DescriptionArchaeological remains associated with the loss of this aircraft are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity (?location presently determined to most likely be Gadlys near to RAF St Athan, rather than the Gadlys farm to the south of Maesteg).
The remains of this aircraft are designated as a Controlled Site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The Act makes it an offence to interfere with the wreckage of any crashed, sunken or stranded military aircraft without a licence. For further information on this Act and its administration with regard to aircraft, please contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1RZ.
Event and Historical Information:
This Spitfire was built at Eastleigh and first flew on 21 June 1940. Its service life saw assignments to 8 Maintenance Unit (MU), 65 Squadron, C2 Ops, 616 Squadron, 72 Squadron, 92 Squadron, 145 Squadron and 57and 61 Operational Training Units (OUT). The aircraft was in use during the crucial Battle of Britain period, Summer and Autumn of 1940, being based at Manston and Hornchurch with 65 Squadron in July 1940 (memoirs of Flying Officer Lawrence Pyman) and at Hawkinge in September 1940 with 92 Squadron. The aircraft is reported to have been the sole survivor of a three-Spitfire patrol on 5 September 1940 when it returned with 35 bullet holes. By April 1941, the aircraft had been transferred to Operational Training Units. It was assigned to 53 OTU when it broke up in air and crashed Gladlys Farm, Blackhill, Glamorgan.
Sources include:
Civil Aviation Report - Ministry of Aviation and Successors: Civil Aviation Reports (C, W, and S Reports) and Technical Memorandum, Type Spitfire 1A (R6777, location Gadlys Mounts, Glamorgan, report number W1278, National Archives,
Source: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6577492
Doylerush, E, 2008, Rocks in the Clouds: High Ground Aircraft Crashes in South Wales, pg109
WWW resources:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/SPVA/AviationArchaeology.htm
http://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/airframeprofile.php?FrameID=1812
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p010.html
Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2015.
