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| RAAF No. 452 Squadron Former assignments 1 AD 7 AD 2 OTU No. 84 Squadron |
Pilot Pilot Officer Colin R. Duncan, 401778 (survived) St. Kilda, VIC Crashed June 30, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Westland Aircraft Limited in the United Kingdom. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number AR523. On October 13, 1942 disassembled and loaded aboard SS Waroonga as cargo and shipped overseas to Australia. Wartime History On December 25, 1942 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) reassembled by 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On January 20, 1943 assigned to 7 Air Depot (7 AD). On February 23, 1943 assigned to 2 Operational Training Unit (2 OTU). Five days later, assigned to No. 84 Squadron then back to 2 OTU on April 5, 1943. On May 9, 1943 to 1 Fighter Wing (1 FW) then five days later assigned to No. 452 Squadron. Coded "T" and later "QY-F". This Spitfire operated from Katherine Airfield in Northern Territory. On July 15, 1943 assigned to 7 Repair Salvage Unit (7 RSU) and written off October 4, 1943. During November 1943 administratively assigned RAAF serial number A58-2 (this serial number was never applied to the aircraft). Mission History On June 30, 1943 took off piloted by Pilot Officer Colin R. Duncan, 401778 on a mission to intercept a Japanese air raid against Fenton Airfield near Darwin. During the interception, this Spitfire was hit, set on fire. As Duncan tried to bail out, he found the canopy was stuck but managed to force it open and bailed out successfully. This Spitfire crashed into a remote area of the outback. Fates of the Pilot Pilot Duncan survived the crash but was burned on his arms and legs. Spotted from the air, he was dropped food and cigarettes. He was rescued five days later and returned to duty. He passed away in 1992. Wreckage During March 2016, the crash site was spotted by a helicopter pilot in a remote portion of Litchfield National Park. The site was visited and later confirmed by the Royal Australian Air Force that confirmed the wreckage as Spitfire A58-2. The site is protected by the NT Heritage Act. The wreckage will be recovered and possibly displayed at RAAF Museum Point Cook or Australian War Memorial (AWM). References British Military Aircraft Serials, 1911-1979 by Bruce Robertson page 208 "All Spitfires with the RAF prefix of ARxxx (which includes RAAF serials A58-1 to A58-10) were built by Westland." WW2 Nominal Roll - Colin Ronald Duncan, 401778 ADF Serials - Spitfire A58-2 NT News "73-year-old spitfire mystery solved" by Craig Dunlop September 29, 2016 (photos) The Age "'A very brave man': WWII plane wreck discovery highlights thrilling escape story" by Carolyn Webb October 3, 2016 (photos) Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 20, 2022 |
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