Spitfire K9945 at Leconfield airfield.
On 8th January 1940 this 616 Squadron aircraft was flying in formation when the leader made a low approach to land at Leconfield. This aircraft clipped a wire that had been dislodged from a fence moments earlier by Spitfire L1028. This Spitfire then undershot, tipped up onto its' nose upon landing in the undershoot area. The damage was later repaired.
Pilot - P/O Roy Marples RAF (70868).
Roy Marples had a long and eventful period of Battle of Britain service which is well documented elsewhere. He was awarded the DFC for service in the UK and also a Bar to the DFC for later service in North Africa. On 26th April 1944 he was leading 145 Wing when his aircraft, Spitfire Mk371, collided with another from the Wing and crashed in Sussex. He is buried at Chicester Cemetery.
Spitfire K9945 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston. It was
first test flown on 22nd April 1939 and delivered to 66 Squadron based at Duxford on 27th April 1939. It was
transferred to 616 Squadron at Leconfield on 15th November 1939 when the squadron were converting to Spitfires
from Gauntlets. It sustained Cat.R/FA damage in this incident on 8th January 1940 as detailed above and was too badly damaged to be
repaired on site. It was dismantled and taken by road to Air Service Training Ltd, at Hamble, for repair on
2nd February 1940. On completion of repair it was sent to 9 MU at Cosford (ASU) and then issued to 7 OTU at
Hawarden on 21st July 1940. On 24th October 1940 it undershot a landing at Hawarden and the undercarriage collapsed. Again
Cat.R/FA damage was recorded and it was deemed "RIW" repairable in works and transported to AST Ltd, Hamble on 30th
October 1940. On completion of this repair it was issued to 8 MU at Little Rissington on 3rd December 1940. It was then issued
to 57 OTU (a re-numbered 7 OTU) at Hawarden on 19th December 1940.
On 7th March 1941 the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at Speke and Cat.R/FA damage was recorded. Again it was
transported to AST Ltd, Hamble on 18th May 1941 for repair. On completion of this repair it was issued to 33 MU at
Lyneham (ASU) on 16th June 1941 and then issued to CGS at Castle Kennedy on 11th October 1941, it then moved with this
unit to Chelveston on 5th December 1941 and again with the unit to Sutton Bridge on 1st April 1942. For unspecified
reasons it was dismantled and transported to 1 CRU (Morris Motors Ltd, Cowley) on 28th July 1942 and on completion
of this work it again passed to 33 MU at Lyneham (ASU) on 12th October 1942. It was then issued to 58 OTU at
Grangemouth on 26th January 1943 however on 1st June 1943 it ran out of fuel and belly landed near Grangemouth
and Cat.E/FA damage was recorded, it was deemed beyond repair and written off.