BL964

media-17760.jpeg UPL 17760 Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb BL964 having been pancaked by Lt Col Albert P Clark XO 31st FG whilst on familiarisation flight in ETO [412 Sqn RCAF] shot down by JG26 Fw190 over Abbeville.

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Object Number - UPL 17760 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb BL964 having been pancaked by Lt Col Albert P Clark XO 31st FG whilst on familiarisation flight in ETO [412 Sqn RCAF] shot...

Supermarine Spitfire BL964 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.

Delivered to No 5 MU 22-2-42, assigned to 64S 28-3-42, FA Cat CB 3-4-42, 412S 7-42, FTR fighter sweep to Abbeville 26-7-42 [ETO familiarisation, one of 3 x US officers on the mission], hit by a Fw190 of JG26 and his engine having failed, Lt Col Albert P Clark [Executive Officer 31st FG] put down his Spitfire in a field, thus becoming the first 8th AF fighter pilot to be shot down over Europe. Taken prisoner, his captors being somewhat baffled by his American uniform and his high rank.

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Units served with

309th Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron

People

Albert Patton Clark

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 31st Fighter Group
Service Numbers: O-020218
Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Merston

Site type: Airfield

Missions

RAF Fighter Sweep

Date: 26 July 1942

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Delivered	RAF Lyneham Flying Club, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6BA, UK	22 February 1942	Delivered to No 5 MU 22-2-42.
Assigned	Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, UK	28 March 1942	Assigned to 64 Sqn 28-3-42.
Crashed		3 April 1942	Flying accident Cat CB damage 3-4-42.
Other Repair On Site ROS	Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, UK	4 April 1942	Repair On Site.
Crashed Transferred	Cap Gris-Nez, 62179 Audinghen, France	26 July 1942	FTR mission with 412 Sqn for ETO experience, hit by fire from a 6./JG26 Fw190 and his engine having failed, Lt Col Albert P Clark [Executive Officer 31st FG] put down his Spitfire in a field, thus becoming the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to be shot down over Europe. Taken prisoner, his captors being somewhat baffled by his American uniform and his high rank. 26-7-42.
Other Transferred post FTR		27 July 1942	Post 'Failed To Return' [FTR] from mission, transferred on paper to 309th FS USAAF.
Manufactured	Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, UK		Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Assigned			Assigned to 412 Sqn. 7-42.