Allied – Spitfires Mk IV BR186 / BR174

On the first day of November in 1942, which was a foggy day, two separate tragedies occurred within a few metres of each other. The two Spitfires, both belonging to 616 Squadron Westhampton, were flying over the southern sections of the island when a bank of sea mist or fog led them to fly too low, and they both crashed on the high terrain near Stenbury Down, Wroxall, within a few seconds of each other. Flt Sgt. S. Smith, who was piloting BR186, passed away at the scene, while Flt Sgt. K. Rodger, who was in BR174, suffered critical injuries.

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

• 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)