This was an early version of the Spitfire. It was piloted by P/O Geoffery Hill on February 5, 1941. He was part of an escort group that was assigned to rendez-vous with Bristol Blenheim bombers to attack a German airfield at the St-Omer Aerodrome in France. Poor weather conditions resulted in the escort group being unable to meet up with the bombers so Hill and another pilot skirted around in the area where they were attacked by Me Bf 109s. The result was that P/O hill was shot down near St Omer. He survived the crash and was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag luft III. Hill escaped from there no less than three times and was eventually sent to Colditz prison (PoW No. 405), where he remained till war's end. He was released in May, 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant and made MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), for distinguished service as a PoW. Hill founded a prominent antique business in London where he died in November, 1997; his businesswas carried on by his family members.
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