Spitfire once linked to Bader identified in France

PublishedJanuary 10, 2026

Supermarine Spitfire Vb
RAF Serial: BM303
611 Squadron
Pilot: Sgt. J. E. Misseldine (survived)
Date: 8th June 1942
Place: Blaringhem, St Omer, France

During the excavation of a Spitfire crash site near Blaringhem, the wreck was initially suspected to be connected to famed ace Douglas Bader, whose aircraft had been similarly lost over France.

Cameras record a major excavation at one of the Spitfire sites close to the main road at Blaringhem.
It was thought that road widening and a drainage ditch may have destroyed the site

**The excavation began to try and identify the wreck**

Although little was found, one fragment from the gun-switching mechanism from the control column was enough for Spitfire expert, Peter Arnold, to declare that this machine was armed with 20mm cannons – and therefore not Bader’s 303 machine-gun armed Spitfire W3185.

Subsequent research showed this to be Spitfire BM303, flown by Sergeant J. E. Misseldine of 611
Squadron, which was shot down and declared missing in action near St. Omer on June 8, 1942, during a diversionary sweep, though Misseldine evaded capture.

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