CRASH OF A SPITFIRE
NEAR DALY WATERS, NT
ON 15 JUNE 1944

Spitfire A58-359 JG355 of 548 Squadron RAF piloted by Pilot Officer Frederick Thomas Griffiths RAFVR (160936) made a forced landing about 20 miles north east of Daly Waters in the Northern Territory during a travel flight after it suffered fuel starvation. The 21 year old pilot, Pilot Officer Griffiths, was tragically killed in this crash.

Spitfire A58-359 was flying with eight other Spitfires during a flight from Cloncurry to Gorrie. P/O Griffiths left the formation at about 1010hrs local time and attempted a forced landing on a bearing of 075º T from Daly Waters. The escorting Beaufort made a decision to continue to escort the other eight Spitfires to Gorrie, but then returned to the crash site and discovered Spitfire A58-359 completely burnt out and the pilot tragically killed. P/O Griffiths was buried at Adelaide River War Cemetery at 1600 hours local time on 18 June 1944.

The Inquiry Report states that the remains of the Spitfire wreckage were recovered by a salvage party back to 14 ARD at Gorrie. The report suggested that the most likely cause of the accident was, that at the time the pilot changed over from his Jettison Tank to his Main Tank, the engine may have cut out on the Jettison Tank and failed to pick up when switched over to the Main Tank.

The wreckage was recovered in the 1980s and is currently being rebuilt to flying status at Archerfield Airport.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

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This page first produced 20 February 2024

This page last updated 20 February 2024