On the 30th of September 1941 the pilot of this aircraft was undertaking a patrol of the north-west of Scotland and close to Cape Wrath the aircraft suffered engine failure. The pilot was able to force land the aircraft on a remote beach south of Cape Wrath at Sandwood Bay and walk some distance for help. The aircraft was a "presentation" aircraft and was paid for by the people of Accrington, it first flew on 26th february 1941 and passed to 124 Sqdn on 7th May 1941 via 12 MU. The aircraft was not removed from the beack before the tide came in and destroyed it.
Pilot - Sgt Micheal P Kilburn RAFVR (1165266). Uninjured.
Today part of the propeller and Merlin engine still remain in the sands, which from time to time still show themselves. Photographs on the internet show that the engine was visable in Summer 2008, In August 2009 Will Lund and myself attempted to located the remains using the photos shown on a photographic artists website. Heavy seas over winter 2008-09 had apparently seen sand cover the area of the beach and therefore the aircraft wreckage is once again hidden from view.
Micheal Kilburn was Commissioned on 4th November 1941. On 24th September 1942 he was awarded the DFC, the Citation for this reads.."This officer has participated in a large number of operational sorties. During the recent Dieppe operations, P/O Kilbum participated in four sorties. He is a skilful pilot, and has destroyed at least two and damaged several more hostile aircraft." He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre during War for service over France, probably after D-Day. Rising through the ranks he Commanded 56 Sqdn until May 1945. Hugh Halliday's research reports that "during the period 6th June 1944 until the liberation of Paris, F/Lt Kilburn was engaged in operations in No.11 Group area during which time he participated in 36 operational sorties in support of the invasion and liberation of France. F/Lt Kilburn is an outstanding flight commander who has led the squadron with much success”.
He remained in the RAF after the War and F/Lt Kilburn relinquished on 8th July 1952. He took up a position with Glosters as chief test pilot where he oversaw the development of the Meteor and the early Javelin before moving to DH and there is a suggestion that he was the chief test pilot of the ill-fated Comet aircraft. He moved to North America in the mid 1960's to carry out a similar role for De Havilland.
As a sequel to this incident on 20th June 2009 when the pilot of Rans Coyote G-CCLH was making a low pass on the beach to assess a landing. During this pass the wheels of the aircraft touched the sand and the aircraft sunk into the sand. It stopped suddenly and tipped onto its nose damaging its propeller. Before anything could be done the tide came in a it suffered salt water damage. The aircraft was taken apart and carried out the four miles to the nearest road. This occured some 200 metres from where the Spitfire engine is believed to be. The pilot of the Coyote Mr Keith Brown escaped injury. The photograph above featured in a number of newspapers at the time, the photograph below shows exactly the same place only five weeks after the incident.
