Spring Airshow Duxford 180508
VS 361 Spitfire LF9B G-ASJV MH434 ZD-B (cn CBAF.IX.552) (Ex H-105 & H-68 of the Royal Netherlands AF, SM-41 of the Belgium AF and OO-ARA) of The Old Flying Machine Company based at Duxford www.ofmc.co.uk
VS509 Supermarine Spitfire T9 ML407 G-LFIX OU-V (cn CBAF.8463) privately owned by C Grace. Built at Castle Bromwich in 1944 as a single seat fighter, and served the last twelve months of WWII, with six different Squadrons of the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force, flying 176 operational combat sorties. It was delivered to 485 New Zealand Squadron on the 29th of April 1944 by Jackie Moggridge, one of the top lady pilots of the ATA, where it became the 'mount' of Flying Officer Johhnie Houlton DFC who was accredited, whilst flying ML407, with the first enemy aircraft shot down over the Normandy Beach head on D-Day. She was acquired by engineer Nick Grace in 1979 and spent five years restoring her to flying condition as a 2-seat Spitfire and re flew on the 16th of April 1985 with Nick at the controls. Nick went on to fly it at many air displays and film work including 'Perfect Lady' and 'Piece of Cake'. Nick was tragically killed in a car accident in 1988, and his widow Carolyn Grace took on the task of learning to fly the Spitfire, which she still does to this day. See www.ml407.co.uk
Spring Airshow Duxford 180508
VS 361 Spitfire LF9B G-ASJV MH434 ZD-B (cn CBAF.IX.552) (Ex H-105 & H-68 of the Royal Netherlands AF, SM-41 of the Belgium AF and OO-ARA) of The Old Flying Machine Company based at Duxford www.ofmc.co.uk
VS509 Supermarine Spitfire T9 ML407 G-LFIX OU-V (cn CBAF.8463) privately owned by C Grace. Built at Castle Bromwich in 1944 as a single seat fighter, and served the last twelve months of WWII, with six different Squadrons of the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force, flying 176 operational combat sorties. It was delivered to 485 New Zealand Squadron on the 29th of April 1944 by Jackie Moggridge, one of the top lady pilots of the ATA, where it became the 'mount' of Flying Officer Johhnie Houlton DFC who was accredited, whilst flying ML407, with the first enemy aircraft shot down over the Normandy Beach head on D-Day. She was acquired by engineer Nick Grace in 1979 and spent five years restoring her to flying condition as a 2-seat Spitfire and re flew on the 16th of April 1985 with Nick at the controls. Nick went on to fly it at many air displays and film work including 'Perfect Lady' and 'Piece of Cake'. Nick was tragically killed in a car accident in 1988, and his widow Carolyn Grace took on the task of learning to fly the Spitfire, which she still does to this day. See www.ml407.co.uk