During the afternoon of 29th August 1940 this 64 Squadron aircraft was being taxied around Leconfield prior to taking off for a practice scramble when a wheel ran into a rut and the aircraft tipped onto it's nose.
Pilot - Sgt Howard John Bell-Walker RAFVR (748216).
Spitfire P9555 was built to contract B.980385/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh and was first test flown on 31st May 1940. On 11th June 1940 it was flown to 6 M.U. at Brize Norton and on 16th August 1940 it was taken on charge by 64 Squadron who were based at Kenley at that time. On 19th August 1940 64 Squadron moved to Leconfield. On 29th August 1940 it sustained minor Cat.M/FA damage as a result of tipping on to it's nose at Leconfield. A repair on site was made and it resumed use by 64 Squadron, who later moved to Biggin Hill on 13th October 1940 and then to Hornchurch on 10th November 1940. On 22nd January 1941 it was transferred to 303 Squadron at Northolt where it carried the code "RF-D". On 20th March 1941 it transferred to 58 O.T.U. at Grangemouth and on 6th September 1941 sustained minor Cat.A(c)/FA damage when the port undercarriage failed to lock down on landing at Grangemouth. It was repaired on site by Vickers, with the repair commencing on 17th October 1941. It was back with 58 O.T.U. on 1st November 1941. On 26th April 1942 it was involved in a mid-air collision with another Spitfire over Airdrie, Lanarkshire. It crashed sadly killing the then pilot F/O Bernard William John Peatheyjohns RAFVR (68158). Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.
At 18.30hrs on 14th September 1940 Howard Bell-Walker baled out of 72 Squadron Spitfire K9960 after combat over Ashford, Kent, he was unhurt. On 18th September 1940 he was shot down by a Bf109 in Spitfire R6704 but was able to crash land near Gravesend at 10.30hrs. He was seriously injured but recovered. On 12th August 1941 he was shot down over France in 602 Squadron Spitfire AB844, he baled out wounded and was made a PoW.
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