THE SPITFIRE CALENDAR

Compiled by Pieter Jutte

FEBRUARY

DAY
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR FACTS
PRE-WAR -- WAR YEARS 1939-1945 -- POST-WAR
1
1913: Famous test pilot for Vickers, Jeffrey Kindersley Quill is born (died 20 Feb. 1996)
1980: Spitfire LF Mk IX, (T.9) ML407 is registered as G-LFIX for Nick Grace (see picture below)
2
1939: Supermarine Specification No.462 outlines what becomes the Spitfire Mk III
1944: New Spitfire F.23 proposed almost called 'Valiant' (non produced)
3
1943: Wilhelm 'Wutz' Galland (brother of Adolf Galland) Co of II/JG26 with FW 190
wwwwscores 2 Spitfires from 308 & 416 Sqn + a Ventura (total Wutz Galland; 54)
1944: Sqn Ldr F.L.Lomas (680 Recc Sqn) in PR Mk VI makes 20 miles glide to base, after fuel leak around Cyclades
4
1941: Spitfire Mk I, P7735, 91 Sqn destroyed by straffing Bf 109's at Hawkinge
5
1952: Spitfire Mk 19 (81 Sqn) achieved highest Spitfire altitude, 51,550 feet (15,712m) (Flt Lt Ted Powles)
2002: Spitfire Mk VIII, MV459 found in Ambala, India, crashed on 13-3-1947
wwwwPlt Off D'Cruz escaped unhurt (passed away in 1999)
6
1943: Spitfires first 'kill' (Ki.46 Dinah) in Pacific theatre, Mk VC, 54 Sqn. Flt Lt Foster
7
1942: Spitfire Mk I, P9448, 81 Sqn written of after hitting snowbank at Ouston
8
1944: 441, 442 & 443 RCAF (114 Wing) arrives in Britain (with Spitfire Mk V's)
9
1942: Mk VB, BL326, 130 Sqn, crashed after take-off on parked P-40 at Perranporth
10
1984: First flight post-rebuilt of Mk IXE, ML417/G-BJSG, TFC, Stephen Grey
11
1944: 'Ace' Major Franz Beyer (81 destroyed + 10 on ground),
wwwwhit tree during pursue by Spitfires near Venlo Holland and was killed
12
1794: HMS Spitfire RN (ex-French schooner 'Poulette') capsized off Santo Domingo (crew killed)
2007: Alex Henshaw MBE legendary airrace- and Spitfire testpilot dies (94)
13
1990: First engine run (jaguar V-12) of wooden replica prototype K5054
14
1945: WAAF Margaret Horton makes daring circuit on tail Mk VB, AB910 (lived to tell the tale)

Spitfire Mk Vb, AB910, WAAF Margaret Horton made daring circuit on tail

FEBRUARY

DAY
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR FACTS
15
1942: 53 OTU, Mk II, P7994 burst tyre before land., write off after land. frozen ground
16
1943: 'Ace' Heinz-Edgar Berres gets his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold;
wwwwclaimed 11 Spitfires around Malta (total: 52 before MIA, 25-7-43)
17
1941: Air Ministry requests development of Spitfire with pressurised cabin
18
1936: First engine ground run Type 300 (Spitfire prototype) at Woolston
19
1942: 2 Mk V's (AD323 & BL682) 19 Sqn collide during take-off (both Cat.E)
20
1934: First flight Supermarine Type 224 (the unofficial 'Spitfire'), a failure
1948: Last Spitfire F24, VN496, leaves Supermarine Southampton for RAF
1956: Joseph 'Joe' Smith, Vickers designer, dies
21
1940: Spitfire Mk I, K9810, 616 Sqn, flew into sea during search for convoy
22
1940: 602 Sqn. Spitfire IB, L1007, (only cannon built Mk I) downs a He 111 (shared kill)
23
1940: 1st flight Spitfire Mk Ia, P9374 (crashed 24-5-'40 Calais, restored G-MKIA 1st flight 30-8-2011)
1990: First post-restauration flight of Tr.9, PV202/G-TRIX (ex-LF Mk IX)
24
1943: No 41 Sqn. receives first Mk XII (EN228), (only 100 Mk XII produced)
1948: Last F.24 (VN494) delivered to RAF (also last Spitfire for RAF)
25
1942: Prototype Mk IIC, AD371, for Seafire test to Farnborough
26
1942: First flight of Mk IX prototype, conversion of Mk V, AB197
27
1946: First flight of prototype Spitfire F.24, converted from F.22, PK313
28
1942: Mk V's AB265 & AA844 of 411 Sqn fatal mid-air collision near Manston
29
1944: Wt Off B. Bunting DFC, 93 Sqn, first two 'kills' (FW190) in Mk IX, MH934 (total; 5)

Spitfire LF.Mk IX, (T.9) ML407, (G-LFIX)