”There was no air traffic control at the airfield and a club member flying locally was the only person who communicated with the Spitfire pilot. The Spitfire was observed by a considerable crowd as it came in approximately 1,500 – 2,000 ft over the field and made a wide right turn. After crossing the
extended centerline east of the field on a south-easterly heading, it made a wide left turn which brought it on a left hand base and later final for runway 23.
The landing gear and flaps were lowered in the turn to final and the Spitfire flew a slightly curved, stable descending final leg. The
Spitfire crossed the threshold high and continued about 100 m before the throttle was closed and the
airplane was seen to begin the flare.
The airplane was about 5 m above the ground, 230 m from
threshold and continued to float in ground effect. Recordings from a video camera located 350 m from the threshold showed that the aircraft passed 1 m above the ground at a speed of 83 kt.
The Spitfire touched down on the runway on the main wheels 350 m from threshold, still with the tail wheel about 0.7 m off the ground.
The airplane touched down with the left main wheel 7 m from the left runway edge. It then became airborne shortly before the tail wheel made firm imprints on the ground 380 m from the threshold.
The Spitfire moved along a straight line towards the left runway edge and the left main wheel crossed the runway edge 590 m from the threshold. It gradually drifted left into the adjacent barley field and flipped over onto its back after traveling 95 m through one meter tall crop. Tracks from
the main wheels show signs of braking action, especially outside the runway.
Photos and video recordings show that the rudder was in neutral position during the entire rollout. Photos of the wind sock indicate that the wind was 5 kt from 255°.”
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