Allied – Spitfire Mk 1 – X4016

On August 16, 1940, aerial attacks across the island led to numerous dogfights and deaths. This particular Spitfire was engaged in combat with a Messerschmitt Bf109 when catastrophe struck.

Flying Officer H.P. Connor of 234 Squadron was forced to parachute out of his shot-up aircraft, which at the time was over the English Channel and approaching the island.

Connor drifted into the water off the coast of Bonchurch, where he was rescued by Air Sea Rescue with no serious injuries. However, the aircraft continued flying and eventually crashed in flames north of the Heights on Whitwell Road as you are just leaving Ventnor.

Note: All images are merely representative of the aircraft and not specific.

• https://airpages.ru/eng/uk/spitf1.shtmlI

• All images are of similar aircraft and not the specific plane in question.
• Wight Air Wrecks – A T Gilliam ISBN 0-7524-2376-2
• Battle in the Skies – H J Leal (IWCP)