Spitfire Mk.VIII, AX-B, JF322, N°1 Squadron, Trigno, Italy, March 1944.
This Spitfire Mk.VIII, carries two swastika 'kill' markings, this from two different pilots claiming 'kills' whilst flying her in March 1944. The first 'kill' was on the 14th March, when Lt. Sidney James 'Dick' Richards shot down a Me.410 and the second 'kill' was on the 19th March, when Lt. David S. Hastie shot down a FW.190. In both these sorties, the pilots were on cockpit standby, and were scrambled to intercept the 'bogey'.
Sortie report of 14th March, Lt. Richards: Hotspur Black, of which I was leader, was scrambled from cockpit sndby at 15:40 hrs. Black 2 could not start his engine, so I took off alone. As soon as I was airborne I turned out to sea and was told by COMMANDER to climb to between 1500 & 2000ft. He reported that there was a bogey flying down the coast 4-5 miles off shore and was just opposite the SANGRO river mouth. Commander instucted me to orbit to port but I was still just over PENNA Point. I continued out to sea. He then reported the bandit 4-5 miles off PENNA Point right on the water. I opened up, started to lose height and saw the e/a at 11 o'clock to me, about 2 miles away, flying S.E. very fast at water level. I did an interception and when I was about 1000yds away he saw me and immediately turned away from me out to sea. I opened right out and very gradually closed in on him. I did not jettison my long range tank as I was afraid that in bending forward to do so I would lose sight of the bandit. I fired several short bursts, partly to lighten my load, from 600yds. The rear gunner then started firing, and one bullet (13mm) struck my long-range tank. The Me.410 started weaving enabling me to close to 400 yds. I fired again; there was an explosion, pieces flew off, and a fire started in the rear of the cockpit. There was no more return fire. I closed to 300 yds. and fired again causing another explosion. The e/a hit the water and exploded. I circled the spot where the wreckage was burning, but saw no survivors. I then returned to base.
Sortie report of 19th March, Lt. Hastie: I was scrambled at 16:00 hours & vectored by COMMANDER to ORTONA - angels unknown. I stayed at 3000' & just South of ORTONA COMMANDER gave angels 16 and handed me over to PYREX. PYREX told me to call SYRUP on channel C. I climbed up inland towards MAIELLA Mts. & then turned out to sea. A.A. markers led me to 2 vapour trails at about 10 o'clock from me going towards the sea. I jettisoned my long-range tank & climbed after these & closed in at 28000' just off the coast of PESCARA area. I saw the 2 a/c glinting in the sun ahead of the v-t's. I saw 3 clueless puffs of 88mm A.A. at 2 o'clock to me. The e/a turned North & I gained some more ground. I closed in then to about 400 yds & fired some quick bursts, with no results. They were still flying in line abrteast & appeared not to have seen me. I closed to about 300 yds. & fired, saw strikes and a big flash of flame & black smoke. This a/c dropped a wing & fell onto his back, & went down vertically. He was doing a slow aileron turn & appeared to be out of control. I lost him under my wing & turned to the other. He half-rolled & dived very steeply. I followed & closed in but had no more ammo, so returned to base. Both Focke Wulfs carried very big long-range tanks, half the length of the fuselage.
This Spitfire Mk.VIII, carries two swastika 'kill' markings, this from two different pilots claiming 'kills' whilst flying her in March 1944. The first 'kill' was on the 14th March, when Lt. Sidney James 'Dick' Richards shot down a Me.410 and the second 'kill' was on the 19th March, when Lt. David S. Hastie shot down a FW.190. In both these sorties, the pilots were on cockpit standby, and were scrambled to intercept the 'bogey'.
Sortie report of 14th March, Lt. Richards: Hotspur Black, of which I was leader, was scrambled from cockpit sndby at 15:40 hrs. Black 2 could not start his engine, so I took off alone. As soon as I was airborne I turned out to sea and was told by COMMANDER to climb to between 1500 & 2000ft. He reported that there was a bogey flying down the coast 4-5 miles off shore and was just opposite the SANGRO river mouth. Commander instucted me to orbit to port but I was still just over PENNA Point. I continued out to sea. He then reported the bandit 4-5 miles off PENNA Point right on the water. I opened up, started to lose height and saw the e/a at 11 o'clock to me, about 2 miles away, flying S.E. very fast at water level. I did an interception and when I was about 1000yds away he saw me and immediately turned away from me out to sea. I opened right out and very gradually closed in on him. I did not jettison my long range tank as I was afraid that in bending forward to do so I would lose sight of the bandit. I fired several short bursts, partly to lighten my load, from 600yds. The rear gunner then started firing, and one bullet (13mm) struck my long-range tank. The Me.410 started weaving enabling me to close to 400 yds. I fired again; there was an explosion, pieces flew off, and a fire started in the rear of the cockpit. There was no more return fire. I closed to 300 yds. and fired again causing another explosion. The e/a hit the water and exploded. I circled the spot where the wreckage was burning, but saw no survivors. I then returned to base.
Sortie report of 19th March, Lt. Hastie: I was scrambled at 16:00 hours & vectored by COMMANDER to ORTONA - angels unknown. I stayed at 3000' & just South of ORTONA COMMANDER gave angels 16 and handed me over to PYREX. PYREX told me to call SYRUP on channel C. I climbed up inland towards MAIELLA Mts. & then turned out to sea. A.A. markers led me to 2 vapour trails at about 10 o'clock from me going towards the sea. I jettisoned my long-range tank & climbed after these & closed in at 28000' just off the coast of PESCARA area. I saw the 2 a/c glinting in the sun ahead of the v-t's. I saw 3 clueless puffs of 88mm A.A. at 2 o'clock to me. The e/a turned North & I gained some more ground. I closed in then to about 400 yds & fired some quick bursts, with no results. They were still flying in line abrteast & appeared not to have seen me. I closed to about 300 yds. & fired, saw strikes and a big flash of flame & black smoke. This a/c dropped a wing & fell onto his back, & went down vertically. He was doing a slow aileron turn & appeared to be out of control. I lost him under my wing & turned to the other. He half-rolled & dived very steeply. I followed & closed in but had no more ammo, so returned to base. Both Focke Wulfs carried very big long-range tanks, half the length of the fuselage.
