Soothill, P L (Philip Lionel)

Soothill, P L (Philip Lionel)

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Pilot Officer Philip Lionel Soothill was the son of Herbert Ashworth Soothill and Annie Soothill, of Wallington, Surrey.

On the 15th of February 1942, Pilot Officer Soothill of 152 Squadron took off on his final flight in Spitfire Mark II[1] P8448 to practise air firing. Spitfire P8448 was funded by NAAFI canteen workers and bore the name ‘Counterattack’.

For reasons unknown, possibly engine failure, the engine cut out and the fighter plane plunged into the sea killing the pilot, who was Philip Lionel Soothill. His body and the fighter would be later recovered. Philip would be laid to rest in Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard. The Spitfire would eventually end up at the entrance of RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, England, where it still is today.

Later that day, Sergeant W T McKay (RCAF) of 152 Squadron was injured when his Spitfire lost power while circling the aerodrome and crashed into a tree.

Nine days later the squadron would lose Flight Lieutenant Crelin Arthur Walford Bodie. He would also be buried in Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard.

A few days before that accident, Pilot Officer Philip Lionel Soothill was laid to rest with a full military funeral.

Date of Death: Died 15/02/1942 (Aged 25)

Service: Pilot Officer (Pilot), 152 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Service Number: 100571 Burial Location: Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Grave 2.


[1] The Supermarine Spitfire made its first flight during March 1936. It would remain in production until 1948.

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