Large glass framed group of airframe, cockpit perspex and engine parts from RAF Spitfire R6753 piloted by Flight Officer D. Pinckney

Description

Large glass framed group of airframe, cockpit perspex and engine parts from RAF Spitfire R6753 piloted by Flight Officer D. Pinckney, he baled out after being shot down by a German Messerschmitt 109 on the 12th August 1940. The Aircraft crashed at St Mary’s Road Dymchurch in Kent during the Battle of Britain…………..

Called to full-time service in early October 1939, Pinckney found himself back at Cambridge with No.1 ITW. He completed his flying training and was posted to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum in late May 1940. He went to 5 OTU Aston Down on 23rd June and after converting to Spitfires joined 603 Squadron at Dyce on 6th July.

At 603 Pinckney formed a very close friendship with two other pilots, Peter Pease and Richard Hillary. In ‘The Last Enemy’, Hillary describes Colin as being

the same height [as Peter Pease] but of broader build. He had a bony, pleasantly ugly face and openly admitted that he derived most of his pleasure in life from a good grouse shoot and a well proportioned salmon. He was somewhat more forthcoming than Peter but of fundamentally the same instincts. They had been together since the the beginning of the war and were now inseparable. I was to become the third corner of the triangle of friendship.’
603 was posted south to Hornchurch on 27th August 1940 and were in action on the following day.

Pinckney claimed a Me109 shot down on 29th August but he was himself shot down and baled out slightly burned, being admitted to hospital. His Spitfire, R6753, crashed at St Mary’s Road, Dymchurch. On 27th September Pinckney probably destroyed a Me109, on 17th and 19th October he claimed two more destroyed, on 11th and 17th November probably two more and on the 23rd a CR42 destroyed.

In December 1940 Pinckney was posted to the Far East, arriving in Singapore on 16th January 1941 and in March 1941 he was in charge of the initial formation of 67 Squadron at Kallang. When the squadron was fully formed with Buffalo II’s it moved to Burma and he was appointed a Flight Commander. He was one of three English officers, all the other pilots being New Zealanders. During actions fought against the Japanese in December 1941 and early January 1942 Pinckney destroyed three Japanese aircraft.

He was killed on 23rd January 1942 as a Flight Lieutenant with 67 Squadron aged 24. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Column 412. Pinckney was awarded the DFC (gazetted 8th May 1942).