Date:	Monday 8 September 1947
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX
Owner/operator:	73 Sqn RAF
Registration:	MK158
MSN:	CBAF.
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali) -   Malta
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
MK158: Spitfire LF.IX, built by CBAF (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory) with Merlin M66 engine. To 39MU RAF Colerne, Chippenham, Wiltshire 30-1-44 for packing and crating for shipment overseas. Shipped on the SS 'Fort Liard' 1-3-44, arriving Casablanca, Morocco 17-3-44. To Middle East Air Command 26-6-47. To 73 Squadron, RAF at Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 8-9-47 when engine failed takeoff at RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta. Pilot experienced engine trouble when the boost aneroid fractured on take-off from Ta’ Qali. On throttling back from the excessive boost, the engine faltered. As there was insufficient runway left to come to a halt without over running the runway and going over a fifteen-foot wall 20 yards from the end of the runway, the pilot decided to raise the gear and make a belly landing

Damaged assessed as Cat E 8-9-47. Struck Off Charge 30-10-47 as Cat. E2(FA).

1. Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. p.72. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings p.368
3. 73 Sqn RAF ORB for the period 1-6-1946 to 31-12-1950: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2430/4: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8420259
4. "RAF Write offs 1947": Air Britain Aeromilitaria No.2 1978: https://air-britain.com/pdfs/aeromilitaria/Aeromilitaria_1978.pdf
5. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/85726-mk158
6. https://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=MK158
7. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/MK158
8. https://aviationinmalta.com/MilitaryAviation/AccidentsMilitary/19401949/tabid/650/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._73_Squadron_RAF#World_War_II
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Ta_Kali

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Aug-2023 02:01	Dr. John Smith	Added
29-Aug-2023 10:12	Nepa	Updated