The Mk IX Spitfire
About the Mark IX Spitfire The graceful and majestic yet potent Supermarine Spitfire, designed by Reginald J. Mitchell, first flew on March 5th, 1936 and become operational in August 1938. Nineteen different Marks and 52 variations of Spitfire’s were produced between 1936 and 1948, totalling 22,759 (of which 2,408 were Seafires). The Supermarine Spitfire Mk. […]
A state of confusion – Mk IX or Mk XVI?
A State of Confusion – MK IX OR MK XVI? Article by Phil Scallan. The Spitfire Mk XVI and why was SAAF 5518/TE213, an MK IX HFIX, often mistaken for one? The late production MK IX Spitfires are externally very similar to the MK XVI Spitfire. Still, those late production MK IX’s fitted with the […]
A family at war in Southern England
A family at war in Southern England Article written by Keith Pratt outlining the reason for his interest in the Spitfire. My grandfather was a WW1 war hero (twice decorated). He died in 1937 before WWII whilst injecting himself with “Opium”, his long term treatment for pain relief due to mustard gas poisoning. This left […]
Our Motivation, Our Heritage
The SAAF, the Museum and our Heritage. Swartkop in the late 1940s: Spitfires and Harvards in the foreground, with Dakotas and then Venturas behind them. Note how bare the landscape was. Heritage is a word which has many strings to its bow. Its meanings include birthright, inheritance, patrimony, bequest & estate, endowment, objectives & qualities, […]
What’s it like to fly a spitfire MKIX?
what’s it like to fly the Spitfire MkIX? By Maj James Feuilherade Here are my thoughts on flying the Spitfire MkIX of the South African Air Force Museum historic flight when posted to the SAAF Museum in 1999. The South African Air Force Museum’s example was a Spitfire Mk IX LF or otherwise called the […]