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Pat Murphy built scale model of every Spitfire flown by a Canadian pilot bclocalnews.com :: 2010-03-11 :: Military Scale Model: Aircrafts, Vehicles
Pat Murphy first saw a Spitfire at an air show in Ontario in 1968. His passion for the aircraft and model building led Murphy to an effort that preserves a part of Canada's aviation history. In 2009 he donated almost 3 dozen, 1:48 scale Spitfire models to the Vancouver Island Military Museum. Every model is a scale replica of a Spitfire flown by a Canadian pilot. Each plane has the squadron and pilot id markings, and modifications specific to each aircraft, includng details like camera ports on reconnaissance versions of the planes, pilot uniforms and flight jackets painted to match original colours and insignia.
The only sisters to fly Spitfires in World War II are reunited with the aircraft dailymail.co.uk :: 2009-10-13 :: Supermarine Spitfire
Even away from the cockpit, the girls of the World War Two Air Transport Auxiliary turned heads. In their hastily adapted military uniforms (one had her jacket tailored in Savile Row) they became the darlings of the air – and the unknown heroines of the Battle of Britain. This was the forgotten army of women who delivered Spitfires for service in the front lines. It was a work that suited the Attagirls. Recently the only two sisters to fly Spitfires during the war recalled those exciting days – after reuniting with one of the aircraft that gave them "such a thrill".
UK: Win a flight in a restored Spitfire on June 26, 2009 timesonline.co.uk :: 2009-05-30
70 years on from the start of World War II, the 2009 Biggin Hill Air Fair will be a striking show and a memorial to the RAF heroes. On June 26, the skies over Kent will be filled with planes of all kinds to mark the Battle of Britain. You could be there, arriving in style in a Spitfire, if you enter this competition. On June 26 (Youth and Veterans Day) the winner will be flown to the Battle of Britain fighter station, RAF Biggin Hill, in The Grace Spitfire ML407. The flight may include a Spitfire victory roll and the winner may take control of the Spitfire for a while. [Competition]
WWII Spitfire sells for 1.7m pounds to polar adventurer Steve Brooks timesonline.co.uk :: 2009-04-21
A rare Spitfire was bought for a 1.7m pounds by Steve Brooks - Who was the first person to drive across the ice of the Bering Straits from America to Russia, and the first to fly from pole to pole by helicopter. The plane, discovered in a South African scrapyard, is one of less than 50 Spitfires still fit to fly. The aircraft is the first 2-seater Spitfire to be sold for over 20 years, and one of 7 still airworthy. The plane, a MK IX model, was build at the Vickers-Armstrong factory in Castle Bromwich in 1944 and sent the RAF No 33 Maintenance unit at Lyneham in Wiltshire, where it was fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 V12 engine.
How to pick up a two-seater spitfire for 1.5m pounds at auction in Hendon [photos] dailymail.co.uk :: 2009-03-29
Two-seater Supermarine Spitfire serial number SM520, which served in WW2, is expected to fetch at least 1.5m pounds at auction in Hendon on April 20 - and this time, the most furious fighting will be between Britain and America. As WW2 ended and the jet age began most of the military surplus, including SM520, were sold overseas by RAF. Nobody knows what happened to SM520 after it joined the South African Air Force as all records of its service history are missing. However, in the 1970s it was spotted in a Cape Town scrap yard, rusting. But now the aircraft has been brought back to life after a team of restoration experts painstakingly worked on her 4 years.
Two-seater Supermarine Spitfire expected to fetch 1.5m pounds wealth-bulletin.com :: 2009-02-14
UK auction house Bonhams is putting up for sale a two-seater Supermarine Spitfire, the single seat version of which became the poster-child of the Battle of Britain during WW2. Warbirds, as vintage fighting aircraft are known, are treasured by collectors of vintage planes. There are less than 60 Spitfires in the world today, according to aviation websites, and only 8 two-seat versions. The Spitfire TR Mk IX has been restored over a 5 year period to full airworthiness and zero-hours condition (in effect a new aircraft). It is the first two-seater to be offered at public auction for 20 years. Recently a non-airworthy 1945 Spitfire Mk XVI for 1.1m pounds.
A plane buff has built a 80% scale kit model replica of a Spitfire - And flying it thesun.co.uk :: 2009-02-13 :: Military Scale Model: Aircrafts, Vehicles
Engineer Iain Hutchinson paid 70,000 pounds on the aluminium parts to construct a 24ft-long version of the World War 2 aircraft. It took him and 25 volunteers 2000 man hours to build after he purchased the 80% scale kit. "The Spitfire has always evoked a bit of nostalgia. I've always fancied one, but I don't have a million pounds. I knew nothing about building aircraft, but the construction process itself was surprisingly straightforward." After 12 hours with a test pilot, the qualified aviator took his seat in the cockpit for the first time.
After 70 years, the Supermarine Spitfire still stirs the heart dailymail.co.uk :: 2008-09-23 :: Supermarine Spitfire
There were 14 Supermarine Spitfires at Duxford for the Imperial War Museum's annual air show in the run-up to Battle of Britain commemorations. Each one was a survivor of the Second World War. And they all flew. One, still in its original camouflage colours, did a victory roll. The older spectators knew what that meant and cheered. The Spitfire was the brainchild of R.J. Mitchell, the aeronautical genius responsible for the seaplanes with which Britain had won the Schneider Trophy 3 years running. When WW2 started in 1939, 2,000 Spitfires were in production, but they came slowly off the production line...
World War II Spitfire Mk. XVI sells for $1.9 million in New Zealand bloomberg.com :: 2008-09-14
A WW2 Spitfire fighter, one of fewer than 60 still flying, sold for $1.9 million at an auction in New Zealand. The aircraft, a 1945 Mk. XVI variant of the fighter made famous during the Battle of Britain, was purchased by North China Shipping Holdings Co. Chairman Yan-Ming Gao at the sale at Nelson's museum of Wearable Art & Classic Cars. He intends to donate the fighter to the China Aviation Museum in Beijing. Demand from collectors keen to own a flying piece of aviation history is keeping up an industry of amateur archeologists and engineers touring museums and crash sites for parts to restore and include in reconstructed planes.
Full-sized replica Spitfire tours UK raising money for the Royal British Legion thenorthernecho.co.uk :: 2008-08-22
A full-sized replica Spitfire which tours the country raising money for the Royal British Legion (RBL) has been formally adopted by the charity as national chairman Peter Cleminson visited the Spitfire at its base at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire. The original idea was to build a one-third scale model, but the project soon grew. Using old blueprints, each part of the aircraft was made during 7,000 hours of work spanning 11 months - except the canopy which was ordered. The plane has already pulled in thousands for the charity at displays, with people paying to have their photographs taken in the cockpit.
Lloyd's aviation policyholders have a chance to win Spitfire Mark IX flight lloyds.com :: 2008-08-15
Lloyd's aviation policyholders are in with the chance of the Spitfire flight thanks to HSBC Insurance. The broker's aviation insurance practice has been offering its policyholders the chance to win a flight in the Grace Spitfire. The aircraft, a Mark IX, is one of less than 60 Spitfires still flying. It flew 176 sorties during the final 12 months of World War Two, and marked its place in history by shooting down the first enemy aircraft on D-Day in 1944. The HSBC link came when the firm donated the insurance for the aircraft, discovered by enthusiast Nick Grace in a Scottish Museum in 1979.
Supermarine Spitfire MK XVI fighter up for auction thisishampshire.net :: 2008-07-10
Collectors are expected to bid up to 1m pounds when a Supermarine Spitfire fighter comes up for sale on the 70th anniversary of the famous aircraft entering service. The 1945, Spifire MK XVI, originally the creation of the designer R.J.Mitchell, will be the main item in a large sale of cars and aircraft to be held in New Zeland. The sale marks a double anniversary year for military aircraft: it is the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Forcer, and 70 years since the Spitfire first became operational in 1938. This historical aircraft, RAF Serial No. TE 330, was built at the Castle Bromwich works in late April, 1945.
Online auction of vintage British Spitfire generates global interest stuff :: 2008-03-24
The listing of vintage British World War II Spitfire on the Trade Me online auction site has created global interest. The Spitfire was listed for an unspecified price, but Spitfires in good condition can be valued up to $5 million. The Vickers Supermarine single-seat Spitfire, viewed as one of the most famous fighter planes in military history, is one of fewer than 50 left. Mike Subritzky said having the Spitfire was a privilege, with its history making it the best aircraft the family had owned. "It's a time capsule. It's been around since 1944 and it's special because it's not a replica."
Full-sized replica of Spitfire finds a home with RAF squadron Article no longer available from the original source. :: - :: 2008-02-24
A full-sized replica Spitfire constructed by members of the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion has found a new home at RAF Leeming, where it has been given storage outside its summer touring season. Building a replica of the World War II fighter was the brainchild of Howard Whiting when he took over as chairman. The first idea was to build a Spitfire scale model which was 1/3 the size of the original, but the project soon grew bigger. Using original blueprints, the group spent 11 months on the project. The Spitfire is made out of the same materials as the original model and even weighs the same.
£115,000 for collection of memorabilia of Spitfire fighter ace Douglas Bader express :: 2008-02-21 :: WW2 Militaria
An admirer of the legless fighter ace Douglas Bader had to reach for the sky to get a keepsake of his hero. The anonymous buyer paid £115,000 for an artificial leg and 40 other memorabilia and militaria artefacts belonging to the legendary WW2 Spitfire pilot. As well as the leg, he also got Bader's tunics, coats and flasks, plus parts of aircraft which he flew. The heroic pilot lost both his legs in a flying mishap in 1931 and was discharged from the RAF. He rejoined after the outbreak of war in August 1941. After shooting down 22 Luftwaffe aircrafts, he came down in flames and was taken prisoner and sent to the Colditz castle.
Bosnian villager reveals location of Spitfire shot down in World War II timesonline :: 2008-02-16 :: Supermarine Spitfire
An aged Bosnian villager has rediscovered a WW2 Spitfire that he saw shot down by pro-Nazi Croat forces 65 years ago. "I saw when Ustashe soldiers shot it down in 1943. The pilot parachuted ... and was rescued by partisans," said Cazim Dautbegovic. The aircraft went down into a wetland area and had since been forgotten. Dautbegovic said that he lately told the story to a friend, who located it and sell off parts of it as scrap metal. Journalist Osman Mesan said: "At the location, we found a part of the airplane radio... I have issued a public call to protect the wreckage, because I am sure that it is of historic value."
Spitfire’s unsung flying heroines - The Air Transport Auxiliary timesonline :: 2008-02-01 :: Female Pilots of WWII
The living members of a group of women who flew Spitfires in non-combat WW2 tasks are expected to be rewarded with a badge. The women of the Air Transport Auxiliary may not have taken part in the Battle of Britain but, without their skills in delivering the aircraft to the RAF bases for their male counterparts to clear the skies of Luftwaffe bombers, the battle would never have got off the ground. There are about 15 female pilots left. They also flew Hurricanes, Lancasters, Mosquitoes and other wartime aircraft. Margaret Frost - formally too small at 5ft 3in to become a Spitfire pilot - spent 3 years flying the aircraft, and welcomed the suggestion of a badge.
Collector is building a Spitfire fighter with parts from around the globe bbc :: 2008-01-02 :: Supermarine Spitfire
Martin Phillips has spent 7 years and 1m pounds collecting thousands of Spitfire parts at his workshop at Langford. He was motivated to start the WWII project after being given a small aircraft rivet. It began seriously when he found the fuselage of a 1944 Spitfire RR232. Phillips said he now has every part he needs to rebuild the Spitfire fighter in a shed outside his home. The final assembly and first flight of the reconstructed aircraft, to be called City of Exeter, will take place at Exeter Airport, itself a World War II fighter base. "We are making steady progress, but there are lots of engineering problems to overcome."
Spitfire fighter ace Dal Russel shot down 5 and a half enemy aircraft montrealgazette :: 2007-11-27
WWII fighter pilot Dal Russel flew 286 sorties, shot down 5 and a half enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain and returned home without a scratch. At 22, he was one of the youngest officers to go overseas with Fighter Squadron No. 1, and at 23 was one of the first Canadians to be granted the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was so lucky that ground crew called him DeadEye Dick and painted the ace of spades on his Spitfire. "He did not like to talk about what happened during the war. His brother... was killed in 1944. ...once when I invited him to go hunting with me, he declined. He told me he had seen enough of shooting and would never again fire a gun."
Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend by Leo McKinstry express.co.uk :: 2007-11-16
It was 1 August 1940. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring gave the Luftwaffe its orders: smash the RAF, achieve air dominance within a fortnight. Across the Channel waited a shy, aloof man known as Stuffy, wondering if the defence system he had created would hold; an assorted band of pilots gathered from the all over the world; and a plane with a deathless name. The story of the Spitfire is embedded deep in the national consciousness. It has been told many times: by those who flew her, those who built her, by sober war historians and cranks and axe-grinders and revisionists. But I doubt if anyone has told it more thoroughly than Leo McKinstry.
Aviation enthusiasts race against time to buy Spitfire bbc :: 2007-09-29
Aviation enthusiasts in Pembrokeshire are racing against the clock to raise funds to buy a World War Two Spitfire. They are £65,000 short of the £150,000 needed, and have until Sunday morning to find the rest. When fully restored, they hope the plane will take pride of place in a museum they are planning at Withybush Aerodrome. Pembrokeshire Aviation Foundation already has a Bulldog and is taking delivery of a Tiger Moth shortly. "The Spitfire would be a magnet as far as attracting people to west Wales." The iconic planes had a significant role in WWII, but only about 200 still exist.
You can now own your own 'Spitfire' for as little as 130,000 pounds internationalreporter.com :: 2007-07-14
More than 60 years ago the Spitfire soared over skies of Britain, helping turn the tide against the Luftwaffe. Now, anyone with 130,000 pounds can own his own version of the iconic WWII fighter aircraft. The almost life-size Australian built aluminium kits cost 100,000 pounds, and a further 30,000 pounds and 1200 working hours for assembling the parts. With 700 hours of construction work already completed, the kit is shipped to customers with all major components formed. They must then spend 2 years fitting together parts together before it can be flown. Kieran Padden, who imports the model Spitfire to Britain, said demand is on the rise.
Alex Henshaw, the Spitfire ace who never got to fly a mission dailymail :: 2007-03-01 :: Aircrafts of WWII
He flew more Spitfires than any other man - and was hailed as the greatest test pilot of World War II. He risked his life to iron out problems with the RAF's aircraft. And he was the only pilot ever to 'roll' the massive Lancaster bomber upside-down in mid air. The death of Alex Henshaw concludes a story of courage and skill. He survived crashes, and clashed with officials about his antics: like bringing Birmingham to a standstill by flying his Spitfire upside-down only feet above the rooftops. He test-flew some 3,000 Spitfires, more than 10% of all those ever built. In 2006 he took the controls of a Spitfire in a flight to mark the aircraft's 70th anniversary.
Spitfire: The Biography - As the RAF took on the Luftwaffe guardian :: 2006-11-19
If the Spitfire had reached the RAF in 1937 instead of 1938, the Luftwaffe might have observed it, poached its design, maybe even acquired a couple. In 1938 Britain was selling Hawker Hurricanes to Yugoslavia. RJ Mitchell's fighter began to enter squadron service at the best time: not 1940, the year of the Battle of Britain, but 1939, thus giving the RAF a year to get the bugs out. The twin-blade wooden propeller was changed to a 3-blade, constant-speed prop. A new canopy improved the pilot's view. Armour plating protected his back. The focus of his 8 machine-guns was tightened from 400 yards to 250 yards.
Spitfire -- Still the world's most famous military aircraft smh :: 2006-09-19 :: Supermarine Spitfire
Immortalised in film and speeches for its role in winning the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire is still the world's most famous military aircraft. More than 20,000 were manufactured to take on the Messerschmitts of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe and the Zeros of Japan, but today only a few dozen can still be flown. Remarkably, the town of Temora boasts two of them. The Temora Aviation Museum acquired its second vintage Spitfire: The Mark XVI, which saw service with the RAAF in the closing weeks of World War II. Nobody is revealing the price, but airworthy Spitfires don't come for less than $2 million.
WWII Spitfire hero who shot a V1 flying bomb honoured bbc :: 2006-08-05 :: Flying Aces & Fighter Pilots of WW2
An "astonishing act of heroism" is being remembered with a plaque and display in a Kent town in honour of a World War II Spitfire pilot Bill Marshall. Royal Air Force pilot shot and destroyed a V1 flying bomb which was about to fall on Lydd. He was lucky to survive when he fired on the bomb from close range and stopped it from hitting Lydd in July 1944. The town suffered only a few broken windows.
Four Spitfires participating at the Yorkshire Air Show -yorkshiretoday :: 2006-07-18 :: Supermarine Spitfire
Second World War Spitfire pilots are being invited to relive the days when Britain's fate was decided in the skies at a flypast at the Yorkshire Air Show. Organisers are paying tribute to the Supermarine Spitfire and are inviting wartime Spitfire veterans to join them. Event director said that for the first time at the show there would be four Spitfires participating. "To many people the Supermarine Spitfire is the symbol of victory against overwhelming odds. It is the most famous British fighter aircraft of World War Two, and the bravery of the pilots must never be forgotten."
My Father Mr Spitfire mirror :: 2006-02-19
On an early spring afternoon a group of men watch a unique plane howl across the English countryside. In its maiden flight test pilot Mutt Summers will slam the experimental all-metal craft up to 370mph. For the first time ever the legendary Spitfire, scourge of Luftwaffe, has taken to the air. As it lands, creator RJ Mitchell rushes over to ask the flier his impression. "Don't change a thing," says Summers. It is 1936. A little over 12 months later the designer passed away. He will never see his creation fire a shot in anger. As the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight approaches, his son Gordon reveals his father's story.