Supermarine Spitfire P9308; Built as a Spitfire Ia (c/no. 511). Originally built for delivery to the Turkish Air Force, but order cancelled 4-9-39 due to outbreak of war. First Flown 23-1-40. Delivered to 2 Photographic Development Unit, Heston Aircraft Ltd., Heston Middlesex 11-2-40. Converted to Spitfire PR.III Type C. To Vickers Armstrong Experimental Aircraft for mods (additional fuel tanks in wings, range 2000 miles; wing became Supermarine Type 353 'D' Wing)
To Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), RAF 1-4-40. Coded "LY-A", although photographs of Spitfire P9308 show only the "LY" code. First Photo-Recce operation against Emden, Germany, 5-4-40 by Flight Lt Le Mesurier.
Written off (destroyed) when went Missing from PR mission to Hamburg. Pilot Officer J Coleman posted as missing, believed killed 19-5-40. Some published sources claim that Spitfire P9308 was shot down by a Messerschmit Bf-109 piloted by Fw Roth 4./JG. According to the official Air Ministry file on the incident (File AIR 81/421): "Pilot Officer J H Coleman, report of death; Spitfire P9308 crashed at Templeuve, Belgium, 19 May 1940". Unofficial sources give the crash site as the junction of Rue Forzeau and Rue Estafflers, in Templeuve, Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium.