N3277 was a Supermarine Spitfire Mk I.
History
Built as part of a September 1938 order for 200 Spitfires,[1] N3277 was flown for the first time on 5 January 1940. After being passed to 24 Maintenance Unit on 16 January, the aircraft was assigned to 234 Squadron on 15 April,[2] receiving squadron code AZ-H.[3]
On 15 August 1940 N3277, flown by Pilot Officer Richard Hardy, was attacked by Messerschmitt Bf 109s of JG 53[4] and damaged while near the Isle of White. After making a forced landing in Cherbourg, France, Pilot Officer Hardy became a Prisoner of War,[2] while N3277 was quickly repaired, repainted in Luftwaffe markings, and sent to Germany for evaluation.[4]
References
- ↑ Morgan, Eric B and Edward Shacklady. Spitfire - The History. 2000. ISBN 0 946219 48 6 Page 80
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morgan, Eric B and Edward Shacklady. Page 82
- ↑ Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Airlife Publishing. 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6 Page 245
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Flypast Magazine. Key Publishing Ltd. November 2013 - Page 43