Date:	Tuesday 22 January 1946
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX
Owner/operator:	87 Sqn RAF
Registration:	MK637
MSN:	CBAF.
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Fossabiuba, 25 miles NE of Treviso, Province of Treviso, Veneto Region -   Italy
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Treviso, Province of Treviso, Veneto Region
Destination airport:	Treviso airfield, Veneto Region
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
MK637: Spitfire LF.IX, built by CBAF (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory) with Merlin M66. To 39MU RAF Colerne, Chippenham, Wiltshire 5-3-44. To 165 Squadron, RAF Culmhead, Somerset coded 'SK-J' 28-3-44. The squadron had moved to RAF Culmhead on 10-3-44, then RAF Predannack, Cornwall on 2-4-44. The squadron was moved to RAF Harrowbeer on 20-6-44, then RAF Detling on 22-6-44, to help combat flying-bomb attacks and provide escort for bomber forces. The squadron was moved to RAF Lympne on 12-7-44 and then back to RAF Detling on 10-8-44. The squadron moved to RAF Bentwaters on 15-12-44, where the squadron was re-equipped with North American Mustangs becoming operational again in February 1945

MK637 was no longer required, and was therefore sent to 9MU RAF Cosford, Shropshire on 23-3-45. To 1 OADU (Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit) 25-4-45. To MAAF (Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) 30-4-45. To 87 Squadron in Italy by/on 1-6-45

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 22-1-46 when hit trees and made a forced landing during low level flying exercise near Fossabiuba, 25 miles North East of Treviso, Province of Treviso, Veneto Region Italy. During aerobatic flying practice, the pilot - Flight Sergeant D R Rust - flew the aircraft to such a low level, that it collided with trees, resulting in an emergency landing.

Not repaired: Struck Off Charge 14-3-46 as Cat. E(FA)

1. Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Royal Air Force Aircraft MA100-MZ999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain 1985)
3. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings p.44
4. 87 Sqn RAF ORB for the period 1-6-1945 to 31-12-1946: National Archives (PRO Kew) file AIR 27/713/35: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8455129
5. "RAF Write-offs 1946": Air Britain Aeromilitaria 1979 p.97: https://air-britain.com/pdfs/aeromilitaria/Aeromilitaria_1979.pdf
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p071.html
7. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/MK637
8. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/86124-mk637
9. https://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=MK637
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._165_Squadron_RAF
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._87_Squadron_RAF

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
24-Jul-2023 09:02	Nepa	Updated