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Spitfire MK912
Spitfire MK912, aka “The Normandy Spitfire”, is one of the most historic and authentic Spitfires that still flies today.
A late Merlin-powered Supermarine Spitfire, MK912 completed 88 operational sorties in the Second World War (180 hours and 35 minutes) including providing protection for the D-Day landings, dive-bombing V-Weapon sites, supporting Operation Market Garden and escorting bombers on raids over Germany.[1]
She is currently owned by Lilham Aviation and operated from the Lilham Hangar at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire.[2]
Origins
Spitfire MK912 was built as an LF IXc in March 1944 at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. It was very likely test piloted by Alex Henshaw, Chief Test Pilot at the factory who flew an estimated 10 per cent of all Spitfires ever made.[3]
From Castle Bromwich, she was delivered to No. 8 Maintenance Unit on 24 March 1944, then No. 84 Group Support Unit on 17 May 1945.[4]
312 (Czech) Squadron
MK912 entered service with 312 (Czech) Squadron, flying her first operational sortie on 25 May to divebomb a railway junction near Flammenville.[5]
From 25 May to 11 June, she completed 16 operational sorties from RAF Appledram with five different Czech pilots. The first six sorties involved dive bombing V-Weapons sites, a railway junction and radar installations in Normandy.[6]
D-Day and the Battle for Normandy
On D-Day, MK912 carried out a defensive patrol over the landings with famous Czech pilot Miroslav Liškutín DFC AFC at the controls. Over the next five days she carried out nine operational sorties as part of the fighter umbrella over the beachhead.[7]
On the morning of June 10, Miroslav Liškutín was patrolling the beachhead in MK912 when flak damaged the aircraft. Liškutín landed at the B2 advanced landing ground, the aircraft was quickly repaired, and it rejoined the Squadron fifteen minutes later, making MK912 the first Spitfire to land in Normandy after D-Day and return to Britain.[8]
64 Squadron
In mid-June 312 Squadron reequipped with higher flying variants of Spitfires. MK912 was transferred to No. 64 Squadron. She made her squadron debut on July 6 escorting Typhoons to attack ground targets in France with New Zealand pilot Henry Meharry at the controls.[9]
Operating mostly from RAF Harrowbeer in Devon, MK912 operated offensively, completing multiple fighter sweeps (Rhubarbs and Ramrods) over Brittany, Normandy and the Pays de Loire in support of the Allied Armies battling their way out of Normandy. During this time she attacked enemy motor transport, shipping, trains, barracks, fuel dumps, goods wagons, ammunition stores, staff cars, barges and more.[10]
By September, the Allies had ‘broken out’ of Normandy and were racing across France. 64 Squadron, and MK912, transferred to RAF Bradwell Bay in Essex to keep up with the frontline. MK912’s duties became more defensive and focused on escorting bombers deep into the Third Reich. She was flown by Brits, Kiwis, Australians, Dutch, Canadians and Trinidadians.[11]
Market Garden
Between the 17 – 25 March, MK912 flew seven operational sorties in support of Operation Market Garden.[12] Three of these involved escorting Stirling bombers to Arnhem who were attempting to resupply the British First Airborne.
After Market Garden, MK912 was used almost exclusively as an escort to Lancasters, Halifaxes and Mosquitoes bombing oil facilities in Germany or German forces in Holland as part of the Battle of the Scheldt.[13]
On November 18, 1944, MK912 completed her 88th and final operational sortie. Welsh pilot Flight Lieutenant Edward Andrews had flown MK912 the most with 35 sorties (77 hours 35 minutes operational flying). 64 Squadron duly reequipped with the P51 Mustang, an American fighter better suited to long escorts into Germany.[14]
On November 30, MK912 proceeded to Exeter and the Civilian Repair Organisation for extensive maintenance. With the war almost over and Griffon-powered Spitfires widely available, MK912 did not see operational service again.
Dutch Air Force
MK912 was sold to the Royal Netherlands Air Force and shipped to the Dutch East Indies for service with No. 322 Squadron in the Indonesian War of Independence.[15]
In March 1948 she was reassembled at Kalijati Airfield but flew just three times before being placed in storage again. In 1950 she was shipped back to the Netherlands.[16]
Belgian Air Force
In 1952, MK912 was sold to the Belgian Air Force and overhauled by Fokker.[16] She was operated as a training aircraft until 1953 when she was damaged in a landing accident. She did not fly in Belgium again but instead became a gate guardian with the fictitious markings of No. 350 Squadron.
Civilian life
In 1989, a group of British restorers led by Guy Black bought the airframe and MK912 was taken to Audley End for restoration which began in 1992. In September 2000, MK912 flew again and then spent time in Canada and Britain before a serious accident in 2015.
Restored at Biggin Hill, MK912 made her maiden post restoration flight in July 2024, proudly displaying the colours of the 312 (Czech) Squadron with full D-Day invasion stripes.
She is now owned by Lilham Aviation and operated from the Lilham Hangar at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire.
- 312 (Czech) Squadron Operational Record Books - AIR 27/1694/1 through to AIR 27/1694/34 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- "Lilham Aviation website".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Henshaw, Alex (1979). Sigh for a Merlin – Testing the Spitfire. John Murray, 1979.
- Spitfire MK912 Movement Card, held by Air Historical Branch.
- 312 (Czech) Squadron Operational Record Books - AIR 27/1694/1
- 312 (Czech) Squadron Operational Record Books - AIR 27/1694/1 through to AIR 27/1694/34
- 312 (Czech) Squadron Operational Record Books - AIR 27/1694/1 through to AIR 27/1694/34
- Recorded Interview with Sqdn Ldr Miroslav Antonin Liskutin, 22 September - 6 October 2007 {cg} Film & Sound, X005-0968
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- 64 Squadron Operational Record Books – AIR 27/590/1 through to AIR 27/591/14
- Spitfire MK912 Movement Card, held by Air Historical Branch.
- van der Meer, Harry. Dutch Spitfires. Airnieuws Nederland. p. 82.