Spitfire part / part numbers? Can anyone please help identify?

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Member for

10 years 6 months

Posts: 43

Hiya,
I'm an archaeologist working on a bunch of WWII discarded aircraft parts found in Darwin Harbour. Most have been PBY Cats, but we've also found a handful of Spitfire parts. The latest one that's come up appears to be a small fragment of wing internal structure and has several part numbers and inspection stamps on it. None of them have the 300 series prefix, but I've got a gut feeling it's Spitfire [possibly bottom outer main plane?]. However, my knowledge is pretty limited and I'd like to go on more than just my gut [!].
I would very much appreciate any help or suggestions anyone might have on identification of the piece or the part numbers / inspection stamps?
I've attached a couple of photos - please forgive the condition of the part; it was found caught on a dredge drag head and has been twisted and bent over.
The part numbers / stamps on it [one on each side of the frame gussets] include:
“08 661 D 269 90 1” “B” and inspection stamp with “JLSL 42” inside a circle
“08 662 D 60346” “D” and inspection stamp with “JLSL 121” inside a circle
“08 657 1 277 4 2” “C” and inspection stamp with “JLSL 42” inside a circle
“08 653 1 269 69 4” “S” and inspection stamp with “JLSL 98” inside a circle
“08 659 B 277 4 2” “F” and partial inspection stamp with “81” inside an oval
“08 660 B 60392” “E” and inspection stamp with “JLSL 87” inside a circle.
Thank you very much,
Caroline :)
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Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,835

Hi Caroline - yes, it's part of a Spitfire wing rib

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 615

Hi CarolineW, yes spitfire. The 08 denotes wing, the next number is of that particular part. You are right that there would be 300 prefix to the 08.

Steve"P"

Member for

10 years 6 months

Posts: 43

Hi Steve "P" and Whitley_Project,
Thank you very much for your replies. I'm glad to know I was actually on the right track!
Thanks again :)
Best wishes, Caroline.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 10,029

May we assume that these Spitfire parts are are not from Mk V BS231 that crashed with Ray Thorold-Smith in to Darwin harbour?

Parts from this wreck have been recovered in years past at very low tides. Some parts are on dispaly at the Air Museum.

Mark

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/spitfire/A58-92.html

Member for

10 years 6 months

Posts: 43

Hi Mark,
Yes, absolutely :) Ray Thorold-Smith's aircraft was identified in the 1980s in the western reaches of Darwin Harbour; the area we're working in is on the other side, along East Arm. That's one of the main reason we're here, to make sure no wreck sites are disturbed or damaged. The aircraft parts we've been finding in this particular area were all part of a discrete cluster of what look like spare parts discarded in a pile - many of them show puncture marks & axe marks from what seems to be a common practise of rendering parts useless prior to discard so they could be struck off the Lend Lease bill & to ensure they weren't recovered and reused.

Member for

10 years 6 months

Posts: 43

Hi TonyT, sorry for the very slow response. Thank you very much for that link; that's a great website! Thank you :)