Spitfire N3191 at Leconfield airfield.
On 27th March 1940 the pilot of this 234 Squadron aircraft was taxying at Leconfield airfield when the aircraft was hit by a gust of wind which
lifted the tail into the air tipping the aircraft onto it's nose. The damage sustained was only slight.
Pilot - P/O Edward Brian Mortimer-Rose RAF (41944). Of Troon, Ayrshire.
Edward Mortimer-Rose was born in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, he was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 15th April 1939 as Acting P/O on probation. He was graded as P/O on 6th November 1939 and posted to 234 Squadron on its reformation around the same date. On 26th October 1940 P/O Mortimer-Rose was in combat with a Ju88 off Land's End and made a forced landing at Breage, near Porthleven. He was unhurt and his aircraft was only slightly damaged. He was awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 6th June 1941) for service with 234 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and in the months after for shooting down many enemy aircraft, the citation for his DFC reads.."This officer has displayed great skill as a fighter pilot. In a recent combat he destroyed two of five enemy aircraft destroyed by his flight thus bringing his victories to at least six. He has set a splendid example and has contributed materially to the high standard of efficiency in his squadron." He was also Mentioned in Despatches on 17th March 1941. Later in 1941 he was posted to the Middle East HQ and in December 1941 arrived at 249 Squadron in Malta to command, he was awarded the Bar to the DFC (Gazetted on 12th December 1941) for service with 234 Squadron, the citation reads.. "This officer is a relentless and inspiring fighter pilot. He has participated in every operational sortie undertaken by his squadron and, many times, has carried out individual attacks in enemy occupied country with great success. Flight Lieutenant Mortimer-Rose has destroyed at least seven and damaged a further nine enemy aircraft." He was injured in the foot in late December 1941 and before he was fit to fly again he was posted to command 185 Squadron on 23rd February 1942. He returned to flying in March 1942 but on 24th March 1942 he was seriously injured manning ground defence guns at Hal Far airfield which was bombed. After recovering he was posted to 111 Squadron in December 1942. On 28th January 1943 F/Lt Mortimer-Rose DFC & Bar was killed in a flying accident when flying with 111 Squadron in Tunisia. He is buried in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia. He had over ten enemy aircraft to his name at his death and was only twenty two years old.
Spitfire N3191 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 23rd November 1939. It was
delivered to 24 MU at Ternhill on 2nd December 1939 and issued to 234 Squadron at Leconfield on 22nd March 1940. It sustained Cat.M/GA in the incident
detailed above and was repaired on site and returned to the unit. It then moved with the unit to Church Fenton on 22nd May 1940 and again with the unit
to St.Eval 12th June 1940, and agin to Middle Wallop on 19th August 1940 and back to St.Eval on 11th September 1940. It was destroyed on 16th January 1941 (with Cat.W/FA damage)
on 16th January 1941 when the wings broke off in a dive and the aircraft crashed near Truro, Cornwall. Sadly the pilot P/O W L Beech was killed. The
wreckage was taken to AST Ltd at Hamble on 14th February 1941 for inspection to determine the cause of the accident. It was struck off charge on 23rd April 1941.