At 17.35hrs on 15th August 1940 the undercarriage of this 616 Squadron aircraft collapsed on landing at Leconfield airfield. It is not believed to have been part of the scrambled
Allied force which had seen off the Luftwaffe but is thought to have been returning to Leconfield following a practice flight.
Pilot - P/O William Louis Buchanan Walker RAFVR (82662).
Bill Walker was born on 24th August 1913. He joined the Reserve in September 1939 and having being called
up on 1st September 1939 and was undergoing training until 18th June 1940 when he arrived at 616 Squadron,
he was also commissioned on this same date. On 26th July 1940 the pilot suffered the exact same misfortune as that detailed above
when Spitfire P9383 crashed on landing at dawn. Soon after this incident at Leconfield
616 Squadron moved back to the south of England where the Battle of Britain was in full swing and on 26th
August 1940 while flying Spitfire R6701 he was shot down following combat off the Kent coast. He baled out
of his aircraft but had been shot in the ankle in the combat. After a period of time he was picked up by the Royal Navy
and eventually to RAF Hospital Halton. It was not until 2nd May 1941 until he rejoined 616 Squadron who were
now based at Tangmere. He rose to F/O (war subs) on 18th June 1941 and to F/Lt exactly a year later. He later
flew with 116 Squadron and survived the War. He would later work in brewing and rise to become chairman
on Ind Coope (which merged with other brewers to become Allied Breweries in 1961). He was still living
in 2010 and took part in the National Battle of Britain rememberance services.
Spitfire K9807 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. It was only
the twelvth production Spitfire and was first test flown on 10th October 1938. The following day it was
delivered to 19 Squadron based at Duxford and on 24th July 1940 it moved with this unit to Fowlmere.
On 7th August 1940 it was transferred to 616 Squadron at Leconfield and sustained Cat.R(B)/FA damage on
15th August 1940. It was transported to 4 MU at Ruislip for repair on 26th August 1940 and on
26th September 1940 it was flown to 9 MU at Cosford. Two days later it was taken on charge
by 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. On 5th October 1940 it was damaged by fire from a Bf109 of JG.53
over Dover and caught fire. Its then pilot, P/O J.S. Morton suffered burns but was able to bale
out. The aircraft crashed at Chilham, Kent and was destroyed.