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Spitfire 'Blue Peter' crash

 
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 5:59 pm    Post subject: Spitfire 'Blue Peter' crash Reply with quote

Not listed on WMR

Location is in a very remote hillside location on Cairnsmore of Carsphairn at Grid NX 60459 99100. 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 plane crashed.

My thanks to Bob Peace for the photographs.



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spoons



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

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The inscription reads:

Near this spot on 23rd May
1942 Spitfire Mk VB AD 540 Blue
Peter crashed whilst on
Convoy duties in the Clyde
Estuary PO David Hunter
Blair being killed in the
Accident the aircraft lay
Hidden for 51 years to the day
Crashed until discovered by
Ralph Davidson of the DGAG
On 23rd May 93
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

see also
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=10369
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:42 am    Post subject: WMR number Reply with quote

WMR 88139. Apologies for the delay in recording this on WMR, but I have been away for 2 months
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