Spitfire AD540 'Blue Peter' Crash

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Reference WMO/274674

Address:

the mountain called Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Clennoch Bothy

Scotland

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Roadside
Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet
Materials:
  • Metal Metal (any)
  • Rock/Rough Stone Rock/Rough Stone
Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: Metal Plaque on a naturally located boulder. This is located after the end of the 4 mile long Moorbrock track, off the road to Lorg, which starts off the B729 about 6 miles east of Carsphairn. If visiting this site please make sure that you are properly equipped and experienced in navigation in remote hillside locations. A Spitfire crashed on the North East of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn on 23 May 1942. The pilot was David Hunter Blair and was only nineteen years old when he died. David served with 242 Squadron and was one of several pilots sent to provide top cover for the Queen Mary which was arriving in UK laden with US soldiers. His plane was a spitfire Vb AD540 'Blue Peter' – it had been paid for by funds raised in Newmarket and was named after the 1939 Derby winner. The pilot blacked out due to a fault with the oxygen but came to in time to bailout, unfortunately his parachute failed to open correctly and he was severely injured on landing and died shortly after he was found. He landed around half a mile away from where the plane crashed and, only 15 miles from the family home at Straiton. The aircraft wreckage was discovered and parts were recovered in 1993 with the assistance of a Royal Naval Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayr. The engine has subsequently been restored and is on display at the Dumfries and Galloway aviation museum. See also WMO/274673 for another nearby plaque for the pilot
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NEAR THIS SPOT ON 23RD MAY/1942 SPITFIRE MK VB AD 540 BLUE/PETER CRASHED WHILST ON/CONVOY DUTIES IN THE CLYDE/ESTUARY PO DAVID HUNTER/BLAIR BEING KILLED IN THE/ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT LAY/HIDDEN FOR 51 YEARS TO THE DAY/CRASHED UNTIL DISCOVERED BY/RALPH DAVIDSON OF THE DGAG/ON 23RD MAY 93

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