Date:	Saturday 18 June 1949
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire F Mk 21
Owner/operator:	600 (City of London) Sqn RAF
Registration:	LA323
MSN:	SMAF4442
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Thorney Island, Emsworth, Hampshire, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
Destination airport:	RAF Thorney Island, Hampshire

Narrative:
LA323: Spitfire F.21, MSN SMAF4442. Built by Vickers-Armstrong (Supermarine) at South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire with Griffon G61 engine. Test flown by Flight Lieutenant Loweth at South Marston for 5 minutes on 28-9-45 (possibly first flight?). Delivered to 33 MU RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire by Flight Lieutenant Major, RAF 11-10-45. First issued to 600 (City of London) Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, Bromley, Kent, coded 'RAG-H' 1-4-47

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 18-6-49 when stalled on approach, dropped wing and hit ground at RAF Thorney Island, Emsworth, Hampshire. The pilot was undertaking his first ever solo on a Spitfire F.21. On final approach, the pilot allowed the aircraft to stall from an altitude of approximately 20 feet. The wing dropped, and the aircraft struck the ground heavily, and was severely damaged.

Not repaired: Struck off charge as Cat. E scrap 19-7-49

1. Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings p.506
3. 600 Squadron ORB 1-9-1946 to 31-1-1957: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2502/3: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8423101
4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p054.html
5. Photo of crash: https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/LA323
6. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/79509-la323
7. http://rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=LA323
8. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/LA323
9. https://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/hancrash.html
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._600_Squadron_RAF#Post-war
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Thorney_Island#Post-war_units

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
26-Mar-2023 08:15	Dr. John Smith	Added
07-Aug-2023 21:08	Dr. John Smith	Updated
10-Mar-2024 17:49	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator]