Date: 5th February 1941 (Wednesday)
Unit: No.610 Squadron.
Type: Supermarine Spitfire I
Serial No: N3249
Location: On the outskirts of St Omer, near Wizernes, France.
Pilot: Sgt. Herbert David Denchfield 748168 Captured/PoW.
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was attacked and shot down in combat by Luftwaffe fighter ace Walter Oesau of 1/JG3 and crashed near Wizernes.
Air Britain Aeromilitaria has for N3249
N3249 Delivered 27 MU 29.12.39; No.92 Sqn (GR-P, QJ-P) 20.3.40; Crashlanded at Pembury due to mist after night flight from Bibury 31.8.40. No.1 CRU 4/9/40; 9 MU 26.10.40; No.602 Sqn 10.11.40; No.610 qn 14.12.40.
NOTE: Crash site was located by Melvin Brownless and David King with the help of Laurent d' Hondt during our visit to various sites in the St Omer area. Small aluminium fragments and damaged .303 shells discovered on the bank and in the field off the road to Wizernes.
Melvin searches the edge of the road for any surviving fragments (Brownless/King)
David and Laurent pick up scattered readings on the standard metal detectors and the Forster bomb locator,
this being used to find deep steel items (Brownless/King)
Researched by Melvin Brownless and David King A.R. Society April 2012, with special thanks to Laurent d' Hondt (France).