1943 Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX Single-Seat Fighter

• The world's most iconic aircraft
• First delivered to 129 (Mysore) Squadron at Hornchurch in August 1943
• One Focke-Wulf 190 'victory' claimed in September 1943
• Full military and civilian history available
• Featured in the motion pictures The Longest Day (1962) and The Battle of Britain (1969)
• Only 30 flying hours since restoration

THE SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MKIX

Introduced in 1942, the MkIX was a refined evolution of the Spitfire line, designed to counter the ever-improving German fighters. With its distinctive elliptical wing design, the Mk IX retained the agility and manoeuvrability that its predecessors were renowned for, while also integrating crucial upgrades that enhanced its combat capabilities. Fitted with the uprated Merlin 66 engine, the LF Mk IX (often known by pilots as the Mk IXB) saw improved speed, climb rate, and combat endurance, allowing it to excel in a variety of roles, from air superiority and ground attack to reconnaissance. In Spitfire Flying Legend, Wing Commander Alan Deere wrote:

"I was now all set to renew acquaintances with the formidable Focke-Wulfs, but this time I was better equipped. The Biggin Hill squadrons were using the Spitfire Mk IXBs, a mark of Spitfire markedly superior in performance to the Fw 190A below 27,000ft. Unlike the Spitfire IXA, with which all the other Spitfire IX wings in the group were equipped, the IXBs supercharger came it at a lower altitude and the aircraft attained its best performance at 21,000ft, or at roughly the same altitude as the Fw 190. At this height it was approximately 30 mph faster, was better in the climb and was vastly more manoeuvrable. As an all-round fighter the Spitfire IXB was supreme, and undoubtedly the best mark of Spitfire produced".

The Spitfire Mk IX played a pivotal role during crucial periods of the war, notably during the Battle of Normandy and the defence of Great Britain against enemy raids. Its combat prowess was demonstrated in engagements with formidable adversaries like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Its versatility and adaptability were showcased by its ability to be armed with a mix of machine guns and cannons, tailoring its armament for specific mission requirements.

MH415

MH415 was ordered from Vickers Armstrong Ltd on 28th May 1942, against contract number B981687/39, fuselage number CBAF1061. It was built in the summer of 1943 at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory as an LFIXb with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 engine as part of batch MH413-456. The craft was delivered to 129 (Mysore) Squadron at Hornchurch in August 1943 where it was accompanied by a wing of multiple Spitfire squadrons. Once in Hornchurch it became the personal aircraft of Squadron Leader Henri Gonay (DFC, Croix de Guerre, Pamle d'Or). Henri Gonay was a Belgian pilot that had left Europe to join the RAF in 1940 and had previously flown in the Battle of Britain. MH415 was subsequently used for numerous fighter sweeps into occupied Europe.

On the 24th September 1943, MH415 claimed a Focke-Wulf 190 'victory' north west of Amiens in France while being flown by Flight Officer Desmond F Ruchwaldy during 'Ramrod 242', a mission to escort 12 Mitchell bombers ordered to attack the Amiens marshalling yards.

MH415 was transferred to 222 (Natal) Squadron on 4th October 1943 and was allocated the code ZD-E. MH415 flew 18 missions with the squadron, predominantly bomber escort over northern France. Transfer to the Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF Wittering followed on 2nd January 1944, where the aircraft stayed until late September when it was transferred to 126 squadron at Bradwell Bay, Essex. The aircraft must have suffered some damage that went unrecorded in its records, for in early January 1945 it was transferred to Vickers Armstrong at Oxford for repairs and modifications. These were soon completed and MH415 was on its way to No. 6 MU Brize Norton for storage. On 6th February the Spitfire was on the move again, this time to De Havilland at Whitney in Oxfordshire for an overhaul. This was completed by late May and it moved to No. 9 MU Cosford for further storage.

In August 1946, MH415, together with other Spitfires, was sold to the Dutch Government and it was soon on its way to No. 76 MU Wroughton, followed by a move to No. 47 MU Sealand, Cheshire for packing. Early in May 1947 it was shipped from Tilbury Docks on the SS Rotti bound for the Dutch East Indies, where it was given the Dutch serial number H-108, later to be changed to H-65. The aircraft served with 322 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Java, and was later shipped back to Holland. It was stored at Rotterdam Docks for some time before being sold to the Belgian Air Force, who required additional Spitfires to make up accident losses. MH415 was overhauled by Fokker NV at Schiphol Airport and test flown with serial number B-12. Delivery to the Belgian Air Force followed in April 1953 and the aircraft served with serial number SM-40 with the L'École de Chasse at Koksijde before being retired in 1956.

In June 1956 MH415 was sold to a Belgian company, COGEA (Compagnie Générale d'Exploitation Aéronautique), which had a target-towing contract with the Belgian and NATO forces. COGEA had previously operated various light aircraft towing banners and similar, but when the military target towing contract came up, the Percival Proctors they were using did not have the performance required. The Belgian Air Force's last few Spitfires provided the perfect opportunity, and COGEA purchased six of them to operate for their military contract. The Spitfire was delivered to the COGEA base at Middlekerke, Ostend, where it was registered OO-ARD, and soon entered service. Period photographs show the aircraft in a bare aluminium livery with green nosecone and tail.

In 1961 it was leased for film use in The Longest Day, which was filmed on location in France. The aircraft was painted in a camouflage scheme and flown with 340 (Ile de France) Squadron codes GW-R. For the purposes of the movie a large Cross of Lorraine emblem was applied to the aircraft to represent the Free French squadron. In September 1961 the aircraft caused a stir by appearing at the RAF Battle of Britain air display at Biggin Hill in its livery from The Longest Day, flown by Pierre Laureys, a French World War II Spitfire pilot. It is understood that MH415 was the last airworthy Spitfire to be sold by COGEA, and it is believed that it was at Ostend as late as December 1964. MH415 was purchased from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in France, for the sum of 8,000 francs on 13 January 1965.

In 1966 Hamish Mahaddie was gathering together aircraft for the forthcoming film The Battle of Britain, and after a survey by John Simpson, MH415 was bought for an undisclosed sum. The aircraft was dismantled and shipped by Simpson's Aeroservices Ltd at Elstree for an overhaul, registered G-AVDJ, to Mahaddie on 29th December 1966. It was test flown and delivered to the film unit at RAF Henlow in early 1967 by T A Davies.

The aircraft was stored, its Merlin 66 engine inhibited, during most of 1967, and it was not flown again until November, when it was given a new Certificate of Airworthiness, being test flown on the 29th of that month by T A Davies at Henlow.

In early 1968 filming had started in Spain, and as a Spitfire was required for location work, MH415 was chosen and prepared at Henlow and Luton. A 90-gallon drop-tank was fitted and various test flights carried out during February at Henlow, Luton and Farnborough by Lt Cdr M T Hynett. In late March MH415 left the UK, flying via France to Tablada Air Base in Spain. For this long flight it was flown by V H Bellamy.

Film location work as N3312/AI-C followed in Spain, flown in the main by Lt Cdr Hynett. The Spitfire the arrived back in England at Manston on 11th May 1968, in company with a gaggle of Messerschmitts, two Heinkels and Jeff Hawke in a B-25 camera-ship.

On 14th May MH415 arrived with the film unit at RAF North Weald in Essex, and was later based at Debden, Duxford and Hawkinge. The weather in 1968 was typically British, and the film company were running out of time. Finance was also causing problems, so it was decided to move the aerial unit to the good weather of the South of France. MH415 and a number of other Spitfires and some Messerschmitts were flown out to Montpelier in August for three weeks, and the necessary footage was obtained in the sunshine.

MH415 wore many markings during filming, including N3312/AI-C, N3311/CD-B, N3321/AI-M, N2210/CD-A, N3310/AI-A, N3322/AI/N, N3319/DO-K and N3314/AI-E. This Spitfire was fitted with strobe lights in the machine gun ports and was flown for a total of 125 hours during filming. In October 1968 it was based at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and later that month was used in filming bail-out shots at Netheravon Wiltshire. One of the film unit pilots, Texan Wilson 'Connie' Edwards, acquired MH415 on completion of its film duties and it was dismantled at Bovingdon by Simpson's Aeroservices for shipment to Houston, Texas, where it arrived in January 1969.

MH415 was soon delivered to the Edwards' ranch at Big Spring and was registered N415MH. It was repainted and 222 Squadron codes ZD-E were applied. The aircraft lay dormant at the Edwards' ranch from late 1978 until being sold in 2015. At this time it was dismantled and shipped to Vintage Fighter Restorations of Scone, NSW Australia. The aircraft went through an extensive and detailed restoration, with due care being giving to retaining all original structure possible other than that which was no longer airworthy. After successful ground running in Australia, the Spitfire was shipped to renowned vintage aircraft specialists Air Leasing Ltd of Northampton UK, and the very final touches were added prior to successful test flying in 2021.

In an extensive article in Aeroplane magazine in February 2022 (copy on file), the aircrafts history is explained in great detail, along with fantastic period imagery tying together the histories of MH415 and MH434, which remained very much sister aircraft. Flying impressions were given by Spitfire guru Richard Grace: "It flies like an old aeroplane right out of the box, which is a good thing... with a bit of fettling here and there it immediately turned into just a lovely, lovely aeroplane. It's every bit of what you'd imagine a Spitfire would fly like."

The Spitfire has been finished in its 222 Squadron markings, carrying the codes ZD-E, and has performed at air shows throughout the UK. It is a truly exceptional example, understood to be composed of over 95% original parts. MH415 stayed fully assembled (other than for shipping and maintenance) from its date of manufacture right through to the commencement of its restoration in 2015 (completed to airworthiness in 2021). A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own an airworthy Spitfire with documented WW2 combat history, and an incredible level of originality.