Salvaged Spitfire examined during the Bader investigation

PublishedJanuary 10, 2026

Supermarine Spitfire IX
RAF Serial: MA764
122 Squadron
Pilot: F/Sgt. Donald Bostock (survived)
Date: 25th November 1943
Place: Mont Du Pil, near St Omer, France

The excavation was part of the 2006 TV documentary ‘Who Downed Douglas Bader?’. The wreckage revealed just north of Mont Du Pil, and, at the time, it was suspected that this was the site of Bader’s Spitfire.

**The investigation took place in heavy rain – the tent is only to protect the camera equipment!**

Paul Cole points out the RAF roundel clearly still on
the side of the fuselage

This wreck had no tail section, as with Bader, but was it Bader’s Spitfire W3185? Or MA764 that went missing somewhere over France on 25 November 1943, when being flown by Flight Sergeant Donald Bostock of 122 Squadron?

The flying helmet and goggles found in the wreckage of the cockpit, with the pilot’s initials ‘DB’ painted in white and still plainly visible. Did ‘DB’ stand for Douglas Bader? or perhaps Donald Bostock?

Too good an opportunity to miss – after four hard days’ hard work, Peter Dimond tries the flying
helmet and seat harness for size

The wreckage was brought to England, where it was cleaned and reassembled on a framework as part of the Channel 4 documentary shown in August 2006, and identified as MA764.

MA764 is now the subject of a total rebuild to airworthy condition.

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