Jack Malloch's Rhodesian Spitfire F22
- Thread starter BobB
- Start date
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Wavertree
Airman
I grew up seeing a Spitfire or a Mosquito daily flying low and very close to our house while they were on weather flights from RAF Woodvale. Both iconic aircraft, but the Spit is the most beautiful aeroplane ever and the sound of its Merlin raising the hair on your neck and arms.
Many years later, I was living in Salisbury, Rhodesia and watched Jack flying his Spit around. Living in the higher North-east of Salisbury, you could hear that Griffon engine as he circled around the city from one end to the other.
He "buzzed" the Salisbury Showgrounds once - none of this woke 1 000 ft nonsense - he was down near the deck - maybe 150 - 200 ft up MAX!!!
This film brought back many memories of the plane and the people who had flown them - I knew several as my Dad after the war had been the Air Traffic Control Officer at 611 (West Lancs) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force at Hooton Park, Cheshire. The squadron had flown Spitfires during and after the war eventually converting to Gloster Meteor F.8 at Woodvale before moving to Hooton Park in about 1951. Many pilots of 611 - and 610 (County of Chester) which shared the aerodrome were Spitfire pilots, and the CO of 610 Sqn - Jas Storer - had been the youngest pilot in the Battle of Britain. I moved amongst heroes.
I think Jack would have been happy to go out the way he did as he had done the ultimate. RIP Jack
Many years later, I was living in Salisbury, Rhodesia and watched Jack flying his Spit around. Living in the higher North-east of Salisbury, you could hear that Griffon engine as he circled around the city from one end to the other.
He "buzzed" the Salisbury Showgrounds once - none of this woke 1 000 ft nonsense - he was down near the deck - maybe 150 - 200 ft up MAX!!!
This film brought back many memories of the plane and the people who had flown them - I knew several as my Dad after the war had been the Air Traffic Control Officer at 611 (West Lancs) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force at Hooton Park, Cheshire. The squadron had flown Spitfires during and after the war eventually converting to Gloster Meteor F.8 at Woodvale before moving to Hooton Park in about 1951. Many pilots of 611 - and 610 (County of Chester) which shared the aerodrome were Spitfire pilots, and the CO of 610 Sqn - Jas Storer - had been the youngest pilot in the Battle of Britain. I moved amongst heroes.
I think Jack would have been happy to go out the way he did as he had done the ultimate. RIP Jack
Wavertree
Airman
For the rivet counters, the tail fin marking was different on the restored aircraft from the earlier planes show in the film.
Michael Hope
Airman 1st Class
- 238
- Jun 28, 2016
You can also read the book.
Malloch's Spitfire: The Story and Restoration of PK350
Malloch's Spitfire: The Story and Restoration of PK350
Nice one!
I had dealings with Malloch while attempting to export some vintage sailplanes from Rhodesian flying clubs, being shut down in the unrest around their departure from Commonwealth status. I'll leave Wikipedia to fill in some background.
"John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. In 1978, Malloch persuaded a Rhodesian Air Force base to part with the Mk 22 Spitfire which had been sitting on a plinth outside the air base for over 20 years. In March 1980, he made the first flight in the newly renovated aircraft, and it was featured at air shows in Zimbabwe at the time. Malloch was killed in his Mk 22 on the last day of filming the documentary Pursuit of a Dream on 26 March 1982 when he flew the aircraft into a thunderstorm."
btw, While I had succeeded in purchasing a number of well-maintained and flying '30s-50s British and German sport sailplanes, and paid all the export fees demanded, government bureaucrats held up the shipping ... I believe as they wanted to keep them for the use of the new citizens. When the new country of Zimbabwe became independent in April 1980 a rampage followed, and they were burned, along with a lot of property of the "colonials.
"John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. In 1978, Malloch persuaded a Rhodesian Air Force base to part with the Mk 22 Spitfire which had been sitting on a plinth outside the air base for over 20 years. In March 1980, he made the first flight in the newly renovated aircraft, and it was featured at air shows in Zimbabwe at the time. Malloch was killed in his Mk 22 on the last day of filming the documentary Pursuit of a Dream on 26 March 1982 when he flew the aircraft into a thunderstorm."
btw, While I had succeeded in purchasing a number of well-maintained and flying '30s-50s British and German sport sailplanes, and paid all the export fees demanded, government bureaucrats held up the shipping ... I believe as they wanted to keep them for the use of the new citizens. When the new country of Zimbabwe became independent in April 1980 a rampage followed, and they were burned, along with a lot of property of the "colonials.
