Spitfire Mk 1X LF - ML407

by Gordon James

Title

Spitfire Mk 1X LF - ML407

Artist

Gordon James

Medium

Photograph - Photography Digital

Description

Spitfire Mk. IX LF – ML407 has a distinguished wartime record.

The Grace Spitfire ML407 was originally built at Castle Bromwich in early 1944 as a single seat fighter and served in the front line of battle throughout the last twelve months of World War II. ML407 flew a total of 176 operational combat sorties amassing an impressive total of 319 combat hours

The post-war story of ML407 is almost as dramatic. The 1950’s saw ML407 converted by Supermarine for the Irish Air Corps into a two seat trainer. Retirement from military service and the placement in a museum did not bode well for the future of ML407, but it was rescued from oblivion and lovingly restored to flying condition by Nick Grace in 1985. Following his untimely death in 1988 the aircraft is now flown by his widow Carolyn Grace, one of the only qualified female Spitfire pilots in the world.

Uploaded

August 3rd, 2020

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