Sandy Gunn's wrecked Spitfire recovered in Norway
Flight Lieutenant Alastair "Sandy" Gunn, while flying a specially-equipped Spitfire fighter on a photo reconnaissance mission, was shot down by two German Bf 109 fighters near Langurda, Norway on 5 Mar 1942. He bailed out, became captured, and ultimately participated in the gamed "Great Escape" out of the prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III. He was recaptured and ultimately executed. The fighter, AA810, was initially located in the summer of 2017, and by the summer of 2018 researchers had completed the project. The pieces were brought back to the United Kingdom on 1 Aug 2018. The ownership of the recovered aircraft had been transferred from the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom to aviation historian Tony Hoskins, who had been leading the recovery, who had set forth the goal to restore the fighter to flight condition. AA810 represented the only surviving complete wreck belonging to any of the participants of the "Great Escape".
For more information:
Fox News: World War II fighter plane flown by 'Great Escape' pilot discovered on Norwegian mountain
WW2DB: Spitfire
Back to Main | Back to 2018 News Index
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
- » Wreck of USS Edsall Found (14 Nov 2024)
- » Autumn 2024 Fundraiser (7 Nov 2024)
- » Nobel Peace Prize for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization (11 Oct 2024)
- » Wreck of USS Stewart/DD-224 Found (2 Oct 2024)
- » See all news
- » 1,150 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 43,917 timeline entries
- » 1,241 ships
- » 350 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 375 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 260 facilities
- » 470 book reviews
- » 28,550 photos
- » 432 maps
General Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, 17 Oct 1944
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!
Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!