Spitfire L1028 at Leconfield airfield.
On 8th January 1940 this 616 Squadron aircraft was landing in formation at Leconfield at dusk when the aircraft hit a wire fence during a low approach to land. It was later repaired.
Pilot - F/O Edward Fitzroy St.Aubyn RAF (90055).
Edward St.Aubyn sustained injuries flying 616 Squadron Spitfire R7018 on 26th August 1940 when it crashed at Eastchurch airfield. He recovered from the burns he sustained and returned to operational flying. On 27th May 1943 he was killed flying Mustang AL968 with 170 Squadron when it crashed off Flamborough. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Spitfire L1028 had a long history, it was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at
Woolston and was first test flown on 21st June 1939, it was then delivered to 66 Squadron at Duxford on 26th June 1939. It then
transferred to 616 Squadron at Leconfield, with a number of other Spitfires on 11th November 1939
during the units conversion from Gauntlets to Spitfires and coded "QJ-Q". Following the accident detailed above Cat.R/FA damage was
recorded. It was deemed damage was serious enough to make it a workshop repair job and was was dismantled and
removed to AST Ltd, at Hamble on 2nd February 1940. On completion of repair it was sent to 24 MU at
Ternhill on 28th July 1940 and then issued to 7 OTU at Hawarden on 16th August 1940, the unit was re-designated as 57 OTU on 1st November 1940.
On 6th February 1941 it suffered slight damage when a wing tip hit the
ground on landing at Sealand and Cat.M/FA damage was recorded, it was repaired on site and returned to the unit.
On 5th July 1941 it was allowed to stall on landing at Wrexham and undercarriage collapsed, again it was Cat.R/FA but was again taken away for repair in
works. It was dismantled and to AST Ltd, at Hamble again on 11th July 1941 but during repair it was converted to a Mk.Va and
on completion of the repair and conversion it was flown to 8 MU at Little Rissington on 25th October 1941. It was then
issued to 145 Squadron at Catterick on 24th November 1941. It later transferred to 134 Squadron at Catterick on 26th
December 1941 and then to 133 Squadron at Eglinton on 28th December 1941 before transfer to 134 Squadron at Catterick
on 31st December 1941. It then moved with this unit to Eglinton on 1st January 1942. It transferred to 133 Squadron who were also
at Eglinton a day later. It suffered an unspecified Cat.B/FA damage on 16th January 1942 and transferred to 58 MU at
Newark (a salvage and repair unit) on the same day. It was taken by road to Westland's at Yeovil for repair on 26th January 1942.
On completion of the repair it passed to 6 MU at Brize Norton (ASU) on 24th February 1942. It then went back to
Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd on 24th January 1942 and modification were carried out by Phillips & Powis staff,
probably at Swindon. On completion of this work it went to 15 MU at Wroughton (ASU) on 28th March 1943 who issued it to 52 OTU at
Debden on 11th September 1943. It then transferred to FLS at Milfield on 2nd February 1944 and to 57 OTU at Eshott on 8th September
1944. It sustained Cat.E/FA damage on 21st April 1945 when it overturned on soft ground following a landing at Eshott and was struck
off charge and broken up and returned to produce (RTP) on 28th April 1945.