Tip of Spitfire propeller blade: Normandy, June 1944, 453 Squadron RAAF

Laminated timber fragment, roughly 200 mm long x 100 mm in chord, from the tip of a crashed Spitfire Mark IXb propellor blade. The leading edge of the blade is protected by a thin strip of brass sheet, 25mm in width, which is folded over both sides of the blade, and fastened to the blade with tacks. The entire surface of the blade fragment is covered with a fine gauge metal gauze and a filler compound, over which a black paint topcoating remains. The tip of the fragment is painted chromium yellow. This color extends from the tip for 4 inches (100mm). The tip has been severed from the main body of the blade in a catastophic accident, and is considerably splintered.

Taken from a crashed Spitfire of No. 453 Squadron, R.A.A.F., in June 1944. The squadron was then serving in Normandy.

The Squadron was flying the Spitfire Mark IXb in June 1944. This aircraft type was fitted with a four-bladed propellor, which had to absorb the take-off power (1,375 H.P.) of a Merlin 61 engine while running at 1,430 r.p.m. One of four types of blade were fitted: a Rotol 4 blade constant speed, variable pitch type R3/4F5/2 (Made from Dural); or R3/4F5/3 (also made from Dural); or R5/4F5/4 (made from Jablo or Hydulignum); or Type R12/4F5/4 (also made from Jablo or hydulignum). All blades would have been 10ft 9ins diameter. This fragment is one of the two latter types, made from Jablo or Hydrulignum (both processes of laminating compressed timber). Timber propellers had the advantage that in the event of the blade being damaged, they would splinter and fragment, without causing catastrophic damage to the engine shaft.