The Caithness Spitfire

[Rheghead]

Does anyone know about a spitfire aircraft that was bought for the RAF during WWII via donations raised entirely from the Caithnessian people? It apparently was painted with a logo on the side 'The Caithness Spitfire'.

I know the Halkirk games committee held an emergency meeting in November 1940 to make a donation and that is pretty much all I can find out atm.

Serial number:- W3529 Mk.Vb W3529 Presentation Spitfire "Caithness" ff05-07-41, 24MU 07-07-41, 452Sqn RAAF FACA 21-02-42, 129Sqn 08-03-42, 131Sqn 22-10-42, VSM Fuel System mods and wing stiffening.610Sqn 27-01-43, 310Sqn 30-06-43, 313Sqn 24-07-43, 402Sqn 04-12-43, SAL 13-06-44, 57 0TU 04-10-44, 577Sqn 14-06-45, SOC 25-10-45.

[Rheghead]

I've found a bit more info on this forum.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/arc...p?t-66895.html

[MadPict]

You obviously have got the info you have from "Spitfire - The History".

I wonder if there is any mention of this aircraft in the "Wings over Wick" book that was put together by one of the schools a few years ago. I have a copy somewhere if you cannot find one, so will have a look.

I am a member of a couple of historic aviation forums* - I can repost your query there if you like to see if anyone can point you in the right direction.

^^That's one of them

[TBH]

Just having a wee google and came across this interesting piece:

The 'photograph that sank the Bismarck' is highly significant, with a strong Scottish connection.
It was taken by Flying Officer Michael Suckling, an RAF Spitfire pilot based in Wick, Caithness.

Source

[robbain]

Try Caithness and the War 1939 - 1945 by Ally Budge, page 149 has a reference to it and a picture of a pilot in it

[dessie]

rheghead..yo bro..i have a 5' r/c model spitfire...

[Tubthumper]

So there's a publicly-bought Spitfire, the lost Swimming Pool funds, Wick Academy Development Fund, Wick Town Improvements funds, and events in Reay, as mentioned in today's Groat letters page (and alluded to only vaguely here for fear of...)
We in Caithness have certainly been very generous with giving money to all these worthy causes over the years.

[George Brims]

Just having a wee google and came across this interesting piece:
The 'photograph that sank the Bismarck' is highly significant, with a strong Scottish connection.
It was taken by Flying Officer Michael Suckling, an RAF Spitfire pilot based in Wick, Caithness.

I remember my dad telling me he bought that pilot a drink one night. In fact he was pretty sure the guy didn't have to buy a round for the rest of the war!

[TBH]

I remember my dad telling me he bought that pilot a drink one night. In fact he was pretty sure the guy didn't have to buy a round for the rest of the war!

I wonder if there's a book available with a compilation of the stories about these great men and women that had an association with Caithness?

[MadPict]

"Wings Over Wick"?.....

http://www.caithness.org/wings/index.htm

[TBH]

"Wings Over Wick"?.....

http://www.caithness.org/wings/index.htm

Thank you for that Madpict.

[MadPict]

You're welcome...

[MirrorMan]

There is a short article in the Caithness Courier for 13-3-1942 about the Caithness spitfire shooting down an Me109.

I think there was another Caithness spitfire before W3529, details are:

Spitfire Mk. I
Ser. No. R7057
Manufacturers No. 1424

31:1:41
First flown.

3:2:41
Delivered to 53 Operational Training Unit, Llandow.

12:8:41
Crashed Descended through low cloud, flew into MYNYDD PEN-Y-CAE, South East of CWM-GRACH near GLYN-Neath. Pilot C J Day killed.