RAAF
457 Squadron
1943
Stan Gajda 1982
Pilot Bruce Little (survived)
Crashed May 10, 1943
Aircraft History
RAF Serial Number BS199 / Tail Number ZP-S of 457 Squadron
Mission History
Crashed near Darwin. Pilot Bruce Little walked away from the crash. The aircraft was later converted to components by the RAAF.
Recovery
The remains were recovered in 1982 to Darwin, location unknown today.
Stan Gajda adds:
"John Sluce was at the wreck site and took the photos. In Perth a little
while after that I met two RAAF guys who were there by helicopter and I
believe the parts were recovered with the chopper and brought to Darwin. I saw some of the wreckage in Darwin in 1982. Sluce never did tell me where the crash had occurred probably because it was not there by then. Bob Alford is the man in Darwin that can give you the exact locations."
Daniel Leahy adds:
"I have a couple of shots of this crash from during the war, and based on what's left and the terrain, it is quite a possibility. I think this is the best possibility so far."
References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for this research, wartime history and photos via "Spitfires Over Darwin - 1943" by Jim Grant, 2003 ISBN 0-646-23632-6
Spitfire
Photo Archive
