54 and 74 used the same airfield for a time and i wonder if Deere borrowed P9398 due to aircraft shortages.
Yes, both based at Hornchurch and used Manston as a FOB.
74 moved north to Wittering on 14th Aug and onto a Kirton-in-Lindsey a week later, while 54 stayed on at Hornchurch before being withdawn north to Catterick for rest on Sept 2nd.
By: 1batfastard - 31st July 2017 at 19:31
Hi All,
One of the few – Maybe both ’54 and 74 Sqns’ had spits in for repair at the same time and the ’54 Sqn’ needed a replacement more urgently
so they received another that was awaiting collection ?
Geoff.
By: One of the Few - 31st July 2017 at 19:21
I had checked the Spitfire history page earlier today and the entry for P9398 is ambiguous in relation to a transfer to 54 squadron. It merely states that it was damaged on the 9th July whilst being flown by Deere of 54 Squadron. I seem to recall that 54 and 74 used the same airfield for a time and i wonder if Deere borrowed P9398 due to aircraft shortages. If so there will be a lot of model Spitfires in the wrong markings!, it seems strange that it was sent back to 74 after repair, if it had been on the strength of 54 Squadron.
By: 1batfastard - 31st July 2017 at 18:03
Hi All,
One of the few, – The quote below from the 54Sqn wiki page:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._54_Squadron_RAF
“The Squadron was reformed at RAF Hornchurch on 15 January 1930 as a fighter squadron equipped initially with dual-control
Siskin Trainers until Bristol Bulldog fighters were received in April that year. The squadron had a brief stay at RAF Upavon in 1931, prior to
returning to RAF Hornchurch. The Bulldogs were replaced by Gloster Gauntlets, in September 1936 and Gladiators in April 1937, before the
Squadron’s first monoplane, the Supermarine Spitfire, arrived in March 1939.“
If you need anymore info why not try here:- “A Supermarine-produced document held in the Cambridge University Vickers archives (MS541)”
this comes from this web site:-http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/home.html
Failing any of the above Mk12 (Peter aka Mr Spitfire) would be more ably suit to help you out I am certain…:eagerness:
Geoff.
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July 31, 2017 at 3:13 pm