SPITFIRE MH434 and PT672

 

PICTURES

The following pictures are of the REAL aircraft and that of my FSX renditions. MH434 is not my work, I did however make the repaint of the CLIP WING Spitfire for FSX, to represent SAAF 40 Sqn. during WWII

ALSO: The difference between the British markings and the SAAF markings are historical corect. SAAF markings was Orange, White and Blue (Due to the Flag Colours)

SPITFIRE MH434

The most famous of all Spitfires still flying today, MH434 was built in 1943 at Vickers, Castle Bromwich. This Spitfire is completely original and has never been fully rebuilt. A delight to fly, the aircraft is beautifully responsive and extremely maneuverable.

At the beginning of August 1943, MH434 was air tested by Alex Henshaw – a record-breaking pilot from pre-war days (we highly recommend Alex Henshaw’s book “Sigh for a Merlin.”

Within the month MH434 was scoring with 222 Squadron. It was flown in combat by South African pilot Flt Lt Henry Lardner-Burke, DFC (1916-1970), seven and a half kills, three damaged, retiring as a Wing Commander.

Flown for the first time by Ray Hanna in February 1970, a famous partnership was quickly established. MH434 was sold to him at auction in 1983 and became one of OFMC’s founding aircraft. The first major rebuild took place in the winter of 1994-95. MH434 has become a regular film and airshow performer and is flown in the authentic 222 Sqn. Codes ZD-B.

SPITFIRE PT672

There is a Spitfire flying around the USA these days that have the markings WR-RR with serial number PT672 painted on the tail. This aircraft is not that of Lt-Col Bob Rodgers, CO of SAAF 40 Sqn. based in Malta during WWII. The aircraft of Lt-Col Bob Rodgers was a CLIP WING Spitfire.

The one flying around the USA was salvaged from a Children’s Hospital near Hartebeespoort Dam. I in the meantime got confirmation that “Evelyn” was sold again and It is currently on display at the "TAM Asas de Um Sonho" Museum, located in Sao Carlos, Brazil. It is also the only airworthy Spitfire in South America. The aircraft was donated to the museum by Rolls-Royce and painted in the colours and markings of RAF ace Johnnie Johnson.

Extract from: http://aircraftnut.blogspot.com/2012/11/spitfire-whatever-became-of-evelyn.html

The Spitfire "WR RR" or known locally in SA as Evelyn….is not the original aircraft Bob Rogers flew in WW II

This airplane, historical as it is, was merely painted to resemble his Spitfire. It was not his original Spitfire they restored from the scrap heap and painted as WR RR. Evelyn was named after his wife. His actual Spitfire WR RR; was a clipped wing Spitfire MK9E, which he flew as 40 Sq OC in Italy. Bob's aircraft is often depicted as the aircraft above in models and aviation paintings, but the historical truth is that his original aircraft was a clipped-wing MK9E.

WWII.