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Vickers Supermarine Spitfire
Mk. IX, R.A.F. Serial MH603 was
built by Vickers Armstrongs at
Castle Bromwich Aircraft
Factory, with construction
number CBAF.IX.5589 delivered
to 39.M.U. Colerne on the 15
October 1943. It was first
taken on charge by 405 A.R.F.
at Croydon.
Its first squadron was 331
(Norwegian) Squadron, and was
flown on operations by Capt.
Bjorn Bjornstad. According to
the AM78 it was taken on charge
on the 3rd January 1944. But
it was first flown on the 2nd
January 1944 and was coded
FN-B.
Its next move was to
6.M.U.Brize Norton on the 9th
March 1944. From the 1 June
until 11 August 1944, where it
was flown by W/O.S.G.Barker of
274 Squadron, under the command
of S/Ldr. J.F. (Stocky)
Edwards.
On the 21st August 1944 it was
taken on charge by the Flight
Leaders School at Milfield. It
was transferred on an unknown
date to the Central Flying
Establishment Langmere. It
suffered a flying accident,
category B, and was sent to Air
Service Training Hamble, to be
R.I.W. and was ready for
collection on the 25th
September 1945, and then went
to 33.M.U.Lyneham Wiltshire.
It was recorded at the Air
Ministry Home Census of March
1946, and was selected for sale
to South Africa on the 15th
October 1948, and went to 47
M.U. at Sealand for packing.
ME603 sailed from Birkenhead on
the 2nd February 1949 for South
Africa on the S.S. Clan
Campbell. She arrived in South
Africa on the 16 March
1949.
Nothing is known about its
South African service at this
time. It was obtained by
Steven Atkins and sold to John
Sykes, who started rebuilding
it to an airworthy standard.
The aircraft was sold to Dr.
Joe Scogna of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and the project
was moved to Q.G. Aviation in
Fort Collins, Colorado.
In April 2008, Spitfire IX
MH603 was purchased by
Provenance Fighter Sales and
the restoration will continue
with Q.G. Aviation. The
aircraft will be restored as
authentically as possible and
to the exacting standard which
both Q.G. Aviation and
Provenance Fighter Sales are
known for.
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