THE SPITFIRE CALENDAR

Compiled by Pieter Jutte

DECEMBER

DAY
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR FACTS
PRE-WAR -- WAR YEARS 1939-1945 -- POST-WAR
1
1934: Air Ministry authorises manufact. protot. Supermarine Type 300 (future Spitfire)
2005: Warbird pilot & owner of Spitfire Mk IX, MH434, Ray Hanna (77) dies
2
1943: Maj. Henry Gaynor 1 Sqn SAAF, F VIII, JF626 claimes last of his 5 'kill's' (FW190)
wwww(Gaynor was killed in March 1944)
3
1936: Prototype K5054 1st flight with 8 guns and Merlin F, 1050 hp
4
1943: At Tangmere F XII, MB844, lands no flaps, hits F XII, EN604 (Cat-E) both 41 Sqn
5
1941: Flt Lt Tony Hill (Spit. PR IVD, R7044) takes picture of Würtzburg radar, Bruneval
6
1936: A wooden four-bladed prop tested on K5054, no improvement
7
1939: Spitfires from 603 & 72 Sqn. fought 7 He 111 and down two of them
1941: Japan strikes at Pearl Harbour (USA official in 2nd World War)
8
1941: Oberlt. Karl Willius (12 vict. till then) with 3./JG.26 scores 1st Spit. n. Boulogne.
wwwwTotal score: 50, incl. 16 Spitfires. Willius was killed 8-4-'44
9
1941: Oberst Josef 'Pips' Priller gets Deutsches Kreuz in Gold,
wwwwPriller scored the most Spitfires; 68 (of 101 total a/c)
10
1942: First deliv. of sixth order for Mk VB's (JG713), last deliv.(JL395) 4-'43 (total 989)
11
2004: Spitfire MK732 makes a missing-man-form. during funeral for Prins Bernhard
12
1939: Spitfire production priority over Hurricane by British Air Staff
13
1941: First flight Spitfire Mk VB (AB320) with Vokes Multi-Vee tropical filter
1944: Lupe Velez dies (36), actress known for her role as 'The Mexican Spitfire'
14
1931: Famous future Spitfire pilot Douglas Bader crashes in Bristol Buldog II
wwww(which cost him his legs)

Wing Commander Douglas Bader steps inside his Spitfire

DECEMBER

DAY
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR FACTS
15
1939: Fleet Air Arm ask Supermarine to investigate for 50 Spit. for ops. from carrierdeck
1950: Last built Spitfire 24 (VN496) struck-off charge
16
1987: First flight post-rebuilt of Spitfire LF Mk XVIE, TE356/G-SXVI/N356TE
17
1944: Mosquito with GEE steers Spitfire PR.XIX (RM638) to target (Hannover)
18
1941: 50 Spitfires of 145 & 92 Sqn despatched to Middle East by convoy WS16
19
1948: 322 Sqn 1st action in Dutch Indies (Spit. MH725 & MK923 attack radiobeacon)
20
1936: First prototype (K5054) flight with de Havilland variable pitch propeller
1940: Two Spitfires of 66 Sqn sweep over occup. France ('to test the waters')
21
1936: First flight Junkers Ju 88 (a future victim to many Spitfires)
1942: Prod. Spitfire Mk XII (EN223, ex-Mk Vc) with Griffon collected fr. A&AEE for tactical trials
22
1940: Spitfire Mk IIA, P7290, 421 Flt, forced land. in small field (out of fuel)
wwww(Was escorting a Wellington that came back over the Channel)
23
1992: First flight post-rebuilt of Spitfire PR.XI, PL965/G-MKXI
24
1941: Mk VB, BL407 crashes after structual failure in flight (near Llanbedr)
25
1944: Flt Lt J.J. Boyle makes double 'kill' on Me 262 (Mk XIV, 411 Sqn RCAF)
26
1941: First flight Merlin 45 (XX) in Spitfire Mk I, K9788
27
1943: (Dutch) 322 Squadron with Spitfires to RAF Hawking for sorties over Franch
2003: Shepherd Neame (brewer of Spitfire Ale) intrim reports profit of 8.9%
28
1944: Spitfire Mk VB's Floatplanes struck-off charge
29
1943: Arrival of LF IXB, MJ892 at Rotol Works for conv. to Floatplane
1985: First flight post-rebuilt of VIIIC, MV238/A58-758/VH-HET, Colin Pale
30
1942: Oberlt. Karl-Heinz Bendert gets Ritterkreuz after 42 victory's
wwww(among them, 11 Spitfires) total in the war: 55 victory's
31
1941: Spitfire Mk VB, AD371 to Vickers as prototype for Type 358 Seafire F IIC

Spitfire LF.Mk IXC, MK732, the Dutch flying Spitfire