Spitfire LA323
Stats:
model: F21factory: SM
engine: G61
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All Images:
History:
test flown FLt Loweth VASM 5mins 28-9-45 del 33MU by FLt Major RAF 11-10-45 600Sq 'RAG-H' 1-4-47 stalled on approach dropped wing and hit ground Thorney Island CE 18-6-49 CE scrap 19-7-49* for acronyms please see source: Spitfire Production
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Links (URLs):
Pilots:
| Name | Date | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| none yet linked |
note: 'pilot to aircraft' linkage created via Pilot's page
Spitfire Posters:
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Comments / Questions:
by: Stuart Collingwood Photo of Spitfire LA323 After Crash 2020-02-26 04:45:48
My Dad (Robert Henry Collingwood - 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF at the time) must have been at Thorney Island when LA323 crashed. I assume he took the photo.
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reply: julian humphries Surviving 600 Sqn member 2025-10-13 14:37:47
My good friend Peter Lovegrove was a pilot on 600 Sqn at this time, he was delayed by a fuel leak when the Sqn departed for Thorney Island from Biggin Hill. This was quickly resolved and he arrived some hours later, Peter could see the stricken silver wreckage of LA 323, (RAG-H)a machine he had flown often on his approach.
He recalls the pilot had previously flown for commercial airline in Lebanon but was English. Peter joined other pilots surveying the damage and collected a few smashed propeller tips, which and been liberally distributed around the airfield. He still has them now as he had a member of the ground crew fashion them into a display containing a Spitfire clock although I am unsure if this came from the crashed aircraft.
Peter was not vey confident in commercial pilots abilities when it came to handling a fast and powerful machine like the 20 series Spitfires and was not at all surprised it ended badly on the poor chaps first flight. He was transferred elsewhere perhaps where his skill could be more appropriately deployed.