The last section of this great Air Show was called “Target London”. Scramble!
It was almost overwhelming standing there with all those Merlin engines on full power and all those Spitfires getting airborne. It did not take long until they returned.
Count them – there are 17 Spitfires! My guess is this was a celebration of what happened on 15 September 1940 – Battle of Britain Day – when the large Duxford Wing met the German Air Force just as it was about to attack London.
During the days before September 15 of 1940 Luftwaffe had made a number of fighter-only sweeps that encountered little British resistance. The pilots attacking on September 15 1940 had then been told that the RAF was now down to its last 50 fighters. On that day the Luftwaffe aircrew were however first continuously attacked on the run over Kent by 11th group and as they reached London a further formation of 60 RAF aircraft from 12th group met them! The psychological impact of this was of course significant. Here I give you a small impression of what it was like. The airspace filled with Spitfires:
After a few fantastic 17-ship overflights…
…the formation broke up, but…
…it was far from over. For a long time the air over Duxford was filled with Spitfires…
…diving and turning…
…climbing and turning…
…and it was just terrific. A very short clip to describe it;
A presentation of a few of the 17 aircraft taking part:
Two Spitfire MkIa…
This is the “Grace Spitfire” (ML407) Iy. It was built in early 1944 as a Mark IX single seat fighter. It was in front service with several allied Squadrons – New Zealand, Free French, Polish, Belgian and Norwegian. In 1950 it was converted to the two seat configuration for the Irish Air Corps as an advanced trainer.
The “SM520” was built in 1944 as a single seat Mark H.F.IXe high level fighter. It came to South Africa in 1948, was involved in an accident and disposed to a scrap yard in Cape Town. It was found in 1981 and stored, purchased in 2002 and after that restored and converted to a Trainer 9 two seater.
The “SL633” is a Spitfire Mk IXe. It was delivered to 312 (Czech) Sqn at Manston in August 1945 and is today in a full Czech scheme as JT-10.
Above is a Seafire Mk III “PP972”. It made its first post-restoration flight earlier this year.
This is a very powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined version of the Spitfire, the Mk XVIII. It was built in 1945 and all of its service was post-war and mostly overseas. After many years on ground it returned to flight in 2000. It was sold to Swedish operator Biltema in 2009 and involved in a sad accident in Norway, killing its pilot. It returned to the UK for restoration and flew again in 2013, now in post-war silver markings of Hong Kong-based No 28 Squadron, RAF.
This is a Seafire F Mk XVII. The SX336 was built in 1946 and in operational use until 1954. Recovered from scrap in 1973, rebuilt to airworthiness and today painted in her original Fleet Air Arm colour.
The Spitfire Mk.Ia “N3200” was flying during the “Battle of France” and was shot down during the evacuation of Dunkirk. After 46 years in the sand it was being re-discovered in 1986. Restoration started in 2000 and first flight was 2014, now flying in the same livery she wore when she was with 19 Squadron flying from Duxford. 
Finally – perhaps the most famous of Spitfires. It is a Mk IX, built in 1943 at Vickers, Castle Bromwich. This Spitfire is remarkably original, having never been subject to a re-build.
This aircraft was leading the 17-ship Spitfire formation and was the last of them landing…
…ending this superb Air Show with some beautiful solo aerobatics.
Thank you!
