75th BoB from Duxford

Airframes · Oct 21, 2015

Cheers Karl.

Airframes · Oct 21, 2015

The Spitfires.

Spitfire Mk.IXe, RR232.

This is a relative newcomer to the airshow circuit, and certainly the first time I've seen it 'live'. It wasn't listed in the pre-show info, nor was it included in the show programme, and I'm assuming it was a 'stand-in' for the Rolls Royce owned, ex-BBMF PR.19, PS853, which, although listed as performing, wasn't at the show.
Originally built in 1944, this Spitfire spent most of it's life in South Africa. Martin Phillips discovered the fuselage, engine and other parts in a back garden in Woking, Surrey, when he was looking for a Spitfire to buy, and purchased the remains for £70,000.
A wing was rescued from a hedgerow near Exeter, and a 13 year long restoration to flying condition commenced, the aircraft making it's first flight from Filton, Bristol, on the day the airport closed, in December 2012, with Bill Perrins at the controls.

Note that the photos were taken at the time I'd accidentally knocked the camera controls to 'Auto', rather than shutter priority (and also knocked off the image stabilisation !), hence the 'frozen' prop !

Crimea_River · Oct 21, 2015

Good stuff guys. Been really busty and am getting a bit behind.

Airframes · Oct 22, 2015

Been busty eh? And who's behind have you ... er, never mind !

Airframes · Oct 22, 2015

The Spitfires.

Spitfire LF MkIXe, SL633.

One of the last to be built at CBAF (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory), this Spitfire was delivered to 312 (Czech) Squadron, RAF, at Manston, in 1945.
This Squadron was one of three Czech Spitfire squadrons in the RAF and, at the end of the war in Europe, they flew their Spitfires to Prague, where they were assigned to the Czechoslovakian Air Force, with SL633, coded JT-10, becoming the personal mount of Flight Lieutenant Karel Posta in 1946.
Following the Communist take-over of Czechoslovakia in 1948, the aircraft, in parts and crated, left the country and went to join the Israeli Air Force, where it flew on recce ops until damaged in a wheels-up landing in 1954.
After being repaired, SL633 then went to Burma, although there are no records of its service in that country. The Spitfire was recovered in 1999, with restoration work commencing in 2007, and it's first post-restoration flight being in 2010.
Operated by the Historic Flight Foundation, SL633 wears the colours and markings originally carried when serving in (then) Czechoslovakia, with the codes JT-10.

Wurger · Oct 22, 2015

Crimea_River · Oct 22, 2015

OK! I've been busty and you've been in bed with a nasty old somebody. Now we're even!

T Bolt · Oct 23, 2015

Great info on the spitfires Terry. And I have to agree with you about the Spitfire start up very cool picture Jeff.

Jeff Hunt · Oct 23, 2015

Sorry for missing yesterday.

Cheers,

Jeff

Wurger · Oct 23, 2015

Airframes · Oct 23, 2015

Cracking shots Jeff !
Yep, I guess we're even now Andy, surely .....
Thanks Glenn - more Spitfire info to come, and then the Hurricanes.

Airframes · Oct 23, 2015

The Spitfires.

Spitfire MkIX, MH434.

Probably the World's most well-known Spitfire, MH434 was built at CBAF in 1943, with it's first test-flight in early August, at the hands of the legendary Alex Henshaw. By the 27th of the same month, with 222 Sqn, RAF, it had already claimed a FW190 destroyed, and another damaged, in the St. Omer area, France.
Whilst with this Squadron, MH434 downed a number of enemy aircraft, and served briefly with 350 Sqn, before returning to 222 Sqn.
Having completed over 80 operational sorties, she was retired in March 1945.
Her operational life was far from over however, as she went to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1947, serving with 322 Sqn in the Dutch East Indies, on ground attack operations, before a crash-landing at Semarag, Java.
Repaired in 1953, the Spitfire flew again in Holland, before another move, this time to the Belgian Air Force, first at a training unit at Koksijde, and then with 13 Wing at Brustem.
Put up for sale, the Spitfire was purchased by Tim Davies in 1956, and flown purely for pleasure. I'm fairly sure that during this period, in the early 1960's, MH434, then in a civilian colour scheme, was the first ever Spitfire I saw flying, at Church Fenton.
With the search on for suitable aircraft for the planned BoB movie in November 1967, Grp Cpt Hamish Mahaddie purchased her, on behalf of Spitfire Productions, for use in the movie, which was completed in 1968, and first screened in 1969 (I well remember the North East Premier, in Newcastle!).
At the end of filming, Mahaddie's private 'Air Force' was sold off, and MH434 was then acquired by Sir Adrian Squires, Chairman of Cathay Pacific airlines, who flew it for many years, wearing his initials, AC-S, as code letters. During this period, the Spitfire appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, including 'A Bridge to Far' (low flying above the boy on a bicycle - see 'still' from movie below).
Eventually put up for auction in 1983, MH434 was then purchased by 'The Master', the late Ray Hannah, as the foundation for The Old Flying Machine Company, at Duxford, and has performed at countless airshows, and appeared in more movies and TV shows, ever since.
Unlike many Spitfires flying today, MH434 has never had a total re-build, although restoration and conservation work has, of course, been undertaken over the years, and she remains as originally built, now bearing the original codes and markings she wore during her wartime service with 222 Sqn, RAF.