Tough Spitfire survivors & units question

Thanks G-ORDY. Wow, three surviving Spitfires he flew. Neat. Of course MK732 flew alongside ML407, in which Johnny flew over the Normandy beaches during the D Day 50th celebrations in 1994, as both were involved in that original shooting down of the Ju88’s.

I doubt there are many other pilots left who have three surviving WWII fighters. Trainers maybe, but not fighters? When I say ‘left’, I know Johnny is no longer with us sadly.

[QUOTE=Dave Homewood]Wow, looking into this and doing my maths, yes it does seem right that this Spitfire and Johnny Houlton must have been with the squadron at the same time. And as Johnny always claimed the OU-V aircraft as it was V for Vicky, his fiance’ then wife’s name, this must have been his I guess.QUOTE]

The following two paragraphs are the opening ones for the story of MH350 taken from the 1986 Edition of “Spitfire Survivors”. New edition due out soon …

MH350 was built at Castle Bromwich during 1943 and completed as an L.F.IXE fitted with Merlin 66 No. 185537 (which it retains to this day) and armament of 2 x 20 mm cannon plus 2 X .5 in. Browning machine guns. It formed part of the batch MH349—390 and its c/n has been quoted as CBAF-IX-5400. Factory records state that it was off contract at Castle Bromwich on 1 July 1943, but its Form 78 records that it was taken on charge by the RAF on 7 August. Delivered by an A.T.A. ferry pilot to No. 485 (New Zealand) Sqdn at Hornchurch on 13 August, the Form 78 states the delivery date was 8 August.

No. 485 Sqdn then formed part of the Hornchurch Wing, together with No. 222 (Natal) Sqdn, and MH350 was allocated to P/O Johnnie Houlton, RNZAF, with code letters OU-V. It served with the squadron until 15 June 1944, when it was transferred to No. 84 Group Support Unit, 2nd TAF, at Aston Down, Wilts. Houlton was, by this time, flying ML407, which also survives — in flying condition with Nick Grace and Chris Horsely in the U.K. (q.v). Another Houlton mount, MK732, survives in Holland (q.v.) and the Royal New Zealand Air Force has restored TE288 in his markings as “OU-V”!

Did he ever go to visit it when he was up-over visiting ML407 I wonder?

Not sure, it’s been in Norway for years…

MH350

Spit IX MH350?

Wow, looking into this and doing my maths, yes it does seem right that this Spitfire and Johnny Houlton must have been with the squadron at the same time. And as Johnny always claimed the OU-V aircraft as it was V for Vicky, his fiance’ then wife’s name, this must have been his I guess.

Did he ever go to visit it when he was up-over visiting ML407 I wonder? Did he see any action or claim kills in MH350?

Thanks MK12

TT

There are more than one of Johnny’s Spitfires extent?

Spit IX MH350?

Let’s not forget the multiple “OU-V” Johnny Houlton steeds!

There are more than one of Johnny’s Spitfires extent?

The only other OU-V marked aircraft I know of is the Mk XVIe in the RNZAF Museum, which is painted to represent a different 485 Sqn aircraft from 1945, with no connection that I know of to Johnny Houlton. Is this the one you mean?

Interesting question James.

Lots of Spitfires seem to have worn the codes of Douglas Bader and Johnny Johnson over the years it seems. I don’t know identities other than TB863 which I believe temporarily flew as J-EJ at an airshow where Johnny was guest.

P8208

Good afternoon fellow Spitfire fans.

This forum has appeared quite often during my various searches and some of the questions I feel Im in a reasonable position to answer.

I note there have been a number threads discussing P8208 and questions over its current location and condition.
As you will probably know this aircraft was recovered by Silip Darkar back in the 80s. It had spent its life up to this point in the river Severn, until it was recoverd by a large team and a couple of helicopters. Quite a large amount of wreckage was recovered followed by a stint in a museum until most of the remains were sold to a collector.
Since then the collector put the remains and identity of P8208 on the market, and was purchased by us at Rad Aviation in Oxford during 2005.

The intention is to as far as possible reconstruct P8208 back to a static (possibly taxiable static with a Merlin III) display condition. As its history and service is reasonably well known and the fact that it originated from the BoB 303 sq it makes this particular project well worth while to preserve this aircraft and its history for future generations.
We intend to use all the remains we have and also as far as possible use components, fuse parts, and engine bearers etc from a large collection of original Spitfire parts we already own. Obviously where new items have to be fabricated we will use correct materials and build methods.
Hopefully we will be able to produce a symathetic restoration.

To ensure we are not the only ones who get to enjoy this project, we are currently putting together a web site which will soon be live to show our progress. We hope to include lots of interesting close ups of cockpits and engines, finished polished items, no doubt a few skinned knuckles, as well as bent bits of metal gently being heated, rolled, etc back into original and recognisable shapes.

The site will also show progress on our other Spitfire project. A MKVIII we purchased from Australia and crated over in 2003. This is provissionally identified as JG 668 from the basis of the large number of parts from the original aircraft and components marked and originating from this aircraft.

I hope adds some clarity to the questions .
regards
Jon R

Yep, saw your post Mark, but am i correct that ML407s partner is airborne and it shared the kill on D-Day…?

Also i must get some points for St Athan 😀

TT

I expect 60 and 71 MU’s should figure there if you are counting ground movements.

MK732, partner to ML407, ‘Herb’ Patterson’s machine.

Mark

Yep, saw your post Mark, but am i correct that ML407s partner is airborne and it shared the kill on D-Day…?

Also i must get some points for St Athan 😀

TT

485 Squadron, just the four. MH350, MJ143, MK732 and of course ML407.

Mark

Thats 485 (NZ) which i was going to suggest but y’all beat me to it – I know ML407 is airworthy but am pretty sure that her sister ship is also airworthy – memory fuzzy but didnt both share the first kill on D-Day (Ju-88)

MK12 will know!

TT

(Or, Tongue in Cheek the St Athan Station Flight/DARA/Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Unit or whatever it has been changed to – didnt they have ALL the preserved ex gate guard and RAFM airframes on their books at one point – they are an RAF unit right!)

Let’s not forget the multiple “OU-V” Johnny Houlton steeds!

No.14 Squadron, Indian Air Force 😀 , Almost all the MkXVIIIs would have passed thru that one :diablo: :diablo:

If you are talking Squadrons 222 & 312 have 9 apiece.

If you are talking units 3 CAACU has 9… but 83 GSU has 12.

Mark

443 Hornet Squadron RCAF has a couple out there, and 485 Squadron RNZAF has a couple. I would guess that 609 Squadron has the most surviving B of B Spit Is. 41 Squadron will have a couple out there eventually too with EN224 and RM797.

I’d think it’s the 443 birds in ML407 with Planes of Fame and the B of B flight MK356 both are in their 443 markings.

But a late thought would suggest that the three PR19s that were serving together in the 50s might be the ones.

Dan

c) 17 Squadron would be a contender.