Date:	Tuesday 27 January 1948
Time:	day
Type:	Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX
Owner/operator:	73 Sqn RAF
Registration:	MK119
MSN:	CBAF.
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali) -   Malta
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta
Destination airport:	RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
MK119: Spitfire LF. IX, built at CBAF (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory) with Merlin M66 engine. To 39MU RAF Colerne, Chippenham, Wiltshire 14-1-44. To 222MU RAF North Luffenham 11-2-44 for packing and crating for shipment overseas. Shipped on the SS 'Fort Liard' 1-3-44, arriving Casablanca, Morocco 17-3-44. To 154 Squadron, RAF later in 1944 coded "HG-V". From 23-8-44, 154 Squadron was based at Fréjus, France, providing air cover for the forces that moved north to join those that had landed at Normandy. It was disbanded in Naples on 1-11-44

To 73 Squadron in December 1944. In December 1944 part of 73 squadron was moved to Greece to take part in the fighting against the Communist resistance attempting to seize power. In January 1945 the squadron returned to Italy, and in April moved to Prkos, Yugoslavia, where it remained until the end of the war, moving to Malta in July 1945. Initially based at Hal Far, the squadron soon moved to Takali.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 27-1-48 when bounced on landing, swung off the runway and undercarriage collapsed at RAF Ta Kali (Ta'qali), Malta. When landing at RAF Ta Kali in crosswinds, the pilot did not allow sufficiently for drifting, and stalled the Spitfire at an altitude of approx. 40 feet while attempting to overshoot. The pilot left the overshoot action too late, and the Spitfire hit the runway at Ta Kali hard, bouncing on touchdown, causing damage to the starboard undercarriage, which collapsed after the Spitfire began to swing to starboard off the runway at Ta Kali

Damage initially assessed 27-1-48 as Cat B (Repairable). To 137MU RAF Luqa, Malta for storage pending repairs 12-2-48. Not repaired. re-cat E2(FA) and Struck Off Charge 11-3-48

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 1948": Air Britain Aeromilitaria No.1 1979: https://air-britain.com/pdfs/aeromilitaria/Aeromilitaria_1979.pdf
5. https://aviationinmalta.com/MilitaryAviation/AccidentsMilitary/19401949/tabid/650/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
6. https://www.avialogs.com/spitfire-and-seafire-registry/item/85726-mk119
7. https://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=MK119
8. https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/MK119
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._154_Squadron_RAF#Reformation_in_World_War_II
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._73_Squadron_RAF#World_War_II
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Ta_Kali

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
25-Aug-2023 15:19	Dr. John Smith	Added
25-Aug-2023 17:15	Nepa	Updated
18-Sep-2023 19:22	Dr. John Smith	Updated