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Spitfire 'Blue Peter' pilot memorial

 
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:03 pm    Post subject: Spitfire 'Blue Peter' pilot memorial Reply with quote

Not listed on WMR

Location is in a very remote hillside location on Cairnsmore of Carsphairn at Grid NX 60598 00501. If visiting this site, please make sure that you are properly equipped and experienced in navigation in remote hillside locations.

A Spitfire crashed on the North East of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn on 23 May 1942. The pilot was David Hunter Blair and was only nineteen years old when he died. David served with 242 Squadron and was one of several pilots sent to provide top cover for the Queen Mary which was arriving in UK laden with US soldiers. His plane was a spitfire Vb AD540 'Blue Peter' – it had been paid for by funds raised in Newmarket and was named after the 1939 Derby winner. The pilot blacked out due to a fault with the oxygen but came to in time to bailout, unfortunately his parachute failed to open correctly and he was severely injured on landing and died shortly after he was found. He landed around half a mile away from where the plane crashed and, only 15 miles from the family home at Straiton. The aircraft wreckage was discovered and parts were recovered in 1993 with the assistance of a Royal Naval Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayr. The engine has subsequently been restored and is on display at the Dumfries and Galloway aviation museum.

This is one of a pair of memorials for this crash. This one marks the place where the pilot's body was found.

My thanks to Bob Peace for the photograph.

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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The inscription reads:

Near this spot on 23rd
May 1942 Pilot Officer
David Hunter Blair
Aged 19 – A Scot from
Ayrshire was mortally
Wounded after
Parachuting from
Spitfire Mk VB AD 540
Blue Peter he died that
Others may live
Lest We Forget 1993
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

see also
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=10368
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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7749
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pilot Officer (Pilot)
HUNTER BLAIR, DAVID GASPARD
Service Number 112767
Died 23/05/1942
Aged 19
242 Sqdn.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Sir James Hunter Blair, 7th Bt., and Lady Hunter Blair, of Blairquhan.

Inscription
THIRD SON OF JAMES & JEAN HUNTER BLAIR, BORN 30TH SEPTEMBER 1922. (in Ayr)

Buried at BLAIRQUHAN PRIVATE BURIAL GROUND, STRAITON

David was commissioned from Sergeant 1312947 David Gaspard HUNTER-BLAIR (112767) on 1 November 1941.
_________________
Ken
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:06 am    Post subject: WMR Number Reply with quote

WMR 88140
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