Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX – TA805, The Spirit of Kent, Biggin Hill Present Day DISPLAYED

Gemini Aces 1/72 scale GARAF1007: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX TA805/FX-M Named The Spirit of Kent, based at Biggin Hill Kent from 2007 to present day. Limited Edition of 805 models.

Length 5.25 inches Wingspan 6.25 inches

PLEASE NOTE: This is an imperfect ex display model. Comes with raised and lowered undercarriage plus display stand in original box. Paintwork has the odd imperfection which has been touched in but not in A1 condition. Photos of actual model.

Spitfire IXe TA805, otherwise known as the Kent Spitfire, is based at the historic former RAF Battle of Britain fighter station, Biggin Hill. It is flown as a flying memorial to all those who flew, built, maintained and were protected by the Spitfire during the Second World War. TA805 can been seen flying at air shows and events all over the south coast.

Supermarine Spitfire Built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to 29 Maintenance Unit in December 1944 and to 39 Maintenance Unit in January 1945. TA805 was then issued to 183 Squadron at Chilbolton in June 1945 and then transferred to 234 Squadron at RAF Bentwaters in July 1945. After going to 29 Maintenance Unit and stored, TA805 was delivered to South African Air Force on the 11th of March 1949.

In 1954, TA805 was sent to South African Metal & Machinery Co. in Cape Town and scrapped. The remnants of the fuselage were sent to South African Museum at Snake Valley and other Remains of TA805 were discovered and eventually returned to the UK in 1981. The remains were stored with Steve Atkins at Oxford, UK from 1989 to 1995. The remains of aircraft were then sent to Isle-of-Wight as a restoration project in 1995 and on Peter R. Monk & Mike Simpson, Maidstone, Kent from 1996 to 2002. Restoration began to airworthy condition by Airframe Assemblies, Sandown, UK; TA805 was moved to Aircraft Restoration Company, Duxford for completion.

TA805?s first restoration flight was on 7th December 2005 at Duxford. Markings are those of 234 Squadron worn when first at RAF Bentwaters in 1945. Moved to Biggin Hill in 2006 where it is presently based, it is usually referred to as the Kent Spitfire.

TA805 was involved in a landing incident at Biggin Hill on 22 May 2014 and tipped up on its nose damaging the propeller however no-one was hurt and it returned to the air again on June 9th 2014.

The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably the most famous fighter aircraft of the Second World War. The type was in constant production throughout WWII and some 22,000 aircraft were built before the production ceased in the post war years. The Mark IX Spitfire was a thoroughbred fighting machine. Developed from the Spitfire Mk V variant, it was a direct response to the threat posed by the Luftwaffe’s new Focke Wulf FW 190A, which made a dramatic impact on the European Air War. So potent was this new German fighter that the RAF suspended operations over occupied Europe, as losses began to mount. The Spitfire Mk IX was more than a match for the FW 190 and became the Spitfire with which the RAF took to the offensive against Luftwaffe units in Northern Europe.

Designed by R.J.Michell to meet a British Air Ministry specification, the Supermarine Spitfire first flown on March 5th, 1936. With its combination of beautiful fighter design, the excellent performance of its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant and firepower provided by twin cannons and four machine guns, the Spitfire became an unrivaled symbol of victory. The Spitfire had 40 major variants and was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the time. It flew operationally on every front between 1939 and 1945 and was engaged in every one of the Royal Air Force’s major actions.