Spitfire Revisited

[El Grifo]

I started a thread here some years ago about an alleged American or Canadian Spitfire pilot who visited our town in the Scottish Borders several years running to visit the location of a crash or forced landing he had during the war. It raised some great discussion and involved a lot of research, but hit brick walls every time. There was an element if mystery about it. No one could really make a proper connection between a US Pilot and a UK Spitfire.

The basic story can be found here on the first post https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/474261-spitfire-crash-landing-scotland-ww11.html?highlight=Spitfire+crash
A couple of days ago, someone sent me a link to this YouTube video which puts both elements together US pilot and Spitfire.
It set me wondering all over again.

A possibility, or barking up the wrong tree ?

https://youtu.be/ie3SrjLlcUY

Any input would of course be welcome !

El Grifo

[megan]

No one could really make a proper connection between a US Pilot and a UK Spitfire The Spitfire was widely used by the USAAF. From Wiki.

4th Fighter Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Operations_Group). Volunteer pilots of the three Eagle squadrons transferred in September 1942 to USAAF to create this FG. 4th FG fought escorting bombers and dogfighting Luftwaffe fighters over France and the English Channel. In early 1943 it began transition to P-47 Thunderbolts.

334th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/334th_Fighter_Squadron) 1941–43. Formerly RAF 71 Squadron.
335th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/335th_Fighter_Squadron) 1942–43. Formerly RAF 121 Squadron.
336th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/336th_Fighter_Squadron) 1942–43. Formerly RAF 133 Squadron.

31st Fighter Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31st_Operations_Group). Fought in Dieppe, North Africa and Italy. In March 1944 P-51B Mustangs started to replace Spitfire IX.

2d Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2d_Fighter_Squadron)
4th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Fighter_Squadron)
5th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Fighter_Squadron)

52d Fighter Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52d_Operations_Group). Fought in North Africa and Italy. It was assigned to protect the allied fleet from air attacks off Anzio beachhead. In April 1944 P-51B Mustangs started to replace Spitfire IX.

307th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/307th_Fighter_Squadron)
308th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/308th_Fighter_Squadron)
309th Fighter Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/309th_Fighter_Squadron)


Photo Recce Groups

Alongside American-built F-5 Lightning and F-6 Mustang reconnaissance planes some Spitfire PR.XI planes were operated in Europe and the Mediterranean.

7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/373d_Intelligence,_Surveillance_and_Reconnaissance_Group).

13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Reconnaissance_Squadron) 1943
14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Fighter_Squadron) 1943–45

68th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Air_Force). North Africa and the Mediterranean until mid-1944.

16th Reconnaissance Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Reconnaissance_Squadron)
111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/111th_Tactical_Reconnaissance_Squadron)


United States Navy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy)

Cruiser Scouting Squadron Seven (VCS-7 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCS-7))

[El Grifo]

Appreciate your input megan, but the essence of tale is that despite some extensive digging by some serious people, little was uncovered.
I simply wondered if perhaps Harold A Raasch was piloting an American "flagged" reconnaissance Spitfire, then the information on him might not be so readily available.
An aircraft did crash at the exact location in the exact circumstances and the pilot suffered only minor scrapes .
The aircraft was quickly recovered in the exact manner that was suggested here on Pprune. Local witnesses describe the pilot as possibly Norwegian and the aircraft as possibly a Hurricane. The witnesses are now very elderly !

El Grifo

[NutLoose]

Have you tried registering and asking on the flypast forums, I ask this as one of the worlds most renowned spitfire historians frequents the historical section.

[El Grifo]

Thanks NutLoose.
Will Do !
El Grifo