Pics of Spitfire Mk22's?? Help!

The last two colour shots above, captioned PK350, are actually PK355.

Mark

SRAF Spitfire Mk22

Mark12 or Daz,

You might be able to help.
I’ve found this picture of Spitfire Mk22 ‘R64’ as a Gate Guardian:

Rhodesian Mk22 ‘R64’

(Apologies for the link – I’m just being cautious about any copyrights).
The image is not dated, but it looks fairly recent.
However, they list that ‘R64’ was originally PK350.
I can only presume that this is an old picture.
But, I have a suspicion that the picture is actually of PK355.

Can you confirm?

Lastly; it’s got zero-length rocket-launchers under the wings – did the Mk22’s that went to Rhodesia get updated to Mk24 spec?

Jim

The Spitfire Mk22’s that were delivered to the then Southern Rhodesia Air Force were modified by the SRAF to have rocket carrying capabilities.
The one in the photo is actually PK350 (R64) c/n CBAF 39. This was taken down for a rebuild and replaced with PK355 (R65) c/n CBAF 33 (ex Thornhill AFB Gate Guard). It has since been removed and placed in the Military Museum in Gwero.

I have several pics of the Spitfires in SRAF service. mostly off the web or out of books

This aircraft (SRAF65) ex PK350 is now in the Military Museum Aviation section in the town of Gweru.

Thanks Mark – I thought you’d have the answer!

Jim

Mark12 or Daz,

You might be able to help.
I’ve found this picture of Spitfire Mk22 ‘R64’ as a Gate Guardian:

Rhodesian Mk22 ‘R64’

(Apologies for the link – I’m just being cautious about any copyrights).
The image is not dated, but it looks fairly recent.
However, they list that ‘R64’ was originally PK350.
I can only presume that this is an old picture.
But, I have a suspicion that the picture is actually of PK355.

Can you confirm?

Lastly; it’s got zero-length rocket-launchers under the wings – did the Mk22’s that went to Rhodesia get updated to Mk24 spec?

Jim

Jim,
This is PK350 circa 1975.

PK350/SR64/RRAF64/R64……all the same aircraft.

Mark

Interesting to see that it has a fixed tailwheel. PK350 (as seen in the photo) didn’t, unless this was restored?

Mark12 or Daz,

You might be able to help.
I’ve found this picture of Spitfire Mk22 ‘R64’ as a Gate Guardian:

Rhodesian Mk22 ‘R64’

(Apologies for the link – I’m just being cautious about any copyrights).
The image is not dated, but it looks fairly recent.
However, they list that ‘R64’ was originally PK350.
I can only presume that this is an old picture.
But, I have a suspicion that the picture is actually of PK355.

Can you confirm?

Lastly; it’s got zero-length rocket-launchers under the wings – did the Mk22’s that went to Rhodesia get updated to Mk24 spec?

Jim

Poor neglected beasty! 🙁

Thanks Mark

Cheers

Cees

Thanks Mark,

The other Mk 22 is that the one now on display in the local museum?

Cheers

Cees

Cees,

I last saw it at Harare but I believe it is in Bulawayo now.

Note the Vampire wheels and u/c legs in my photo of 16 July 1990.

Mark

Thanks Mark,

The other Mk 22 is that the one now on display in the local museum?

Cheers

Cees

About PK350. I remember reading somewhere that the remains were not scrapped but are also lurking somewhere.

Can we expect a ressurection of this aircraft in the near future as well?

Beautiful aeroplane.

Cheers

Cees

Cees,

I have a photo of the impact point, the day after the accident, and it was straight in at high speed with a massive crater.

This was not a rebuildable wreck by most peoples judgement. Anything is possible these days, in provenance transfer, but I would have thought this one would be a long way down the list as a viable project.

The Military were not too keen on my looking at some of the wreckage that was reported on the scrapheap at Old Sarum in July 1990.

I was there to survey the other Mk 22, PK355, that the Government had put up for tender….. and then withdrew! 🙁

Mark

About PK350. I remember reading somewhere that the remains were not scrapped but are also lurking somewhere.

Can we expect a ressurection of this aircraft in the near future as well?

Beautiful aeroplane.

Cheers

Cees

TFC’s website isn’t exactly helpful, although I’m sure some of them “in the know” will be able to comment better.

I know what they can be like!

I did start the small one out to see if I could make it really nice and scale, but I’ve got to the point now where I just want to get it into the air!

You wouldn’t happen to know what TFC are up to with PK624 – I keep seeing pictures on the web; it looks like the fuse has been stripped and bead blasted, but I’ve seen nothing further. 🙁

I once built a “cartoon-scale” Spitfire 22 – nice little kite (once balanced and trimmed out!) that was a bugger to find when it went into the long grass – camouflage works!! 😉

Daz,

Great pics – just what I was needing thanks!

Just the inspiration I needed to get these beasts finished – I’ll put some pics up on the web when I get a mo, and drop the link in.

But, if there are any more pics, please keep posting!! 😀

Jim

Right, those in-flight Spits I promised….

(most of these are cribbed off the net for the screensaver! :rolleyes: )

Spitfire SM845 is a MkXVIII, but very similar to the MkXIV all the same. These are about as close to an early Mk22 as I can find!

A very sad sight indeed..

Where is she now?

Jeepers .. that sends shivers down your spine….

I presume it was a gunnery target at some point in it’s life … unless there were some BIG moths around 😀

Larkhill Ranges, Salisbury Plain, June 1966.

Mark