1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX MK356

This aircraft was part of the air display on the Sunday of the weekend long Vintage Sports Car Club's SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2005.

It's a 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and I've found this history of the aircraft:

MK356  -              Mk.IX     Battle of Britain Memorial Flight,

RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.

Built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to 9 MU Cosford on February 4th 1944. Allotted to 443 (Canadian) Sqn on March 11th 1943 it carried the code 21-V. Used extensively on operations leading up to D-Day it was assigned to 83 Group Support Unit on August 8th 1944. Then conversion to an instructional airframe at No 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton in October 1945 with serial 5690M. In 1951 it was transferred to RAF Hawkinge for gate display duties carrying the serial M5690. After some restoration work at 71 MU RAF Bicester in 1961 it was erected on a pole at RAF Locking for some years before allocation to the 'Battle of Britain' film unit at RAF Henlow in October 1967. Carrying the spurious serials and codes N3328/AI-R & N3317/BO it was filmed at North Weald and Duxford.Temporarily stored at RAF Henlow after the film on August 8th 1969 it joined the RAF Museum Reserve Collection based at RAF St Athan. Over an 8 year period it was restored to flight on November 7th 1997. Joined the BBMF on November 14th 1997. Shortly to be temporarily based at RAF Barkston Heath, Lincs. while the runways at RAF Coningsby are renovated. The aircraft is presented as a clipped wing LF Mk IX and carries the only markings it ever wore operationally as 21-V of 443 Squadron RCAF. MK356 was flown in to Duxford in October 2007 for 6 months maintenance to be carried out by the Aircraft Restoration Company and will include a repaint, replacement of the MK500 Merlin engine with a M266 Merlin engine to return the aircraft to build standard, and a respar of the wings will be necessary (Major maintenance of the BBMF fighters will be carried out by the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) based at Duxford near Cambridge, for the next 5 years with an option to extend to 7 years). The new paint scheme will depict a 601 Squadron aircraft based in the Italian theatre in 1943. Presented as UF-Q, MJ250 of No 601 ( County of London ) Squadron the aircraft of Flight Lieutenant Desmond Ibbotson DFC. She is now in a silver paint scheme used during late 1944 when the Squadron carried out fighter bomber missions over the Balkans from bases in Southern Italy.

Guernsey and new Granddaughter

Back to Guernsey last week to see our new granddaughter Eliza Gillian Mary for the first time, born 3 weeks early and now 7 weeks old.

On the Thursday we watched the 2014 Guernsey Air Display from the Candie Gardens which allow a good view across St Peter Port Harbour.

There were quite a few people there, here watching the Red Arrows perform one of their manoeuvres

The star attraction was the appearance of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which was joined on this occasion by the only other airworthy Lancaster bomber which had come over to Britain from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for a two month tour.

Here's the two Lancasters leading the Hurricane and Spitfire past St Peter Port Harbour

And the two Lancasters performing another pass

The event was closed by the Red Arrows who gave their usual polished display

On the Friday Edward had his weekly swimming lesson at the Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, before which he had to try out the attractions on the outdoor play park.

Friday was a bit breezy but we went to Port Soif which has a sheltered U-shaped beach where Eliza settled down for a nap................

..............whilst Edward had a paddle with grandma.........

........then a swim with mummy and daddy........

........ then a walk along the beach scuffing up the sand with his feet.

On the Saturday we went to the Proms on the Pier in St Peter Port with entertainment from the Guernsey Welsh Male Voice Choir, Bel Canto, and the Guernsey Jazz Orchestra followed by the BBC Last Night of the Proms from the Royal Albert Hall on a big screen, then a firework display and music from The Barlows for anyone who wanted to stay a bit later.

This is Bel Canto, very impressive even though their best singer was unable to take part