Most likely a driver in the Poms looking at installing cannons.

[Strewth]

Interesting story actually on the shortest serving Spitfire in the war.
The damage described by the cannon hit tells a lot.

https://imgur.com/gallery/GrRxX

 

[Cynic_Al]

Given that it actually got the chance to land, I doubt that was the shortest serving Spitfire.

[Strewth]

7 hours ago, Cynic_Al said:

Given that it actually got the chance to land, I doubt that was the shortest serving Spitfire.

From what I understand, most freshly delivered spitfires were taken for a run or two before full blown battle and many did reasonably long patrols before seeing action. 
This spit was freshly delivered flown up and filled with holes where it promptly returned.

But, hey, whatever.

[messsucher]

I doubt the story, anyone can make up the stories, happen all the time in Internet and especially popular in youtube comment sections. But the damage descriptions are interesting, and if 20mm cannon was anything like that, then they seriously undermodeled in BoX.

[Strewth]

2 hours ago, messsucher said:

I doubt the story, anyone can make up the stories, happen all the time in Internet and especially popular in youtube comment sections. But the damage descriptions are interesting, and if 20mm cannon was anything like that, then they seriously undermodeled in BoX.

Mmmm........
The internet and social media were rampant in 1942 from what I remember 

[messsucher]

3 minutes ago, Strewth said:

Mmmm........
The internet and social media were rampant in 1942 from what I remember 

 

The source link in that does not work. Not that it would matter much if I could go see what has been written there. Quoted text seems to be linked to the source, and the rest made by modern "narrator".

[AEthelraedUnraed]

5 hours ago, messsucher said:

I doubt the story, anyone can make up the stories, happen all the time in Internet and especially popular in youtube comment sections.

You can look up the serial number; the story seems legit

 

5 hours ago, messsucher said:

But the damage descriptions are interesting, and if 20mm cannon was anything like that, then they seriously undermodeled in BoX.

PLEASE don't start another "this weapon is underpowered based on [insert anecdotal evidence]" debate...

[LukeFF]

In terms of this being the Spitfire with the shortest operational service life - yes, it's true and is easily verifiable, because we have the original records of when and where these planes served: https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/X4110

 

FF 7-8-40 9MU 9-8-40 602S 16-8-40 shot down by Bf109 over Solent F/Lt Urie abandoned aircraft injured 18-8-40 Cunliffe-Owen SOC 5-10-40

 

First flight 7 August 1940

9th Maintenance Unit: 9 August 1940

602 Squadron: 16 August 1940

Shot down 18 August 1940

Struck Off Charge 5 October 1940

 

X.4110 first shows up (and for the last time) on 18 August 1940 when it went out on patrol at 1415 hours and was down again at 1435 hours. Flight time 20 minutes.  

 

Guys, this one was too easy.  

 

 

[messsucher]

Cool stuff. Big fight, 60 Stukas and many 109, but apparently civilized engagement, no furball.

[Monksilver]

Interesting about Spitfire X4110 having the record for shortest operational life. Made me think about one of the WW II crash sites in the Brecon Beacons here in South Wales. Spitfire X4913 on 3.11.41 was on a training flight in low cloud when it flew into the north east face of Pen-y-Fan  killing the pilot F/S Gardner. Low cloud combined with navigation errors caused a number of crashes in the Beacons. The impact was at 800m, just 86m below the summit, about half way up the large middle gully in the photo below. 

 

The wreck wasn't found until 21.7.42, over 8 months later. I've heard it said that it was the longest lost plane on British soil in WW II, does anyone know if that is correct?