Spitfire X4179 QV-B

Thanks olly_s, I’m not sure why it is my father’s collection! I will see from his records I have if their “paths crossed.”
And yes I have googles Bobby Oxpring and found the reference to the line of Vc.
Regards

Paul

Is that Bobby Oxspring next to his Spitfire Vc? I think the letters were DL Z. there was a photograph somewhere of his squadron lined up on the grass at hornchurch and they were stood infront of their spit vc.

Quote “I love the bit in the video where the ground crew jump on the tail plane so the pilot can run the engine at high revs, not seen that before, but seems obvious really”

Having done that a couple of times during a mag check on a Mk XVI, I can tell you that it’s quite an experience 😎

The Youtube footage is great, and as already said, nice to see some new footage. (Well, I hadn’t seen it before)

I take it that the 19 Squadron footage was filmed at Fowlmere?

Steve

V interesting thread, and it’s always a pleasure to see some fresh footage.

Beermat, I don’t think you can do any more than contact the original poster via You Tube or just leave a comment on the video if that’s not disabled.

Great footage – so good to see high resolution images from the Battle, with sound, and which are not the same few seconds repeated endlessly on TV documentaries over and over again. Is this part of the new IWM release?

One thing – the title is misleading, it looks like someone has spliced a Polish Hurricane squadron in with 19’s Spits. What’s the etiquette for asking for YouTube titlles to be changed?

Brilliant footage of X4179 and X4474. Very interesting detail on the fin of X4179 where the paint is peeling away on the fin flash.

I love the bit in the video where the ground crew jump on the tail plane so the pilot can run the engine at high revs, not seen that before, but seems obvious really

Dear Paul,
if you not see it already, short film footage with your father and Spitfire X4179, QV-B present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkDJg9NuolM

Best. David

P7350 had the QV-B markings from 1978-81

P7350.

I stand corrected:very_drunk:

P7350.

Think that would have been AB910 of Battle of Britain Flight with the Phantom.

I found this photo of Spitfire QV-B leading a Phantom in one of our photo boxes (RoyalAir Force Museum Laarbruch). But don’t have any further information.
One guess: It was taken at RAF Wildenrath, Air Show 15 June 1969
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F/Lt Frank Brinsden

Good afernoon Paul, i have sent you a PM with regs your father.

Best regs,
Steve.

F/Lt Frank Brinsden

No problem Steve,
More than happy to help.
Hope you have better luck in your quest in matching serial nos with code letters.
The information is out there somwhere!

Regards

Paul

F/Lt Frank Brinsden

Hi Paul, many thanks for your reply regarding your fathers service with No19Sq. Interesting to see he flew so many different Spits during the BoB period, and this sort of substantiate’s the fact that by this time, most of the pilots would fly whatever was available on the day! owing to loss, combat readiness/ serviceability, and general attrition.

I would like to thank you for checking his logbook and your time answering my question.

Kindest regs,
Steve.

F/Lt Frank Brinsden

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your interest in Dad’s aircraft during the BoB.
I have looked again through his logbook and unfortunately he only recorded serial Nos. Interesting to note that between the dates 10July to 31st Oct 1940 he flew a total of 18 different Spitfires!
Nowhere can I find any reference to code letters of any of the aircraft he flew. I will look through his photo collection and see if I can spot any serial nos viz codes.

Thanks again.

Paul

F/Lt Frank “Fanny” Brinsden

Hi Paul, interesting to hear your information regarding your fathers career whilst with No19Sq.
Could you confirm if Frank Brinsden recorded any code letters in his logbook,
during the Battle Of Britain period? other than QV-B etc.

Best regs,
Steve.

Spitfire X4179 QV-B

Hallo RAF Pilot,

Came across your thread on Spitfire X4179 QV-B and particularly you question of 27th August 2010 were you ask if F/Lt Frank “Fanny” Brinsden ever flew this plane.

Well I can inform you he did.

Frank was my father and I have all his flight log books, which shows that he flew X4179 on eight occasions between 20th and 25th September 1940, for a total of 6hrs, 30min.
His entries in his log book show,
20th 1hr.30min.
21st 1hr.30min at night, and 1hr.05min daytime.
23rd 1hr.30min, and 55min.
25th three flights: total 1hr.30min.

Frank went on to serve in the RAF until 1967 and passed away in Auckland in November 1993.

I have all his log books, although the one covering the BoB is unfortunately a copy, as he lent the original to an exhibition in Canada and it was never returned. I have been looking for it for many years but without luck.

In all his letters and photos, the one you posted in your thread, showing X4179, shows Frank in the cockpit. There is a copy of this photo in his collection.

X4179 only had a very short time with 19 Squadron, being received on 13th September and left for another squadron on 27th September. Other pilots would certainly have flown QV-B as I remember Dad telling me that the days of a pilot having a “personal” plane had passed, as at this time, they were in constant use. Although prior to X4179, Dad did fly R6958 for many hours in August 1940 prior to being shot down on 31st August. A remark in his logbook indicated that he may have thought this to be “his” plane! But we will never know!

R6958 was a cannon equipped Spitfire which he first flew on 6th August 1940. There are a number of references, in his logbook, to these cannons jamming. But that another story!

Hope this helps answer your question regarding if he flew X4179.

Regards

Paul.