Incredibly it is 32 years since Captain Jack Malloch mysteriously flew the recently restored Spitfire Mk 22 PK350 in to a massive thunderhead cloud and perished…the Spitfire a total wreck, the Vampire chase plane emerging, its nose and intakes severely ‘pebble dashed’.
Today, to restore a Spitfire to flying condition in the UK is relatively straight forward. From the humblest of beginnings immaculate restorations emerge with regularity from what is now a well polished process and industry. Wind back the clock to the ‘cottage industry’ restorations of the 1970’s, and not nearly so easy. Dial in Rhodesia, and trying to obtain parts at the height of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), with world–wide sanctions, and the scale of the task is enormous…but they did it.
Nick Meikle, sixteen years a military pilot in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, weaves a very readable account here. Starting with the acquisition of some twenty-two Mk 22 Spitfires from surplus RAF stock in 1951, the ferrying them down the hazardous route to Southern Rhodesia by newly trained and ex RAF Spitfire pilots, including Jack Malloch, and the operations and training of the small SRAF. Nick takes us in detail through the trials and tribulations of firstly persuading the authorities to release PK350 from gate guard duty and to allow the Malloch companies to restore it and finally fly it.
The level of research to tease out a date from a pilots log book or explain how a tricky problem part on the Spitfire was resolved is impressive and combined with some 180 b/w and colour images, soft cover, 230 odd pages and a modest price at that well known on line store, I commend this book.
Mark
By: Stepwilk - 15th September 2014 at 20:43
That airplane hit the ground intact, at a 15-degree nosedown attitude and under power. I suspect that thunderstorm had less to do with the crash than is superficially assumed. If I had been the Rhodesian NTSB, I’d have surmised that Malloch died of a heart attack, perhaps exacerbated by having suddenly flown into hail. If you watch the video taken from the Vampire moments before the storm penetration, there doesn’t seem to be anything like a towering Cu in the area–just lots of apparently typical afternoon weather for the area. Not saying they didn’t hit hail, but I’ve flown into worse, by the look of it. Probably dumb of me, but I survived. I don’t think Malloch had any idea that he was doing anything unusual or inexplicable.
By: Sopwith - 15th September 2014 at 19:24
Got mine the other week but only just started reading it, so far it’s very good. i’ve always liked this particular Spitfire since it made the news when it flew in 1980, it’s good to read in detail about it. Thanks again for the post Mark12
By: DazDaMan - 6th September 2014 at 10:44
Got my copy yesterday – looks great! Can’t wait to get into it.
By: Harvard 4 - 6th September 2014 at 10:26
Book read, and highly recommended. A great read, very informative, and a lesson why none of us should ever be so complacent as to take these old aeroplanes, or the folks behind them, for granted.
By: oldgit158 - 30th August 2014 at 11:49
The TFC Mk 22 PK624 looks to be dormant.
The Kennet Mk 22 PK664 however, together with its naval sister Mk 46 LA564 are just starting to ‘tremor’.
Some years away yet but very exciting for the future.
Mark
Thank you Mark12 for sharing with us.
By: chippie51 - 30th August 2014 at 10:17
There was another documentary on this aeroplane, shown if I recall correctly back in the mid 80s around the 50th anniversary of the first flight. While it drew heavily on the original Zimbabwean film, it was different, featuring an interview with former Rhodesian PM Ian Smith amongst others and was I believe narrated by David Lomax. Does anyone have a copy of this version?
By: Mark12 - 30th August 2014 at 07:06
Book ordered too, what is the chance of seeing a Mk22 spitfire in UK skies?
Jason
The TFC Mk 22 PK624 looks to be dormant.
The Kennet Mk 22 PK664 however, together with its naval sister Mk 46 LA564 are just starting to ‘tremor’.
Some years away yet but very exciting for the future.
Mark
By: Snoopy7422 - 30th August 2014 at 04:59
@Baz62;-…the very Badger…!
By: DazDaMan - 29th August 2014 at 22:13
TFC’s project?
By: oldgit158 - 29th August 2014 at 18:16
Book ordered too, what is the chance of seeing a Mk22 spitfire in UK skies?
Jason
By: Beaufighter VI - 29th August 2014 at 17:53
Dial in Rhodesia, and trying to obtain parts at the height of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), with world–wide sanctions, and the scale of the task is enormous…but they did it.
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With help from their friends.
By: DazDaMan - 29th August 2014 at 08:10
Book ordered!
And I was about to post the link to that same YouTube clip.
By: baz62 - 29th August 2014 at 05:09
I have an old VHS video of this story buried away somewhere, kindly sent to me many years ago by one of the team. A very sad tale indeed.
This one?
By: Snoopy7422 - 29th August 2014 at 04:03
I have an old VHS video of this story buried away somewhere, kindly sent to me many years ago by one of the team. A very sad tale indeed.
By: snafu - 28th August 2014 at 23:31
Malloch himself was an interesting chap, an historical chapter in aviation all of his own…
By: DazDaMan - 28th August 2014 at 23:11
Might have to look this one up!
By: Harvard 4 - 28th August 2014 at 23:11
Thanks for the heads-up Peter, order placed. I was out there fairly recently on aviation business and those of a certain age still have a twinkle in their eye when you mention that aeroplane.
By: Sopwith - 28th August 2014 at 23:00
Great thanks for letting us know.
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August 28, 2014 at 10:38 pm