BBMF Spitfire MK356 update

I think Johnie Houlton flew both aircraft on the same day . That would tie in with ML407 being damaged and quickly repaired.

Johnnie Houlton flew ML407 for 35 min om D-day, He took of in a spare aircraft that day. That being ML176, he also flew a mission at 1445. On that mission he flew MK950.
MK732 was flow by K.J. Mac Donald. He shared a kill with Johnnie Houlton. That being a Ju88. So ML407 did only fly for a few min. On the D-day. This al according to Spitfire the New Zealand Story.

Herman

I think Johnie Houlton flew both aircraft on the same day . That would tie in with ML407 being damaged and quickly repaired.

The information came from the book Spitfire, The New Zealand Story. According to the book ML407 had a minor accedent during take off, on the 6th, and was being repaired.

But, if I recall correctly, ‘407 was repaired and flew later in the day (something tells me it was simply a prop change?) and, once the Luftwaffe realised what was happening, bagged the first kill of the day.

There was a chap who came here briefly and disputed the claims, but he’s since disappeared.

Anyhow, back to ‘356!! 😀

Ok first I have heard this. Any idea where this new information has come from? D Day was always going to be a chaotic day in many ways so it is entirely possible that ML407 would have a rival for this distinction, but were they both on charge with 485 squadron or was MK732 with another squadron and involved in another action? What ever if she is to project this part of her history then perhaps she’s in the wrong colours

The information came from the book Spitfire, The New Zealand Story. According to the book ML407 had a minor accedent during take off, on the 6th, and was being repaired.
MK732, was with 485 during that time. Don’t think MK732 is in the wrong colours, as she is wearing her proper colours when she flew with the Dutch Air Force.

I believe MK732 shared a kill on the 6th of June . That was with 485 Squadron coded ‘OU-Q’

Thank you David. I will be a little more circumspect when giving my history lessons to the non aviation types that I drag to the occasional air shows :confused: especially those family from down in NZ that come for a visit.

Dutch Spitfire MK732

Hi , thats about the 4th time MK732 has been damaged. In 1996 we rebuilt the wings, radiator fairings & undercarrage fairings after a wheels up landing.!!!!

I believe MK732 shared a kill on the 6th of June . That was with 485 Squadron coded ‘OU-Q’

This has been disputed, quite recently, on this forum, but nothing came of it for some reason…. :confused:

Ok first I have heard this. Any idea where this new information has come from? D Day was always going to be a chaotic day in many ways so it is entirely possible that ML407 would have a rival for this distinction, but were they both on charge with 485 squadron or was MK732 with another squadron and involved in another action? What ever if she is to project this part of her history then perhaps she’s in the wrong colours

I thought it was ML407 that claimed the first aircraft on D-day?

This has been disputed, quite recently, on this forum, but nothing came of it for some reason…. :confused:

The Dutch Spit is owned by the Dutch Airforce and operated by the Dutch Royal Airforce Historical flight.
She shot down the first aircraft during D-day.
Restored in the early 90’s by the Dutch Spitfire Flight.

I thought it was ML407 that claimed the first aircraft on D-day?

It will be interesting to hear if any problems are found with the wings then!

During my time at St. Athan and aquaintance with the majors on P7350/PM631 (Yep, I painted that crest on the side of PM631’s fuselage – bl00dy proud of it too!) I did hear from the BBMF grapevine that the pilots didn’t like flying MK356 as it was suspected it was ‘bent’. I did visit MK356 a few times during its rebuild and I don’t recall seeing any jigs but then again it wasn’t that stripped down if you catch my drift.

Somewhere I have a photo of my niece in front of MK356 when it was in the Museum at St. Athan circa 1986…..

Didnt the wings come from a LF16e when she was restored at St Athan? Which one was this, and therefore what happened to that airframe?

Yes, she wears the wings from Mk.XVI SL674, the Ex. Biggin Hill gate guard, which is now at the RAF Museum’s Stafford site in storage. Apparently the wings from the Mk.XVI were in better condition during the rebuild at St Athan.
The wings from MK356 are now with SL674.

MK732, the Dutch Spit which was recently damaged again

Cees

Is it getting restored to flying again? and thanks for the info Mark V:cool:

James

re

So an a/c of such historical importance had ended up as a spares source?

Assume it went from the Dutch back to St athan then back to Holland again?

So whats the history/ownership of the Dutch Spit and when was it restored?

The Dutch Spit is owned by the Dutch Airforce and operated by the Dutch Royal Airforce Historical flight.
She shot down the first aircraft during D-day.
Restored in the early 90’s by the Dutch Spitfire Flight.

Herman

re

So whats the history/ownership of the Dutch Spit and when was it restored?

Didnt the wings come from a LF16e when she was restored at St Athan? Which one was this, and therefore what happened to that airframe?

Talking of which, which Spitfire donated parts to AB910 when she was fixed in the late 1970s?

MK732, the Dutch Spit which was recently damaged again

Cees

Re:

It will be interesting to hear if any problems are found with the wings then!

Didnt the wings come from a LF16e when she was restored at St Athan? Which one was this, and therefore what happened to that airframe?

Talking of which, which Spitfire donated parts to AB910 when she was fixed in the late 1970s?

whats the thing thats open on shot 2 and 7?

There are two things open – in shot 2 its the radio/ballast access door and in shot 7 its the old accumulater access door that is open.

Once someone of very small proportions has climbed inside the fuselage, what do they do in there?

Undo the 52 bolts while hoping some other people on the outside are holding the tail assembley.

I am stabbing in the dark now so please go easy if I’m wrong. I think it could be access to get inside the fuselage so a person could remove the tail assembly fixings.

Brian.

Once someone of very small proportions has climbed inside the fuselage, what do they do in there?