Massed Spitfire flypast in recent times.

Biggin Hill was several Vic formations but there was no where near as many Spitfires than what were at Duxford the weekend before.

Some photos from the Biggin Hill event here including Spitfire LFVB (G-MKVB), Spitfire HFVIIIc (G-BKMI) & Spitfire LFIX (PH-OUQ) in a Vic formation.

Aircraft painted in the Pearl Harbour RF-? markings at Biggin are;

Vickers Armstrong Spitfire VIII (ex MV154 which it was in the colours of before the Pearl Harbour re-paint, now MT928 / ZX-M / G-BKMI. Painted as AR654 / RF-T for Pearl Harbour
Vickers Supermarine Spitfire VC (AR501 / NN-A / G-AWII). Painted as AR4474 / RF-Y for Pearl Harbour

BM597 was not painted in the RF-? colours but was at Biggin Hill in its usual colour scheme.

Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LFVB (BM597 / JH-C / G-MKVB)

All photos were at the Battle of Britain day on 17th September 2000

Rick.

Proplover,

Thanks to the good offices of JBS I now have a copy of this splendid ‘Spitfire Spectacular’ double DVD on which there is over an hour of the 60th anniversary Battle of Britain two day air show in September 2000.

Watching it in full and freeze frame last night, it brings back memories and confirms my earlier posted thoughts.

In analyzing the footage it has to be appreciated that the DVD is a compilation of both days.

DVD analysis:-

1) During the filmed flight briefing, the controller David Henchie referred to his two sections of nine plus single sweeper, total 19 aircraft. This briefing logically is for the Sunday flight and includes the Dutch MK732, which was late and missed the Saturday brief and the show.

2) Five Spitfires of the BBMF were shown displaying in formation with the comment/implication that they do not fly in the same air as the ‘Private Aircraft’. This would be the Saturday show as we know that on the Sunday they only flew four BBMF Spitfires due to pilot shortage.

3) The mass flyover on the film consisted of six ‘vics’ of three aircraft flying line abreast approaching from the rear of the hangars for maximum effect, presence and noise. You can hear ‘Land of Hope and Glory on the PA system. Eighteen aircraft in total and therefore Saturday.

4) My posted image above also shows 18 aircraft and was taken on the Saturday.

5) Film of the section ‘fly-bys’ shows one lone Spitfire still on the flight line. A clipped wing four blade Merlin Spitfire, so MK356 of the BBMF taken on the Sunday.

6) Three Hurricanes were in the mass formation on both days.

Summarizing then:-

21 airworthy Spitfires were on station at Duxford over the weekend the 9/10 September. They are listed by serial in my post 17 above.

On Saturday, fifteen Spitfires plus three Hurricanes formed the mass flyover whilst the BBMF circled in the vicinity with five Spitfires. Total Spitfires in the air twenty.

On Sunday, sixteen Spitfires plus three Hurricanes formed the mass flyover whilst the BBMF circled in the vicinity with four Spitfires. Total Spitfires in the air twenty.

Many thanks to all who assisted in this – much appreciated.

Mark

Mk12 sorry for delay – your right re the Land of Hope and Glory. Rod Dean led the formation and on both days it was brought in from crowd rear. The commentators made several references to the special permission granted by the CAA for this to happen and hethey announced it amid the noise of Merlins & Griffons as the ‘Duxford Wing’.
I have several pictures of the flight line plus a number with the veterans grouped around the front of one of the MkV’s. I note that several are no longer with us eg Foxly-Norris and George Unwin. Unfortunetly I have no pics of the formation, to busy looking at this fantastic sight!
I remember on the flight line that Charlie Brown flying the ‘Pink’ PRXI (several comments made that pink really wasnt his colour!) was to the right of us and that TE184 was to the left, pilots name escapes me for the moment.
There were three Hurricances, ironically the BBMF did not have enough pilots available to bring their two otherwise it would of been the largest Spitfire formation in recent years AND the largest Hurricane one as well.

Can’t really get my head round the ‘warbird top table’! I would rather see a for example a Cessna O-2 with combat history fly at a display than any number of ‘top table’ stuff that never fired a shot in anger !

Hear, hear, my thoughts entirely…….

Not many people probably know this, but Rob Davies’ Harvard Mk.4 G-TVIJ saw combat in Angola and Mozambique from 1966 until 1974 serving with AB5 At Nacala, AB6 at Nova Frexico and then AB7 at Tete. IMHO a true ‘Warbird’.

Best wishes,

Martin

92fis

RF Codes and fictitious serials were were applied for the ‘Pearl Harbor’ film.

AR501, BM597 & MV154. I suspect you are perhaps confusing the identity of the latter.

I still feel ML417 was u/s. Didn’t it have an incident on the continent around this time?

Mark

AR501 (RF-Y) was there, too.

Something tells me ‘417 had an undercarriage failure, which kept her out of the sky for a year or so? :confused:

(Oopsy! Shoulda read the rest of the replies! :p)

Can’t really get my head round the ‘warbird top table’! I would rather see a for example a Cessna O-2 with combat history fly at a display than any number of ‘top table’ stuff that never fired a shot in anger !

92fis

RF Codes and fictitious serials were were applied for the ‘Pearl Harbor’ film.

AR501, BM597 & MV154. I suspect you are perhaps confusing the identity of the latter.

I still feel ML417 was u/s. Didn’t it have an incident on the continent around this time?

Mark

Yes you are right it was MV154 in the film colours. And now you say i do remember ML417 was out of action for a while.

The gear collapsed in France during 1999 and didn’t fly again until june 2001.

But the fact remains that it was conceived and broadly operated as a trainer, and thus is in the warbird hall of fame it is not quite on the top table.

As I was told recently by someone who’d know, ‘When you can fly your Mustang well, you are nearly ready to move onto the T-6.”

If you organised a Warbird display, and your main participants were Harvards, I suspect remarks would be made!

Oh how the air display world has changed, not too many years ago that was about all you were likely to get in any number. Guess we are rather spoilt now.

DB- yes, I was mindful of that as I wrote it, and I remember that some T6/Harvards saw combat in Korea, and also various African states, and no doubt others theatres as well.

But the fact remains that it was conceived and broadly operated as a trainer, and thus is in the warbird hall of fame it is not quite on the top table.

If you organised a Warbird display, and your main participants were Harvards, I suspect remarks would be made!

Propstrike- there are a number of pilots who have flown the Harvard in combat who would disagree with you not thinking they are ‘warbirds’.
Look at the Spitfires in these formations and figure out how many actually saw any combat!

Mark 12 ML417 was painted up with RF codes i believe. Also noticed on the official video there is a small clip of Clive Rowley being interviewed and in the background the forums very own Janie and Mark V put in an appearance.

92fis

RF Codes and fictitious serials were were applied for the ‘Pearl Harbor’ film.

AR501, BM597 & MV154. I suspect you are perhaps confusing the identity of the latter.

I still feel ML417 was u/s. Didn’t it have an incident on the continent around this time?

Mark

Mark 12 ML417 was painted up with RF codes i believe. Also noticed on the official video there is a small clip of Clive Rowley being interviewed and in the background the forums very own Janie and Mark V put in an appearance.

Hi Mark

I remember being there, I think on the Sunday. If my memory serves me right the massed flypast contained 21 Spitfires and 3 Hurricanes. (I’m sure i remember the Hurricanes but no one else has mentioned them)

After they had all taken off there was a display of 4 Black Hawks (I think) and then a long wait with everyone looking left and right. The announcer then came on and told everyone to turn round and there they were coming straight at us from behind. A wide formation, unlike the long narrow Balbo we’re used to at Duxford.

Sorry don’t have any details of which aircraft or any photos. Someone must have some or a video of it. (sconner?) Don’t remember Land Of Hope And Glory but wouldn’t have been listening to the music!!!

One of my best Airshow memories.

Peter

The bbmf displayed in front of the crowd while the other spitfires and three hurricanes formed up.

Hi Mark

I remember being there, I think on the Sunday. If my memory serves me right the massed flypast contained 21 Spitfires and 3 Hurricanes. (I’m sure i remember the Hurricanes but no one else has mentioned them)

After they had all taken off there was a display of 4 Black Hawks (I think) and then a long wait with everyone looking left and right. The announcer then came on and told everyone to turn round and there they were coming straight at us from behind. A wide formation, unlike the long narrow Balbo we’re used to at Duxford.

Sorry don’t have any details of which aircraft or any photos. Someone must have some or a video of it. (sconner?) Don’t remember Land Of Hope And Glory but wouldn’t have been listening to the music!!!

One of my best Airshow memories.

Peter

There was an official video of this show, and I remember it contained some clips from the briefing.

Btw, I think Steve Connor recently released a compilation of all the major Spitfire shows over the last ten years.

Mark, I’ll take another look at the original video to see if your list is correct (from memory it looks it).

Cheers

Paul

What about Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Open Day in 2000? It was the weekend after Duxford, but they also put up a large formation of Spitfires. I will admit that I can’t remember now whether it was a single formation or several large Vic’s :confused:

Regards,

Dan

I remember the Hurris, too – think they tagged along behind the Spits?

Hi Mark

I remember being there, I think on the Sunday. If my memory serves me right the massed flypast contained 21 Spitfires and 3 Hurricanes. (I’m sure i remember the Hurricanes but no one else has mentioned them)

After they had all taken off there was a display of 4 Black Hawks (I think) and then a long wait with everyone looking left and right. The announcer then came on and told everyone to turn round and there they were coming straight at us from behind. A wide formation, unlike the long narrow Balbo we’re used to at Duxford.

Sorry don’t have any details of which aircraft or any photos. Someone must have some or a video of it. (sconner?) Don’t remember Land Of Hope And Glory but wouldn’t have been listening to the music!!!

One of my best Airshow memories.

Peter

3rd May 1998 saw what was effectively a ‘Diamond 16’ led by Rod Dean

Can’t locate any photos from 2000, but found this of 3/5/1998.

I imagine Mustangs are the only other type in sufficient numbers, and I think Oshkosh has fielded some quite large gaggles, and this year’s ‘Mustang Round-up’ is predicted to draw seventy or more, though I doubt if a tight formation would be attempted.

True about Osh but we only put up around a max of twelve ships in the last ten years I have been involved in the event – the GOML organisers are planning a formation (or balbo) or 51 Mustangs for the event in September.