Spitfires still fly

There are more Spitfires flying now than there has been since the early 1950's. The picture to the left is from the 50th Anniversary airshow at Boscombe Down. Before those of you with a large high resolution screen get to me, I will admit that there is an interloping Hurricane in the first group (later there was even a post-War version of the Me109- its claim to inclusion was its Merlin engine). The current number in flying condition is around 50 (this figure is subject to rapid change as more return to the air or need repairs). A substantial industry has built up around restoring and maintaining Spitfires (the picture to the right is from Duxford), and it is true to say that with the exception of parts of the engines, it is possible to build a new Spitfire from scratch. Consequently, the amount of viable aeroplane needed to allow a restoration has decreased to the point where the number of restoration projects is considerable. Whether, with the wide use of any available parts and owner customisation, many of these Spitfires can be truly labelled as being typical of any one Mark is debatable, but given the rapid rate of Wartime progress, in-service upgrades, extensive repairs after damage, and sheer force of necessity it is probable that the same problem was also true of many service Spitfires! A significant number of Spitfires are also recorded as having flown in a number of different "Mark" configurations.

Currently airworthy Spitfires

Type 300- Mk I

AR213 (G-AIST)

This is the only Mk I flying today, but it is not the oldest airworthy Spitfire. It was delivered to 12 MU in July 1941, by which time a Mk I was outclassed. It therefore served with 57 and 53 OTU before being struck off charge and sold to Allen Wheeler in 1947. It spent many years in storage at Old Warden aerodrome before being restored to flying condition for the film The Battle of Britain in 1967. The 4-bladed prop is not standard for the Mark. It is currently owned by Personal Plane Services and based at Booker, Bucks, UK, and is a regular at UK airshows.(10/02)

Type 329- Mk II

P7350

The oldest surviving airworthy Spitfire, this Mk IIa is operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Delivered in August 1940 it served with 266, 603, 616, and 64 Squadrons. It has suffered a number of flying accidents, and after one of these it was returned to the Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge. After another, it went to 57 OTU, and remained there until March 1946, when it was sold as scrap. Fortunately the logbooks went with the airframe, and recognising its history John Dale and Sons delivered P7350 to the museum at RAF Colerne. In 1967 it was overhauled as part of the fleet for The Battle of Britain, and after filming it was allocated to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, with whom it has served to this day. The BBMF currently operates out of RAF Coningsby, and may be visited by interested parties; it is not advisable to visit on summer weekends, as the aircraft are usually away at airshows.(10/02)

Type 349- Mk V

Vb AB910

Originally ordered among a batch of Mk I's, the production run coincided with the arrival of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engines, and the batch were delivered as Mk V. It was delivered to 222 Squadron at North Weald in August 1941. With intervening periods of repair it also served with 130, 133, 242 416, 402 and 527 Squadrons.
While at 53 OTU it had its most famous (infamous?) flight. It was common practice for pilots using high power settings while on the ground to avail themselves of any convenient passerby to lie over the tail of the aircraft to prevent the aircraft from nosing over. Flt Lt Neil Cox was detailed to fly AB910, and was aided in his ground running by Leading Aircraftswoman Margaret Horton acting as a tailweight. After the ground run, the pilot lined up into wind and took off. In the circuit it was clear that the trim of AB910 was not normal, and flew in a tail-down attitude. After the remainder of the 1000 feet circuit, AB910 returned to the ground. On stopping, Margaret Horton was seen sliding off the tail unit where she had been determinedly clinging for the whole of the circuit!
After the War, AB910 was used for air racing before being purchased by Vickers-Armstrongs. After a career of air shows in the hands of Jeffrey Quill, she was presented in September 1965 to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, who operate her to this day. (10/02)

Vc AR501 (G-AWII)

Originally delivered in June 1942 to 8 MU, this Westland-built aircraft saw service with 310, 504 (two days), 312, and 442 Squadrons, followed by a period with 58 and 61 OTU and No 1 Tactical Exercise Unit. In 1946 it was acquired by Loughborough College as an instructional airframe. Obsolete for teaching purposes it was exchanged for a Jet Provost from the Shuttleworth Collection. Restored for The Battle of Britain and fully restored in 1975 it now operates as a clipped-wing LF Vc variant based at Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, UK. (10/02)

Vc AR614 (N614VC)

Delivered to 39 MU in August 1942, this aircraft saw service with 312, 222, and 610 Squadrons, and 53 OTU, but was ultimately disposed of as scrap, and was transferred to the Air Museum of Calgary in 1964. After a series of owners, it passed into the hands of The Alpine Fighter Collection, at Audley End, Essex, UK. This aircraft is now flying, and is operated by the Seattle based Flying Heritage Collection. (03/02)

Vb BM597 (G-MKVB)

Initially delivered in April 1942 to 37 MU, BM597 served with 315 and 317 Squadrons, and was eventually retired to act as Gate Guardian at RAF Church Fenton. She was used to make the master to make the moulds for the many Spitfire replicas used in the film The Battle of Britain. After being purchased in 1988, she is now owned by the Historic Aircraft Collection, and based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK. (10/02)

Vb EP120 (G-LFVB)

Originally delivered in May 1942 to 45MU, it served with 501, 19, and 402 Squadrons, finally ending with 53OTU. After a distinguished RAF career, in which its pilots were credited with 9 enemy aircraft shot down, it acted as Gate Guardian at a number of RAF airfields with the inevitable Battle of Britain interlude before being acquired by The Fighter Collection. It returned to the air on September 12 1995, and is currently based at Duxford aerodrome, Cambridgeshire, UK. (10/02)

Vc JG891 (G-LFVC)

Originally delivered in 1942, it was transferred to the RAAF in April of the following year. After a landing accident in Papua New Guinea it was struck off charge. in 1974 the stripped hulk was recovered and moved to New Zealand having been sold to Don Subritzki. In 1999 it was sold to Karel Bos of Historic Flying Ltd, under whose care it has been restored to flight. It is currently based at Duxford aerodrome, Cambridgeshire, UK, and is owned by Tom Blair. (07/07)

Type 359- Mk VIII

Mk VIIIc MT719 (N719MT)

This aircraft was delivered to 9 MU in June 1944 it was shipped to Bombay and flew with 17 Squadron in Burma. The history here is rather vague, and merely records being on charge and the sale to the Indian Air Force. It was rediscovered in Jaipur, India, in 1977. Bought by Ormond and Wensley Haydon-Baillie it was then resold to Franco Actis and shipped to Turin. It was returned to the air in October 1982, and is currently owned and operated by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, of Dallas, Texas, USA. (10/02)

VIIIc MV154 (G-BKMI)

Built at Supermarine's Southampton works and delivered to 6 MU in September 1944, she served with the Royal Australian Air Force. Acquired by Robs Lamplough in 1979, she was returned to the UK, and returned to the air in May 1994. She is currently based in Bristol. MV154 was also used as the source for a current series of fibreglass Spitfire replicas. (10/02)

VIIIc MV239 (VH-HET)

Delivered to 6 MU in March 1945, MV239 was sent to Australia too late for wartime service. Put into storage until 1949, it was sold and restored to ground running status. A later restoration returned it to the air in December 1985. It is owned and operated by David Lowy, in New South Wales, Australia. (10/02)

VIIIc NH631

Delivered to 6 MU in December 1944, this aircraft was sent to Bombay in February 1945. After service with the No 9 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, it ended on display at the IAF museum in New Delhi. In 1982 it was restored to airworthy condition as part of the museum's Golden Jubilee. (10/02)

Type 502- Tr8

Tr8 MT818 (N58JE)

A unique aircraft, it was delivered to the Controller of Research and Development at High Post in June 1944, then transferred to Farnborough. Returning to Vickers in February 1945, it emerged in September 1946 as the single Tr8 prototype, which failed to attract RAF interest. It entered the civil register as G-AIDN and was flown as a demonstrator by Vickers Armstrongs until 1952, including participation in a number of air races. After a period of storage (with two interludes for more races) it was sold to John Fairey, an instructor at Hampshire Aero Club and the son of Richard Fairey, founder of Fairey Aviation. After a number of owners it departed for the USA, owned and operated by Jack Erickson, of Medford, Oregon, USA. She has recently been sold and has returned to the UK.(13/07)

Type 361- Mk IX

IXc/e MA793 (N930LB)

This is the only currently flying Spitfire confirmed to have operated with the US Army Air Force. It was delivered to 6 MU in July 1943, and then sent to the Mediterranean to operate with the Mediterranean Allied Air Force. It was transferred to USAAF charge between October 1943 and May 1944. After the War, it was sold to South Africa, but never actually flew, and after being stripped for spares ended like a number of airframes, as a children's playground toy. It was spotted from the air by Andrew Smulian in 1967, and removed. After an extensive restoration to flying condition it returned to the air in September 1975. Currently it is probably to be regarded as a museum static exhibit, and it is owned by Transportes Aereos Regional, in Brazil. (07/07)

IXc MH434 (G-ASJV)

To Spitfire enthusiasts in the UK, this aircraft needs no introduction. Built in Castle Bromwich, it was delivered in August 1943 to 222 Squadron. It had a short relocation to 350 Squadron, and then later flew with 349 Squadron. After this busy RAF career it was sold in 1947 to the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Its operational career with the RNAF included 165 sorties in Indonesia. In 1956 it was sold to the Belgian Target-towing organisation COGEA, and was sold to a UK owner in 1963. Since being transferred to private hands, it has had a busy film and television career, most notably in The Battle of Britain and A Piece of Cake. Owned for a while by Sir Adrian Swire (Spitfire Society President), in 1983 it was purchased by Ray Hanna for the (at that time) enormous sum of £ 260 000 and has been operated since then by The Old Flying Machine Company based at Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire, UK. (10/02)

Mk IXe MJ730 (N730MJ)

Delivered to 33 MU in December 1943, MJ730 served with 249 Squadron in the Balkan Air Force, and then later with the Italian and Israeli Air Forces. Found derelict in Israel in 1976, it returned to the air in November 1988. It is currently owned by Jerry Yagen and flies out of Suffolk, Virginia, USA. (12/03)

Mk IX MK356

Built in Castle Bromwich, it was delivered to 9MU in February 1944. Initially allocated to 443 Squadron (RCAF). In August 1944 it was moved to 84 Group Support Unit for repairs after a wheels up landing. In October 1945 it was relegated to a training airframe, until 1951 when it was moved to Hawkinge. In December 1961 it was overhauled and pole mounted as a gate guardian at RAF Locking. It joined the fleet for the film The Battle of Britain, after which it was stored in the RAF Museum Reserve Collection at RAF St Athan. After restoration to flying condition she joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for the 1998 flying season, but spent part of it grounded after donating her engine to the BBMF Lancaster. After much work on engines, she is now a regular at UK airshows. (10/02)

Mk IX MK732 (PH-OUQ)

Delivered to 39 MU in March 1944, MK732 served with 485 Squadron, in a busy but short career. After a period in storage it was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1947. After retirement it was returned to the UK and passed into the hands of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a source of spares. Fortunately, it remained largely intact, and after a return to Holland it returned to the air in June 1993. In 1985 it was badly damaged in a landing accident at Rochester, but has now been restored to airworthiness. It is owned and operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historic Flight at Deelen/Gilze-Rijen Air Base, Netherlands. (10/02)

Mk IX MK912 (C-FFLC)

Allocated to 312 Squadron in June 1944 it passed on to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and then to the Belgian Air Force in 1952. Acquired by Guy Black, it was transferred to Audley End, Essex, and was returned to the air in September 2000. It is currently owned by Ed Russell, and is based at Niagra, Canada. (07/07)

Mk IXc MK923 (N521R)

Delivered to 9 MU in March 1944, it served briefly with 126 Squadron, then was sold to the Dutch government, then the Belgian Air Force. After a period of towing targets with COGEA, and a film appearance in The Longest Day, it returned to the UK before being resold to Cliff Robertson, at Kalamazoo USA. It is now operating out of the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, USA. (12/03)

Mk IX MK959 (N959RT)

Delivered in April 1944 to 302 Squadron, it also served with 329 and 165 Squadrons. Returned to Scottish Aviation Limited, it was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in September 1946. It was struck off charge in October 1961, and spent some time after that on a pole outside the Officer's Mess in Eindhoven. Raybourne Thompson acquired it in 1995 for restoration, and it is currently based in Houston, Texas. (07/07)

Mk IXe ML417 (N2TF)

Delivered to 6 MU in April 1944, ML417 served with 443, 401, 411, 412, 441, and 442 Squadrons. Sold Back to Vickers Armstrongs in October 1946, ML417 emerged converted to Tr9 configuration and was sold in October 1948 to the Indian Air Force. Rediscovered in 1967 and purchased by US Senator Norman E Gaar in 1971 and transferred to the USA it was placed into storage. Acquired by Stephen Grey and returned to the UK it was restored to the original single-seat configuration and flew in February 1984. Operated for some time by The Fighter Collection, it headed overseas, owned by Tom Friedkin, and based at Chino, California. (10/02)

Mk IXe NH238 (G-MKIX)

Delivered in May 1944 to 6 MU, NH238 did not see active service. It flew in the East Indies with 322 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands before transfer to the Belgian Air Force and then later as a target tower. After transfer to private hands in the UK, it was owned by the Confederate Air Force, before being sold to Doug Arnold's Warbirds of Great Britain. After his death it was transported to the USA, but is now operated by Flying A Services, out of North Weald, Essex, UK. The airframe is currently in long term storage.(07/07)

Mk IXe PL344 (N644TB)

Delivered to 8 MU in March 1943 it flew with 602, 129, 130, 401 and 442 Squadrons. After the War it served as a technical demonstrator in Holland, during which time it was substantially dismantled, and the aft fuselage disposed of. In 1985 the remains were acquired by Charles Church. It was rebuilt, and sold to Kermit Weeks, before passing to its current owner, Tom Blair, operating out of Bartow, Florida. It is currently under refurbishment at Duxford, with the wings being rebuilt.(07/07)

Mk IX TA805 (G-PNMF)

Originally delivered to 39MU in January 1945, then to 183 and 234 Squadrons. Transferred to the South African Air Force, it arrived in April 1949. Initially disposed of as scrap in 1954, it was acquired by the South African Air Force Museum in 1981. In 1996 it passed into the ownership of Peter Monk and Mike Simpson, and was restored to flight in 2005 It is currently based at Biggin Hill. (07/07)

Mk IXe TE554 (2057)

Delivered to 33 MU in May 1945 it was issued to 310 (Czech) Squadron in the month that it disbanded. The Czech aircrew took their aircraft back home with them and it was transferred to the Czech Air Force, where it served until 1948, at which time it was sold to the Israeli Air Force. After a period in storage it was restored and was eventually allocated to the current operators, the Israeli Air Force Museum, at Beersheba Airfield, Israel. (06/06)

Type 509- Tr9

One of the notable features of the ranks of flying Spitfires is the prominence of the trainer variants. Although only 26 were produced, seven still fly, although admittedly one is has been returned to single seat status, and two seat conversions have been added to the number. It is interesting that while it seems logical to the outside observer that they should be used to convert pilots to the increasingly valuable and rare Spitfire survivors, recent thinking suggested that there was little to gain by doing so, possibly since so many have the "low bubble" rear seat configuration, with very limited visibility for the instructor. Interestingly in this regard, during the restoration of PV202 to flying condition, she was returned to the "high dome" configuration with the expressed intention of using her as a trainer.

Tr9 MH367 (N367MH)

Originally delivered to 65 Squadron as an F Mk IX in August 1943, it also served with 229 and 312 Squadrons. After a period with the Empire Flying School, it was written off after a landing accident in July 1948. The airframe is largely a new build started by Dick Melton, into which some of the original structure (and thus identity) of MH367 has been incorporated. The final work was completed in Bartow, Florida, for Peter Godfrey. (10/02)

Tr9 MJ627 (G-BMSB)

Built in December 1943 as a standard Mk IX and operated by 441 Squadron, it was sold back to Vickers-Armstrong and became the first production two seat trainer conversion Tr9. It remains in the original high dome rear cockpit configuration. After service with the Irish Air Corps it was purchased as a source of spares for MH434, but was returned to the air in its own right in November 1993. It is owned and operated by Maurice and Peter Bayliss, as part of their collection at Bruntingthorpe Airfield, Leicestershire, UK. In May 1998 it suffered an undercarriage failure and sustained damage in the subsequent wheels-up landing. Restored to the air in 2002, it has been moved to East Kirby, Lincolnshire. (10/02)

Tr9 MJ772 (N8R)

Delivered to RAF Lyneham as a single seat Mk IX in December 1943, it served with 340 and 341 Squadrons, and was converted for the Irish Air Corps to Tr9 configuration in July 1950. The Irish Air Corps sold it to Film Aviation Services Ltd and then to COGEA as a target towing aircraft. It appeared in the film The Battle of Britain, for which it was extensively restored, and after a couple of sales, was acquired for the Champlin Fighter Museum, Mesa, Arizona, USA in 1974. It remains airworthy, but as a slightly odd-looking single seat Spitfire, as the rear cockpit has simply been blanked off. (10/02)

Tr9 ML407 (G-LFIX)

Delivered to 33 MU in April 1944 as a single-seat Mk IX, it flew 176 operational sorties and over 200 combat hours, being heavily involved with D-day. It flew with 485, 341, 349, 308, 345, and 332 Squadrons. In June 1951 Vickers delivered it converted to Tr9 standard to the Irish Air Corps. In 1960, it was retired to instructional airframe status. In 1968 it joined the pool of airframes for the film The Battle of Britain, but was not used. It was eventually purchased by Nick Grace, and was restored to the air in April 1985. After the tragic death of her husband, Carolyn Grace learned to fly, and now display, the Spitfire. It is based at Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire, UK, and flies in its wartime colours as OU-V of 485 Squadron.. (10/02)

Tr9 PT462 (G-CTIX)

Delivered as a single-seat HF IX to 39 MU in July 1942, it operated with 253 Squadron in the Mediterranean. After the War it was flown by the Italian Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. It was discovered as a derelict shell and its restoration for Charles Church included conversion to Tr9 standard, flying again in July 1987. After the death of Charles Church flying another Spitfire, PT462 moved to Florida, but has now returned to the UK. She is owned and operated by Anthony Hodgson, and is based in North Wales. (10/02)

Tr9 PV202 (G-CCCA)

It was built in Castle Bromwich as a LF IX and delivered to 33MU on 18 September 1944. Initially delivered to 84 Group Support Unit, it spent time with 33 Squadron. Transferred back to 84GSU, then 83 GSU, then 412 (RCAF) Squadron, where it had a busy service life. Placed into storage in July 1945, it was sold to Vickers-Armstrongs for conversion into a Tr9 configuration for the Irish Air Corps.It was downgraded to being an instructional airframe in 1960. Sold on in 1968, it eventually passed to Steve Atkins, who had it restored to flight as a low-dome version. After a fatal crash in 2000 Historic Flying Limited acquired the wreckage, and restored it in the IAC "high dome" configuration, for use as a trainer once more. (07/07)

Tr9 TE308 (N308WK)

Built as a single seat "low back" Mk IXe, on a production line producing both Mk IX and XVI (the difference only being the engine: MkXVI had a Packard- built Merlin) and delivered to 39 MU in 1945, it avoided wartime service by spending the next 5 years in store. It was converted to Tr9 standard by Vickers Armstrongs and sold to the Irish Air Corps in July 1951. In 1968 it was sold to civilian hands and joined the mass of airframes at Elstree Airfield for The Battle of Britain, and was used as a camera aircraft with the camera in the front seat. All forward-looking shots in the film were taken this way. After a short period with the rear cockpit blanked off, it was reinstated to Tr9 standard, complete with large rear bubble canopy. It is currently owned and operated by Bill Greenwood, out of Aspen, Colorado, USA. (10/02)

Type 365- Mk XI

Mk XI PL965 (G-MKXI)

Delivered to 9 MU in October 1944 it was allocated to No 1 Pilots Pool in January 1945. After service with 16 Squadron, it was sold to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and was used as an instructional airframe until 1960. It was used for static display until 1987, when it was acquired by Nick Grace for restoration. After his death it passed to the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society. It flew again in December 1992, operated by The Real Aeroplane Co. in 2004 ownership passed to Peter Teichman, and it is based at North Weald. (07/07)

Type 379- Mk XIV

Mk XIVe MV293 (G-SPIT)

It was delivered to 33 MU in February 1945, and sent to India for use by Air Command Southeast Asia. Subsequently sold to the Indian Air Force in 1947, it served for a time as an instructional airframe. Acquired initially by Warbirds of Great Britain it passed into the hands of The Fighter Collection, the current operators. It returned to the air in August 1992, and is based at Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, UK. (10/02)

Mk XIVe NH749 (NX749DP)

Delivered to 33 MU in February 1945 it was transferred to Air Command Southeast Asia and then sold to the Indian Air Force in 1947. Little is known of its history until 1977, when it was sold and returned to the UK. Restored, it returned to the air in 1983, and was sold to David Price, its current owner/operator in 1985. It is based at the Donald Douglas Museum, Santa Monica, California, USA. (10/02)

Mk XIVc NH904 (N114BP)

Delivered in March 1945 to 6 MU, it flew - once - with 414 Squadron, before being sold to the Belgian Air Force. In 1957 it was purchased by a scrap dealer, who displayed it on his roof, minus the wings. After returning to the UK it was sold into the Spitfire collection being amassed for the Battle of Britain film. After a period of storage it was restored for Spencer Flack, in a bright red colour scheme. It is now owned and operated by Bob Pond, based at Planes of Fame East, now relocated to Palm Springs, California, USA. (10/02)

Mk XIVe RN201 (G-BSKP)

Originally delivered to 9MU at Cosford in February 1945, it was allocated to 83 Group Support Unit in July. In December 1945 it was transferred to 350 (Belgian) Squadron. In MAy 1946 it returned to the UK and into storage. IN February 1948 it was sold to the Belgian Air Force, and was operated by 350 Squadron again. In 1950 it suffered a landing accident, and was not worthy of repair. After a period of display on a pylon at Beauvechain, it was sold to Guy Black and returned to the UK. Acquired by Karel Bos in 1998, after restoration at Duxford, it flew again in April 2002. It has since been sold to Tom Blair, and is based at Kissimmee, FLorida.(07/07)

Mk XIV SM832 (N54SF)

Originally ordered as a PRXI it was built as a Mk XIV and delivered in March 1945. Sent to India it was placed into storage and subsequently sold to the Indian Air Force. In 1979 it was brought back to the UK by Doug Arnold, and after a number of owners was restored for The Fighter Collection, and was returned to the air in May 1995. It is currently owned by Tom Friedkin and is based at Chino, California.(07/07)

Mk XIV TZ138 (C-GSPT)

Originally sent to Rolls Royce and then to Canada for cold testing in November 1945. Struck off charge in March 1949, it later moved to Minneapolis, and spent some time as a racer. After a period in a museum in Santa Monica, it was restored and is owned and operated by Robert Jens, out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (09/05)

Type 361- Mk XVI

Mk XVIe SL721 (NX721WK)

Built in 1945 (although originally ordered as a Mk 21) it was initially delivered into storage at 6 MU in August. It was reallocated in 1946 to a series of secondary units, including a period as the personal aircraft of Air Chief Marshall Sir James Robb. Sold to private hands in 1954, it has lived on a garage forecourt, in the hands of the Beaulieu Motor Museum, and a period in the USA. It suffered a landing accident in 1995, but was rapidly repaired. It was owned for many years by Woodson and Chris Woods, but has since been sold to Michael Potter, in Ottawa, Canada, and is back flying after a landing accident and a new paint scheme (the old one is the one you clicked on at the beginning of this site to get here!). (12/03)

Mk XVIe TB863 (ZK-XVI)

Delivered to 19MU in February 1945, it served with 183, 453, 567, and 691 Squadrons. After a short film career in Reach For The Sky and Battle of Britain and a series of private owners it was restored (initially by PPS and then The Fighter Collection) and transferred to the current owner, Tim Wallis of the Alpine Fighter Collection. It flew again in September 1988, and moved to Wanaka, New Zealand. In 2006 it was sold to David Lowy and moved to Temora, Australia. (07/07)

Mk XVIe TD248 (G-OXVI)

Delivered to 6 MU in May 1945, it just missed active service. It was delivered to 695 Squadron, and later served with No 2 Civil Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit and 9 MU. It had a role as Gate Guardian at Hooton Park and RAF Sealand until 1988, when it was exchanged for a replica and passed into the hands of Historic Flying Ltd. It was returned to the air in November 1992 and has since joined the collection of Tom Blair, although it is still based in Duxord at this point. (07/07)

Mk XVIe TE184 (G-MXVI)

Delivered in May 1945 to 9 MU, it spent long periods in storage before serving with 203 Advanced Flying School and later 607 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force. After a period of display sites within the RAF, it was transferred to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Myrick Aviation, had it restored to flying condition, with the first flight being in November 1990. Although originally a "low back" teardrop canopy configuration, it has been restored as a "traditional" high back form. It is currently owned Paul Andrews, and is under major refurbishment before return to flying status over the winter of 2007/8. (07/08)

Mk XVIe TE356 (N356EV)

Delivered in June 1945 to 29 MU, it served with 695 Squadron before transfer to No 2 Civil Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit and became an instructional airframe in 1952. It had a taxying role in The Battle of Britain and a restoration was started, only to be halted. It was eventually swapped for a P-47 and entered civilian hands. Restored to the air in December 1987, it is currently owned and operated by Evergreen Ventures Limited, based at McMinneville, Oregon, USA. (10/02)

Mk XVIe TE384 (N384TE)

It was delivered to 6MU in August 1945, and served with 603, 501, and 612 Squadrons, before being used for static display at RAF Syerston. It had a taxying role in The Battle of Britain, and was then stored until 1972. Flown to Australia (as cargo) it eventually was restored and flew in October 1988. I am informed that it had some problems with metal debris in the oil, which wrecked the engine, so that it was grounded, although maintained in airworthy condition. It is currently in long term storage, and is currently owned by Ken McBride, based in California. (12/03)

Mk XVIe TE392 (N97RW)

Delivered to 9MU on June 15 1945, she was stored until 1946. Allocated briefly to 126, 65, 164, 63, 595, and 695 Squadrons, she was reduced to instructional status in September 1952. 1967 found her on a pylon outside RAF Kemble. She moved in 1970, but only to another pylon at RAF Hereford. Acquired by Doug Arnold and moved to store in 1984, she was restored to the air by Harry Stenger in Florida, and is now in the hands of her new owners, the Lone Star Museum in Galveston, Texas. (07/07)

Mk XVIe TE476 (N476TE)

Delivered to 39 MU in June 1945, TE476 served only with No 1 Civil Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit and a series of Maintenance Units. After static display at the 1957 Royal Tournament, it was restored to flying condition with the Station Flights at Biggin Hill. These Flights eventually became the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. After a wheels-up landing it was relegated to Gate Guardian status at RAF Neatishead. After the inevitable tour of duty with the Battle of Britain it returned to Guardian status at RAF Northolt. Replaced by a replica in 1988, it was restored to flying status, flying in June 1995. It is currently operated by Kermit Weeks, at the Fantasy of Flight Museum, Polk City, Florida, USA. (10/02)

Type 394- Mk XVIII

Mk XVIIIe SM845 (G-BUOS)

Built in 1945 for RAF service, it spent 8 months in the hands of the Maintenance Units before being sent to India in February 1947. In December 1947, it was sold on to the Indian Air Force. There follows the usual period of limited history before it was retrieved as a wreck by Ormond and Wensley Haydon-Baillie in 1977. It is currently operated by Historic Flying Ltd, based at Audley End, UK. (10/02)

Mk XVIIIe SM969 (G-BRAF)

It was delivered in August 1945 to 6 MU, and was then shipped to Karachi. After a period in storage, it was returned to the UK. After further storage, it was sold to the Indian Air Force, and was once again shipped to India, probably never having been removed from its crate. Its history until 1972 is unknown. Purchased by Doug Arnold in 1978 it returned again to the UK, and was restored to fly in October 1985. After his death it was transported to the USA, but is now operated by The Fighter Collection, based at Duxford, UK. (07/07)

Mk XVIIIe TP280 (N280TP)

Delivered in June 1945 to 39 MU, it was shipped to the Far East Air Force, and later sold to the Indian Air Force in 1947. In 1977 it was purchased and shipped to the USA, but restoration was largely started in 1991 by Historic Flying Ltd. It was returned to the air in July 1992. It is currently owned and operated by Rudy Frasca, based in Urbana, Illinois, USA. (13/02)

Type 390- Mk PR XIX

Mk PR XIX PM631

Delivered to 6 MU in November 1945, it was stored until reallocation in 1949 to 203 Advanced Flying School. After a further period in storage, it was issued to the Temperature and Humidity (THUM) Flight, for meteorological study. With the formation of the Historic Aircraft Flight (later renamed the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) in 1957, the 3 PR XIX's of the THUM Flight became the initial complement of Spitfires. It still flies in that role today, based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. (10/02)

Mk PR XIX PS853 (G-RRGN)

It was delivered in January 1945 to the Central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (another cancelled Spiteful), and served with 16, and 268 Squadrons before transfer to the THUM Flight. Transferred to the Historic Aircraft Flight in 1957, it was soon relocated as Gate Guardian at Central Fighter Establishment Binbrook. There it was actively maintained, and rejoined the now renamed BBMF in 1964. After the Flight lost one of its Hurricanes, PS853 was offered for auction to fund the restoration of the wrecked Hurricane. Although sold, the sale fell through and a second buyer was needed. This was Euan English, who transferred the aircraft to North Weald, but died shortly afterwards. PS853 is now owned by the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, and is now operated out of Bristol, UK. (10/02)

Mk PR XIX PS890 (F-AZJS)

Delivered to the PRU unit at RAF Benson in April 1945, it served with 542 and 81 Squadrons, before being sold to the Thailand Air Force in 1954. It was displayed in a museum in Bankopk, until being sold in 1999 to the Air Museum in Chino. As part of the rebuild, an ex-Shackleton Griffon engine was installed, and the contra-rotating props retained, a feature never used in previous Mk XIXs. Returned to the air in June 2002, ownership has passed to Christophe Jacquard, in Dijon, France.(07/07)

Mk PR XIX PS915

It was delivered to 6 MU in April 1945 as a PR XIX (although originally ordered as a Spiteful), and served with 541 and 2 Squadrons. After a period of storage it was transferred to the THUM Flight, before joining the Historic Aircraft Flight. It was almost immediately grounded and was transferred to Gate Guardian duty at RAF West Malling. After a static appearance in The Battle of Britain it was used as an engine test bed, and was found to be in restorable condition. It flew again in November 1986, and has flown with the BBMF since. (10/02)

Type 395- Seafire Mk XVII

Seafire Mk XII SX336

Delivered in April 1946, its history is a bit hazy. (10/02)

Dissimilar Combat Exercises

In 1963 it was thought that the English Electric Lightning might have to be used against P-51 Mustangs in Indonesia, and the Mk XIX PM631 of the BBMF was diverted to Central Fighter Establishment Binbrook to provide an opponent similar to the Mustangs in a dissimilar combat exercise. During this exercise it developed engine troubles, and PS853, which while being a Gate Guardian at CFE Binbrook had also been maintained in flying condition on the orders of the Station CO, took over the role.

Has anyone any information on the story that in the simulator, a Spitfire armed with Sidewinders has a fair chance against a Tornado?

A Plea for help.

It is possible, if not highly likely, that this list is inaccurate, or not up to date. I have seen estimates that the number of current projects may bring the airworthy number up to around 90, and that the eventual total could reach around 200! (Spring 1997 DCO). If you know of, own, operate, fly, or maintain a Spitfire anywhere, please confirm the (in)accuracy of the list. If it is wrong, please tell me. I would also be grateful for any information on any restoration projects in progress.

Copyright credits

Many thanks are due to the following for permission to reproduce their copyrighted pictures:

• Jim Payne for MK923
• Ken Bowes for MV329
• Anthony Hodgson for PT462
• Chris Woods for SL721
• New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum for TB863
• Harry Stenger for TE392
• Dave Jensen for TP280
• Uwe Glaser via Historic Aircraft Collection for BM597
• Howard Cook via Historic Aircraft Collection for AR614
• "Ron" for TE554