Norwegian Spitfire Stories - www.spitfirepilots.com/title>  <link href="spitfire.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <style type="text/css">  </style> </head> <body class="thrColFixHdr"> <div id="container"> <span class="style3"></span> <div id="header"> <p>  </p> <p class="style1"><img src="images/logonew.png" width="1120" height="168" /></p> </div> <div id="sidebar1"> <p><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></p> </div> <div id="sidebar2"> <p><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></p> </div> <div class="style3" id="mainContent"> <h2 class="style3"><span class="style6"><a href="http://www.spitfirepilots.com">Home</a> - <a href="articles.html">Articles</a> - <a href="video.html">Videos</a> - <a href="pictures.html">Pictures </a>- <a href="contact.html">Contact</a></span> <span class="style6">- <a href="links.html">Links</a></span></h2> <p align="center" class="style3"><a href="http://www.finnthorsager.com"><img src="images/Animation2.gif" alt="Gladiator" width="350" height="60" border="0" /></a></p> <h1><strong>Norwegian Spitfire Stories</strong><br /> </h1> <p>When 331 Squadron left the Orkneys in 1942 bound for North Weald, they stopped by Catterick in Yorkshire before making the final leg of their trip towards their new home outside London. At Catterick several pictures were taken. One of these pictures shows 331 Squadron with their Vb Spitfires parked outside with the pilots in their cockpits. For the first time, togheter with another picture taken later during the war, the stories will now be told of what happened to these four Spitfires in Norwegian service.<img src="images/catterick.jpg" width="500" height="291" /><br /> </p> <p><strong>Spitfire Vb BL891</strong></p> <p>Bl891 was a Spitfire Vb with a Rolls Royce Merlin 45 engine installed. The plane was buildt at Castle Bromwich during the first months of 1942. 331 Squadron, then based at the Orkney Islands with primary objective of defending the naval base Scapa Flow, got the plane straight from the factory on the 12th of March the same year. The airplane stayed with 331 until the 24th of September 1942 when it was transfered to Fleet Air Arm. Maybe the plane was replaced with brand new Spitfire IX plane for 331?<br /> </p> <p>After a period with Fleet Air Arm, the plane was sent to Vickers-Armstrong at South Marston for an update during the summer of 1943. The fuel system was modified as well as making the wing structure stronger. A new identificaton system was also installed, a so called IFF (Identification Friend or Foe). Next thing down the line for BL891 was another upgrade, this time modifications underneath it so it could now carry a bomb meant for low flying attacks. 24th of January 1944 it was registered with Royal Navi Deposit Account and two months later it was sent to 886 (City of Ripon) Squadron who was apart of Fleet Air Arm. 6th of June, D-Day itself, the airplane was sendt to yet another squadron in relations to the Royal Navi, 719 Squadron at St. Merryn southwest in England. It flew with them for a good while until squadron-leader JE Jones hit a barbed wire fence just outside the runway during landing. The barb wire fence was part of an ammunition deposit. What happened to Jones is not known, but the airplane is not listed with any service or repairs after this accident. Maybe the damage were too serious or it was repaired by 719 Squadron mechanics. The airplane on the other hand, was transfered to 764 Squadron at the same airbase in the beginning of January 1945 and there it stayed or a month or so.<br /> </p> <p>This is where the story of BL891 ends. It survived the whole war and saw quite some action and flying. Flown by many pilots throughout the war.</p> <p><img src="images/tails.jpg" width="300" height="197" /><br /> </p> <p><strong>Spitfire Vb AR293</strong><br /> </p> <p>Spitfire number two in line at Catterick is AR293. Another Spitfire Vb buildt at Westland with a Merlin 45. AR293 came out of maintenance 26th of January 1943 and was transfered to 331 Squadron 15th of March the same year. AR293 was taken well care of by Norwegian mechanics and pilots. It stays with the Norwegians until the 12th of August 1943 when it's transfered to Vickers Armstrong at South Marston for modifications. Scottish Aviation got the airplane during October and provided service to the plane. South Marston got it back 27th of March 1943 and the plane went through a number of upgrades. Fuel system and wings got their treatment. Belgiuan squadron 349 got it from South March at the beginning of March 1944. After a brief spell with the Belgians, it was transfered to 118 Squadron then based at the Shetland Isles at the end of March. This is where the story of AR293 ends. It collides with Spitfire Vb BM538 during taxiing and Sumburgh. BM538 is credited with a shared Junkers 88 which was shot down into th sea by Pilot Officer Habela from 308 (Polish) Squadron in 1942. AR293 is categorized «damage E» and did not enter any more service.</p> <p><br /> </p> <p><strong>Spitfire Vb BL681</strong><br /> </p> <p>Number three in line is BL681. This machine is also a Vb buildy at Castle Bromwich. Factory fresh the 26th of January 1942. 331 Squadron got the plane in March the same year, based at the Orkneys. The airplane stayed with 331 until 5th of May 1942 when it was transfered to Vickers-Armstrong at South Marston for modifications. Probably after damaged had been inflicted on he plane. It was at the time categorized as «A damage». Scottish Aviation got this plane as well and 18th of November 1942 it was transfered into their hands for service. It stayed with them for a long time and was only given back to Vickers-Armstrong for updates to the fuel system as well as elevator and rudder modifications. 5th of November 1943 and the plane was finally ready to be delivered to a squaron again, after over a year with repairs, modifications and service. 501 (County of Gloucester) was the new, proud, owners of BL681 and was given the squadron codes SD-Z. Poor BL681 stayed only a month with her new owners until tragedy struck. During take-off from Hawkinge the engine failed and BL681 crashed into the trees close by. It was now categorized as «damage C» and was probaply written off as not repairable. Total flying time before the engine failure at Hawkinge was 261.35 hours. Not all too bad for a Spitfire. Hopefully the pilot survived the crash.</p> <p><img src="images/ml244.jpg" width="450" height="445" /><br /> </p> <p><strong>Spitfire Ixc ML244.</strong></p> <p>Spitfire ML244 was a mark Ixc version meant for low flying. It got a Merlin 66 in it's nose. Buildt at Castle Bromwich it was ready for action 5th of May 1944. 332 Squadron got the airplane at their disposal 8th of June 1944, just before the squadron left for the continent and transfer to 2nd Tactical Air Force. The Spitfire stayed with 332 until early November 1944. The picture of the Norwegian pilot washing ML244 was probably therefore taken at a time between June and November 44. You might speculate that since the pilot got his sleeves up, the weather is nice and therefore during the summer months after D-Day. November 1944 saw the plane being deliverd to 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron. 602 was back in England in September 44 after a tour of Europe. ML244 stayed with 602 in England for a months time before Miles Aircraft got the airplane just before Christmas 1944. Propably for service. After this brief spell, ML244 was sent to 129 Air Training Sqauadron. It stayed there until the war was over. During the spring of 1946 several repairs were done on ML244 but during the summer of 46, time is up for ML244. It is categorized as «E damaged». Nothing more can be heard of ML244. Maybe sold somewhere in England as scrap metal?</p> <p><img src="images/spitstores.jpg" width="500" height="388" /><br /> <span class="style6"><br /> </span></p> <p class="style6">Thank you's:</p> <p class="style6">http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/ </p> <p><span class="style6" lang="NO-BOK" xml:lang="NO-BOK"></span><span lang="NO-BOK" xml:lang="NO-BOK"><br /> </span> </p> <div class="style3">  </div> </div> <span class="style3">  <br class="clearfloat" /> </span> <div id="footer"> <p class="style3">Made by © Tor Idar Larsen</p> </div> </div> </body> </html> </body> </html>