This cache is a regular-sized clip-lock container and has been placed with permission. Access is available and easiest via the Callander Hostel car park. The location also offers a café with picnic benches, Wi-Fi, toilets and a play park for children.
The Supermarine Spitfire, powered by the mighty Merlin II engine, remains an iconic symbol of Britain’s involvement in World War II, especially the battle for air supremacy over the south coast of England that became known as the Battle of Britain. Spitfire number R6780 was constructed in Eastleigh, Southampton and first flew on the 20th June 1940.
Within a month of construction, R6780 was assigned to 74 Squadron operating out of an aerodrome in Rochford, and throughout July and August 1940 was engaged in fierce fighting over southern England and the Channel. Throughout the Battle of Britain, 74 Squadron combated German raiders over London, where they were considerably successful. On 11th August, for example, 74 flew into battle four times and at the end of the day claimed twenty four enemy aircraft destroyed and fourteen damaged. In response, Chief of Air Staff Hugh Dowding sent a telegram – “A magnificent day’s fighting”.
Day’s later, the pilots of 74 Squadron were retired from the front line to recuperate, and R6780 became part of 602 Squadron. 602, normally based at RAF Abbotsinch (what is now Glasgow International Airport), were then fighting out of RAF Tangmere, Chichester on the south coast and were tasked with controlling the airspace over London and the South East which were taking the brunt of the Luftwaffe’s raids. During the Battle of Britain, 602 Squadron was moved south to Westhampnett, a satellite airfield of RAF Tangmere, joining 11 Group, which controlled the South East and London, and which took the brunt of the Luftwaffe’s attacks.
A pencil drawing in the geocache Gallery, titled 'Bringing Her In', shows R6780 during her time with 602 Squadron after another scramble.
R6780 then spent a period with 152 Squadron out of RAF Warmwell, before heading north to RAF Balado Bridge in Scotland to be “retired” as a training aircraft. On 23rd March 1941, R6780 became part of 58 Operational and Tactical Unit, a unit responsible for supplying Fighter Command with pilots trained in aerial combat skills.
On 4th September 1941, R6780 was being flown by Sergeant D.C. Thompson, a pilot of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, above Callander on a training flight. A witness, William McFarlane, who was playing with his brother in a nearby field, remembers seeing the aircraft “flying over Callander, going back and forward and was very low”. On this fateful day however “it just seemed to loop-the-loop, the engine cut out and it came down”. The aircraft crashed into the car park between what was then the Bridge End House Hotel and nearby houses.
The photograph below shows an aerial view of the location. R6780 came down from right to left, crashing into the ground approximately right-of-centre where the red van is. 
Although both the aircraft and pilot were sadly lost in the crash, there were no other casualties and only superficial damage was caused to the sides of the buildings - “the only damage that was done was a crack in the gable. It was a fluke”. The accident was attributed to an incorrectly performed right hand roll.
After a brief but venerable career, R6780 was officially “Signed Off Charge” - declared no longer useable – on 11th September 1940. Sergeant David Colborn Johnston, who was a 24-year-old from Birmingham, is buried in Grandsable Cemetery, Grangemouth , and I wish to dedicate this cache to him and other brave Volunteer pilots who took to the skies in defence of their country during World War II.