SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE

P7350 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa, RIAT 2015 ©Nigel Key

AB910 | AR213 | BM597 | EP120 | MH434 | MK356 | P7350 | P9374 | PL965 | PM631 | PS853 | PS915 | TA805 | TD248 | TE311 | X4650
Supermarine Spitfire P7350 was built at Castle Bromwich in 1940 and delivered to 6 Maintenance Unit in August that year.

P7350 flew in the Battle of Britain with266 Squadron and 603 RAuxAF Squadron. Whilst serving with 603 RAuxAF Squadron in October 1940, during combat with Bf-109’s she was forced to crash land and was repaired by No 1 Civilian Repair Unit at Cowley and flew again on the 15th November. (Repaired bullet holes still visible on port wing)

P7350 then served operationally with 616 and 64 Squadrons and after April 1942 she served with the Central Gunnery School and 57 Operational Training Unit and ended her operational career with 19 Maintenance Unit.

P7350 was stored at 39 Maintenance Unit from July 1944 until sold as scrap to John Dale & Sons who presented it to RAF Museum at Colerne for display until 1967.

Brought to flying condition for 'The Battle of Britain' film and flown as G-AWIJ by Spitfire Productions in 1968.

After filming was completed, P7350 was presented to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) in October 1968 with whom it still flies.

Since 1999 P7350 has worn the livery of No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron's L1067 'XT-D'.

For the 2007 season, P7350 was in a new colour scheme with new codes XT-L depicting the aircraft of Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton, a 603 Squadron veteran.

From April 2019, P7350 represents 54 Squadron’s Spitfire Mk 1 R6981, 'KL-B', "KIWI III", the personal aircraft of the then Flt Lt Al Deere DFC from 10 Jul 1940. (the official start of the Battle of Britain) until 15 August (when it was lost after Deere bailed out due to damage incurred in combat with ME Bf109s).

SPECIFICATION (Mk IIa)

Length - 29ft 11in (9.12m)

Wingspan - 36ft 10in (11.23m)

Height - 11ft 5.5in (3.48m)

Engine - Rolls Royce Merlin

Power - 1,175 Hp

Max. Speed - 375 mph (575 km/h)

Range - 500 mile (805 km)

ARMAMENT

Machine Guns - 8 x 0.303" Browning

AB910 | AR213 | BM597 | EP120 | MH434 | MK356 | P7350 | P9374 | PL965 | PM631 | PS853 | PS915 | TA805 | TD248 | TE311 | X4650

	RIAT 2016		RIAT 2016		RIAT 2016
	RIAT 2015		RIAT 2015		RIAT 2015
	Kemble 2008		Kemble 2008		RIAT 2012

Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight or BBMF presently consist of twelve aircraft :-
  6 Spitfires, (including P7350)
  2 Hurricanes,
  Lancaster,
  Dakota,
  2 Chipmunks.

They are operated by the Royal Air Force and have been based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire since 1976.

The BBMF participate in scores of Air Displays and events every year.


Movie Appearances

Battle of Britain
Starring: Michael Caine, Kenneth More, Christopher Plummer.

An all star cast, the Battle of Britain is a spectacular film of a true story that shows courage at its inspiring best. The film shows how when the outnumbered Royal AIr Force (RAF) defied insurmountable odds when engaging the German Luftwaffe, they may well have altered the course of history!

View other Aviation Movies