Sunday 5 September 2010

Luftwaffe Spitfires (1)






AZ-H was a Mk. 1 of 'A' Flight, Red Section 234 Squadron. On the evening of 15 August 1940 it was damaged in combat over the Channel and made a forced landing near Cherbourg, P/O R. Hardy being taken captive. From the following shots it appears that AZ-H landed wheels down. Some souces state that AZ-H was brought down by Oblt. Georg Claus of III./JG53. Note the damaged area behind the cockpit - this may have been the result of the Luftwaffe pilot's fire or was caused by the demolition charge activated to destroy the radio equipment. AZ-H was later transferred to Rechlin for testing and received the code 5+2.