© Allan Hillman, with additional data from Steve Brew.
EB-Q, R7304 - was a Spitfire Mark Va built under the first order for 450 Spitfire Mk. I, dated 9 August 1939, which were built as Mks. Ia, Va and Vb, between April 1940 and April 1941.
Built by Supermarine Aviation (Vickers) Ltd., as number 1610, the aircraft was finally assembled at Chattis Hill Racing Gallops, where it's first flight took place on 23 April 1941. It then passed to 39 Maintenance Unit on 25 April 1941, which probably undertook retrofit modifications, painted on squadron markings, fuelled, tested and officially accepted the aircraft on behalf of the RAF.
R7304 was then issued to 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF on 15 May. It was damaged by a Bf109 on 4 June, probably repaired on site, then transferred to 145 Squadron on 6 July. On 28 July 1941, R7304 was transferred to 41 Squadron and allocated EB-Q.
Just a month later, EB-Q was flown by Sergeant Pilot Bill Brew during an eleven-aircraft sweep over the Continent, as a part of a target support mission, when he was shot down over St. Omer, France, on 27 August. Interestingly. the aircraft was not struck off charge until 1 September 1941, with a total of 95.50 flying hours.
Brew bailed out, survived, and consequently spent almost four years as a Prisoner of War. For further information on Brew's loss, see From Pilot to POW in One Short Sweep.