Spitfire "K9928" at Leconfield airfield.
On 11th February 1940 this 616 Squadron aircraft was being taxied around at Leconfield airfield to a hanger when the wheels struck a ridge of frozen snow and the aircraft tipped up onto it's nose. The aircraft was slightly damaged but was later repaired and flew again. The AM Form 1180 for the incident gives the serial as "K9928" but it may have actually been K9828. K9928 does not appear to have been on charge with 616 Squadron in early 1940 where as K9828 was. I need the AM Form 78's for both aircraft to probably confirm things.
Pilot - P/O Alsagar Fitzgerald Fenton RAF.
It could have been transferred to 616 Squadron after the repairs following the 16th January 1940 mishap at Church Fenton but there is no evidence for this in the available records. Likewise it may have remained at Leconfield and been taken on charge by 72 Squadron when they moved there on 27th May 1940 but again there is no evidence for this.
Spitfire K9928 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 19th April 1939. It was then taken on charge by 72 Squadron at Church Fenton on 21st April 1939. They moved to Leconfield 15th October 1939, then to Drem on 28th October 1939, back to Leconfield on 12th January 1940 (but this was only an overnight stay at Leconfield as Church Fenton was not accepting landings because of thick fog). The following day weather improved and it moved with the unit to Church Fenton. Cat.M/FA damage was recorded following a mishap there on 16th January 1940 and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On paper it was still with 72 Squadron after this repair so would have gone to Acklington with them on 2nd March 1940. On 10th May 1940 it was taken on charge by 74 Squadron who then moved to Leconfield 27th May 1940. It then moved with 74 Squadron to Rochford on 6th June 1940 and Hornchurch on 25th June 1940. It was destroyed in fatal accident, Cat.W/FA damage being the damage assessment, on 3rd July 1940 when it was struck by lightning and crashed near Margate, Kent, killing the then pilot, Sgt J R B White RAFVR (742734).
Spitfire K9828 was the 43rd production Spitfire. It was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was delivered to 66 Squadron at Duxford on 18th December 1938. It was transferred to 616 Squadron at Leconfield on 17th November 1939. On 11th February 1940 it was probably the aircraft that was damaged at Leconfield, Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. 616 Squadron were forced to leave Leconfield on 22nd February 1940 when the airfield became unserviceable due to a rapid thaw so were sent on detachment to nearby Catfoss where they remained until they returned to Leconfield on 9th March 1940. The aircraft sustained Cat.R/FA damage as a result of the mishap at Leconfield on 22nd May 1940, after this it was dismantled by a team from
Scottish Aviation Ltd., Prestwick on 4th June 1940 but was transported to AST Ltd. at Hamble for repair on 6th June 1940. On completion of the repair it was
flown to 8 M.U. at Little Rissington on 24th September 1940 and then issued to 72 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 7th October 1940. It moved with the
unit to Coltishall on 13th October before going with the unit to Leuchars on 29th November and then down to Acklington on 19th December 1940. It
was transferred to a training role with 58 OTU at Grangemouth on 9th March 1941 but then flown to 45 MU at Kinloss (a storage unit or ASU) on 10th June 1941
where it remained until being issued to 57 OTU at Hawarden on 17th July 1941. The aircraft had a long life with 57 OTU, moving with them to Eshott on 10th November 1942. It was later flown to AST Ltd. at Hamble on 21st March 1943 for a major service and modifications and on completion of the work it was flown to 39 MU at
Colerne (ASU) on 26th June 1943 where it remained until being flown to 222 MU at High Ercall (Packing Depot) on 8th August 1943 where it was crated and then
shipped to Portugal on 14th August 1943, arriving on 11th September 1943. No further details of its history thereafter are known.