Spitfire K9803 at Leconfield airfield.
On 17th November 1939 this 616 Squadron aircraft suffered from an undercarriage collapsing after it bounced on landing at Leconfield airfield. The damage was deemed minor and it was later repaired. The date of 6th November 1939 appears also incorrectly quoted for this mishap at Leconfield elsewhere.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Spitfire K9803 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was allotted to 66 Squadron at Duxford on 28th October 1938 and delivered to them at Duxford on 23rd November 1938. It later transferred to 616 Squadron based at Leconfield on 30th October 1939. It sustained Cat.M/FA in the minor mishap detailed above and was repaired on site and returned to the unit. It then moved with the unit to Rochford on 27th May 1940 and sustained Cat.R/FA damage on 30th May 1940 when the undercarriage collapsed again on landing at Rochford. This time it was taken to 4 MU at Ruislip for repair on 1st June 1940. On completion of the repair it passed to 9 MU at Cosford (ASU) on 13th August 1940 who then issued it to 65 Squadron based at Turnhouse on 30th August 1940. It then transferred to 603 Squadron at Middle Wallop on 13th September 1940. On 18th September 1940 it suffered Cat.R/FB damage after being damaged by Bf109's near Ashford, Kent. On 28th September 1940 it was sent to Scottish Aviation Ltd at Greenock for repair. On completion of these repairs it went to 45 MU at Kinloss on 23rd February 1941. It later was taken to Heston Aircraft Ltd at Heston for modifications on 30th March 1941 and then issued to 1 AAS at Manby on 9th June 1941. It then suffered an unexplained mishap and Cat. A(c) damage was recorded on 24th October 1941. It was repaired on site and returned to 1 AAS on 8th November 1941. It then transferred to 8 MU at Little Rissington for storage on 21st November 1942 and later issued to 61 OTU based at Rednall on 19th March 1943. It then transferred to 57 OTU at Eshott on 13th June 1943 and then suffered Cat.B/FA damage in an accident on 8th January 1944 but the cause is not known. It was taken away for repair in a work factory but the factory is not stated in its records. On completion of the repair it passed to 9 MU at Cosford on 30th April 1944 for storage but was soon issued to 53 OTU at Kirton in Lindsey on 21st May 1944 and then transferred to 1 TEU at Tealing on 1st June 1944. It finally passed to 33 MU at Lyneham on 15th August 1944 for long term storage and was struck off charge on 21st June 1947 and probably scrapped.