Questions on 1943 Spitfire Mk IX MH434

I can remember this. Filmed at Booker. A gathering of parties associated with MH434 – ATA pilots, test pilots, engineers, ACS, a Dutch pilot who had flown it, all sitting and bantering.

Mark

The very one. Must have been around 1980…… I didn’t have a VCR back in those days (Who did..!) but I made a sound-recording – long-lost.

There must be a copy somewhere…..I’ve been looking for ages..:)

What were the differences between the B wing and the C wing that made the latter stronger?

Pretty sure this is the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzsJBjbCyvM&feature=share&list=PLF74F546C58BDD22B

Daz, That’s a great old clip with Neil – still one of the best, but not the one. It was a dedicated program on ‘434. They had assembled all the remaining pilots who were left at that time for supper. Great program – with some dire muic as I recall….!!! 🙂

Hi
curiosity is getting me.:confused:
i always thought the early IX’s were converted Mk Vb & c.
so as these aircraft being converted already have the b or c wing,
when converted to IX, would they not be a b or c wing MK IX,:confused:
or did the conversion to IX include standardising the wings as well.
cheers
Jerry

The very first “production” Mk.IXs were taken from the Mk.Vc production line and rebuilt at RR or Supermarine. There were no Mk.IXs with the B wing, which was weaker than the later C or universal wing. (There may have been the odd experimental aircraft early in Merlin 60-series development, but I’d have to check that.)

The confusion in old histories is possibly caused by the use of the term Mk.IXB by the squadrons when referring to the LF Mk.IX.

A slight thread-drift, but;- Many years ago, in either the very late 1970’s or early ’80’s, there was a TV documentary dedicated to MH434. Can anyone here remember what it was called..? I wonder if it is still available….? Tt may have been for the old Thames TV, and would have been prior to Sir Adrian Swire selling the machine.

I can remember this. Filmed at Booker. A gathering of parties associated with MH434 – ATA pilots, test pilots, engineers, ACS, a Dutch pilot who had flown it, all sitting and bantering.

Mark

Pretty sure this is the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzsJBjbCyvM&feature=share&list=PLF74F546C58BDD22B

Not “dedicated” per se, but there is the documentary where MH434 is flown by Neil Williams for the last 10mins or so of the film. Stunning stuff. I’ll see if I can find the clip.

There was, however, a film made regarding ‘434 a few years back. I think it was called “A Spitfire’s Story” or something similar.

Name That Program….

A slight thread-drift, but;- Many years ago, in either the very late 1970’s or early ’80’s, there was a TV documentary dedicated to MH434. Can anyone here remember what it was called..? I wonder if it is still available….? Tt may have been for the old Thames TV, and would have been prior to Sir Adrian Swire selling the machine.

I see you have painted it at 250th of a second. 🙂
In the many years I have observed Spitfires flying I have never been able to see or count the propeller blades.

That aside, a damn good painting.

Thanks Mark. Ah, I’ve debated that very point with myself! http://www.garyeason.co.uk/2012/02/props-.html. Welcome people’s thoughts on the subject.
G

The finished picture whose preparation prompted this thread, if anyone’s interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyeason/7849834692/in/photostream

Critique welcome!

I see you have painted it at 250th of a second. 🙂

In the many years I have observed Spitfires flying I have never been able to see or count the propeller blades.

That aside, a damn good painting.

Mark

The finished picture whose preparation prompted this thread, if anyone’s interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyeason/7849834692/in/photostream

Critique welcome!

The wings need two radiators, so it’s impossible to just shove the engine on the front, and leave it at that. The “C” configuration also had two compartments in the cannon bay, and the outer one, on the IX, was used to carry the heating pipes from the back of the radiators out to the pair of .303″ Brownings.

Hi
curiosity is getting me.:confused:
i always thought the early IX’s were converted Mk Vb & c.
so as these aircraft being converted already have the b or c wing,
when converted to IX, would they not be a b or c wing MK IX,:confused:
or did the conversion to IX include standardising the wings as well.
cheers
Jerry

Ok thanks for that Mark V.Look forward to end of the recession eh?:)

Indeed – hopefully both will happen…. 🙂

Not yet – it was a pre-recession idea currently on the ‘back-burner’ I understand.

Ok thanks for that Mark V.Look forward to end of the recession eh?:)

Both Pat Lardner-Burke and Bill Burge flew MH434 with 222 Squadron.
Mark

Indeed. I think you’d have to be a pretty sloppy clerk to misspell one of your pilot’s names repeatedly! That said, who would be responsible for writing the Record of Operations on a daily basis…?

Just read in the Belgian aviation magazine Aeronews of Belgium (Jul/Aug 2012 issue) a story on MH434. When flying in 222Sq, a Fl.Lt. H.P. Lardner-Burcke (South-African nationality) flew this Spit and scored two-and-a-half kills on 27 Aug, 5 and 8 Sep. Could it be a misinterpretation / wrong spelling of names?

Both Pat Lardner-Burke and Bill Burge flew MH434 with 222 Squadron.

Mark

Just read in the Belgian aviation magazine Aeronews of Belgium (Jul/Aug 2012 issue) a story on MH434. When flying in 222Sq, a Fl.Lt. H.P. Lardner-Burcke (South-African nationality) flew this Spit and scored two-and-a-half kills on 27 Aug, 5 and 8 Sep. Could it be a misinterpretation / wrong spelling of names?

As an aside, while on the subject of this particular Spitfire has anyone written a book solely about MH434 yet?

Not yet – it was a pre-recession idea currently on the ‘back-burner’ I understand.

A couple of other things to consider that were different on 434 in 1943 were the cannon shrouds and top cowling.

The cannon shrouds were of the tapered type, (take a look at MK732 & PV270), and not what I believe are the later ‘e’ type, as fitted to 434 today. (These type of shrouds can be seen fitted during her time with the Dutch).

As for the top cowling, I think you’ll find that she was fitted with the earlier ‘flat’ type (as can be seen on MKVIII MV154 ‘MT928’) as opposed to the later ‘blown’ type that she has today and also had while in service with the Dutch.

Oh, almost forgot the earlier type exhausts as well!

EDIT

Just seen in Edgar Brooks post reference to the later type top cowling.

Cheers

Paul