Aircraft History
Built by Supermarine. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number BS199. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Assigned to 457 Squadron. Code "ZP-S".

Mission History
Force landed near Darwin, pilot Bruce Little walked away from the crash. The aircraft was later converted to components by the RAAF.

Wreckage
Remained in situ until 1982. Recovered during 1982 to Darwin, location today unknown.

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
ADF Serials - Spitfire A58-603
Spitfires Over Darwin 1943
Thanks to Stan Gajda and Daniel Leahy for addition information

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018