Spitfire ML407 warming up at Farnborough
Grace Spitfire ML407 being warmed up by pilot Carolyn Grace after static display at Farnborough 2006 . The HSBC logo shows who sponsored its insurance. Carolyn is the only known fully qualified female spitfire pilot in the world . Of three Spitfires at the Farnborough International Airshow this was the only one fitted with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine and four bladed propeller . ML407 is in the full wrap around D Day stripes . First delivered new to 485 New Zealand Squadron 29th April 1944 by Jackie Moggridge a top lady ATA pilot ML407 was officially credited with destroying the first enemy aircraft over Normandy during the 6th of June 1944 D Day invasion piloted by Flying Officer Johnie Houlton DFC . Later with 341 Free French Sqdn followed by 308 a Polish Sqdn 349 a Belgian Sqdrn 345 a Free French Sqdn 332 a Norwegian Sqdrn and back to 485 New Zealand Sqdrn then remodelled as a two seat trainer for the Irish Air Corps until 1960 . Used for the film Battle of Britain then sold to Strathallan Museum engineer Nick Grace acquired it in 1979 but tragically died in a car accident in 1988 . Now based at The Imperial War Museum in Duxford Cambridgeshire England UK it is now flown by his wife Carolyn Grace . Having flown 20 display seasons since its rebuild in recent years it featured in a TV documentary called Spitfire Ace . Maurice Hammond of Eye in Suffolk overhauled the Merlin engine to continue to delight the crowds with its famous tones. This family run Spitfire keeps funded by supporters club donations
Size: 5007px × 3333px
Location: Farnborough Airfield Hampshire England Great Britain United Kingdom GB UK
Photo credit: © Christopher Barnes - Aviation / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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