Spitfire SL611 - Scafell, Lake District, 20th Nov 1947.
A Spitfire MK XV1 Similar to that of SL611.
Spitfire SL611 - Crash site in 1948.
The wreck of Spitfire SL611 in 1948 was discovered by a local shepherd from Eskdale, Mr Richard Ellwood, the photo taken soon after by George Fisher.M.B.E. shows the tail of the aircraft and broken wreckage.
The Spitfire was on the last leg of a cross country flight from RAF Hullavington to Turnhouse,Edinburgh on 20th November 1947 with 603 Squadron when it went missing. It was not found until 1st May 1948 due to the bad weather and snow on the mountains at the time.
The aircraft had crashed just below Ill Crag Nr Scafell and for decades wreckage lay almost as the day it crashed, but SL611 was dubiously removed by a man from the South of England, fortunately though it eventually went to the Supermarine Aero Engineering plant for work on restoration of a static display MK XVI Spitfire there.
Pilot. F/Lt Donald J.O.Loudon (Killed)
Spitfire SL611 - Revisted 1995
The scene of the crash revisited on 14th April 1995, by friends L to R: Royce,Eddie & Bill. Note the big square rocks next to them appear in the 1948 picture to the right and just below the tail section.
F/LT DONALD JAMES OTT LOUDON A.F.C
Photos: Dr.John D.O.Loudon.
Shepherd - Richard Ellwood of Eskdale.
Photo: Richard Ellwood.
In Memory of F/Lt D.J.O.Loudon . A.F.C.
A plaque was placed at the crash site by the Dave Ramsey, Geoff Bland and the author 50 years to the day of the crash on 20th November 1997, inscription reads:
HERE LIES THE REMAINS OF SPITFIRE SL611 IN WHICH F/LT D.J.O.LOUDON. TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE.
Spitfire SL611 - Lake District
