Date:	Wednesday 7 May 1947
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire F Mk XIV
Owner/operator:	6 Sqn RIAF
Registration:	MV305
MSN:	EA.
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Ranchi, Jharkhand -   India
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RIAF Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Destination airport:	RIAF Ranchi, Jharkhand
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
MV305: Spitfire FR XIV, built by Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) at Eastleigh, Southampton, Hampshire with Griffon G65 engine (Interim). Supermarine production prototype, first flown 24-5-44. To 33MU RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire 18-3-45. To 222MU RAF North Luffenham 2-6-45 for packing and crating for shipment overseas. Shipped on the ss 'Empire Gambia' 6-8-45, arriving India 30-8-45. To 6 Squadron RIAF.

Written off (damaged beyond repair 7-5-47: The starboard tyre burst on takeoff from RIAF Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. However, the Spitfire managed to take of normally. Upon return to base (RIAF Ranchi) the pilot opted to make a wheels-up landing at the side of the runway. The landing inflicted severe damage to the airframe as the aircraft slid along the ground at speed before coming to a halt

Crew of Spitfire MV305
Pilot Officer (IND-2893) Nando Kumar Mukerjee RIAF (pilot) - survived uninjured

This incident may have had an adverse effect on the pilot's career, as he relinquished his commission on 12-11-47, some six months later. The same pilot had also been at the control of Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc PJ685 of 151 OTU on 11-10-44 when it belly-landed and was written off

Not repaired; Struck Off Charge 1-6-47

1. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings p.299
2. Royal Air Force Aircraft MA100-MZ999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1985)
3. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p076.html
4. https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Aircraft/MV305
5. https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/2893
6. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/MV305
7. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/79901-mv305
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._6_Squadron_IAF#History
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birsa_Munda_Airport

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
02-Sep-2023 03:07	Dr. John Smith	Added
02-Sep-2023 09:04	Nepa	Updated