Date:	Friday 29 October 1948
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk XVI
Owner/operator:	203 AFS RAF
Registration:	SL670
MSN:	CBAF IX.4697
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Dinworthy, 1.5 mi north-west of Bradworthy, Torridge, Devon, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	RAF Chivenor, Barnstaple, Devon
Destination airport:	RAF Chivenor, Barnstaple, Devon

Narrative:
Spitfire SL670: MSN IX.4697. Built by CBAF (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory) with Merlin M266 engine. Delivered to 29MU 28-7-45. To 61OTU, RAF Keevil, Wiltshire 5-2-46. Unit became 203 AFS at RAF Keevil, Wiltshire 1-7-47.

Written off (destroyed) 29-10-48 in mid-air collision with Spitfire SL579 (also of 203 AFS) and crashed at Dinworthy, one-a-half-miles North West of Bradworthy, Torridge, Devon. The aircraft was on a "battle formation" training sortie from RAF Chivenor, Devon. During a formation change, Spitfire SL579 collided with Spitfire SL670. Spitfire SL579 crashed into the Bristol Channel off Hartland Point, Devon and the pilot was killed (see separate entry)

Spitfire SL670 made a successful wheels-up forced landing at Dinworthy, Torridge, Devon. The pilot, Pilot IV G Mitchell, was uninjured. However, the Spitfire was not repaired, and was struck off charge as FACE (Flying Accident Cat. E) 30-11-48.

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.443
3. Royal Air Force Aircraft SA100-VZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain)
4. 203 AFS ORB for the period 1-6-47 to 31-12-50: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 29/1771: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4101481
5. "RAF Write offs 1948": Air Britain Aeromilitaria No.1 1979: https://air-britain.com/pdfs/aeromilitaria/Aeromilitaria_1979.pdf
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p099.html
7. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/SL670
8. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/90144-sl670
https://www.rafcommands.com/archive/17376.php
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Chivenor#1946%E2%80%941949
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradworthy

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

14 February 1948	SL671	601 (County of London) Sqn RAF	1	Marley Common, Camelsdale, near Haslemere, Sussex, England		w/o
18 October 1948	SL669	501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn RAF	0	RAF Filton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England		w/o

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
13-Apr-2023 15:10	Dr. John Smith	Added
16-Aug-2023 16:47	Dr. John Smith	Updated