Also if you are going to glide to a landing on a beach is "wheels down" the best idea especially if you are going to destroy the aircraft anyhow?
Good idea or not, it happened. On Twitter there are images of the actual Spitfire on the beach with its wheels down, having been torched by the pilot shortly after landing. I would post it, but as Photobucket is now looking to charge me for doing so, I won't.