THE SPITFIRE CALENDAR
Compiled by Pieter Jutte
JULY
|
DAY |
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR
FACTS
PRE-WAR --
WAR YEARS 1939-1945 -- POST-WAR |
|
1 |
1938: First delivery Merlin III, for
3 bladed constant speed propeller
1989: Charles Church is killed in Spitfire Mk V, G-MKVC |
|
2 |
1917: No.72 Squadron was formed, converted
in April 1939 from Gladiators to Spitfires |
|
3 |
1991: First post-reastauration flight
of Mk XVIE, RW382/G-XVIA (for David Tallichet) |
|
4 |
1941: First flight prototype Spitfire Mk VI
(X4942) (converted Mk V)
1950: First rocket attack by Seafire 47's (800 Sqn) in Korean War at Haeju airfield
1992: First flight post-rebuilt of Mk IXE, TE566/G-BLCK (Historic Aircraft Collection) |
|
5 |
1992: First flight post-rebuilt of
Spitfire Mk XVIIIe, TP280/N280TP |
|
6 |
1944: First flight Spitfire Mk IX (MJ892)
as floatplane
1948: 2 Spit. FR.18's (60 SQN) make 1st combat miss. on communist
terrorist, Malaya
1992: First flight post-rebuilt of Mk XVIII, TP298/N41702, David Tallichet, Chino |
|
7 |
2000: First flight post-rebuilt of
Spitfire FR Mk XVIIIe, SM845/G-BUOS |
|
8 |
1948: Of 19 built Spitefuls, 13 sold
to scrap merchant John Dale |
|
9 |
1940: 'Ace' Alan Deere scores a Me 109,
but collides with another (forced landing near Manston) |
|
10 |
1940: Official start Battle of
Britain, 19 squadrons with 292 Spitfires (199 serviceable) |
|
11 |
1936: Prototype K5054 reaches hight
of 37.400 ft (11.400 m) in 37 minutes
1943: First Spitfire of 72 Sqn lands on Sicily after invasion (out of fuel)
1957: Format. of 'Historic Aircraft Flight' at Biggin Hill (aka. Battle of Britain
Flight) |
|
12 |
1944: 57 OTU student pilot bales out from Mk I, P7448 after engine failure at 4000 ft |
|
13 |
1943: S/Lr Tony Graze DFC (total; 12.5) 616 Sqn, 1st 'kill' in High-Altitude Mk VI |
|
14 |
1943: First flight of Seafire PR IIIc (conversion from Mk IIc, MB194) |
|
15 |
1942: 'Ace' W/Co Brendan E. 'Paddy' Finucane gets killed (32 victory's) |
'Ace' W/Co Brendan E. 'Paddy' Finucane (32 victory's) in his Spitfire
JULY
|
DAY |
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR
FACTS
|
|
16 |
1940: Hitler issued Directive No 16, Operation 'Sea Lion' (invasion of Britain) |
|
17 |
1940: RAF fighter inventory;
348 Spitfires, 675 Hurri. (tot. with other a/c; 1171 fighters) |
|
18 |
1984: First flight post-rebuilt of Spitfire PR.XI, PL983/G-PRXI |
|
19 |
1940: 4th Order for 500 Spitfire Mk I's (built as VB, VC, VI + PR IV) |
|
20 |
1940: This day, 224 Spitfires and 308 Hurricaness
serviceable during Battle of Britain |
|
21 |
1942: Operation Insect, HMS Eagle launches 30 Spitfires to Malta (28 arrive) |
|
22 |
1942: Spitfire Mk VB, EP754 goes into store at 33 MU
wwww(to become 1 of 3 Mk VB Floatplanes, with W3760 & EP951) |
|
23 |
1948: First Israeli Spitfire (D-130) makes first flight in hands of Boris Senior |
|
24 |
1943: First flight production prototype Spitfire 21 (PP139), 120 built
1993: Compiler of this calendar, Pieter Jutte, takes a seat in Spitfire MK732 ! |
|
25 |
1987: First flight post-rebuilt of Spitfire Tr.9, PT462/N462JC |
|
26 |
1942: USAAF 31st F.G. 1st ops across the Channel in Spit. Mk Vb's (1 lost, pilot POW) |
|
27 |
1943: Flight test begins with prototype Mk
XIV (JF317) at AFDU, RAF Wittering
1945: First air-to-air 'kill's' for 21st Carrier Group (Seafires down 3 kamikaze) |
|
28 |
1938: Supermarine receive Specification F.16/36 to cover production of Spit. Mk I
wwww(with changes to the prototype K5054) |
|
29 |
1938: Spitfire Mk I, K9792, first Spitfire for RAF (appointed to 19 Squadron see 16-8) |
|
30 |
1942: Spitfire Mk IX's (64 Sqn) first time in battle score 3 'kill's' (FW 190) |
|
31 |
1940: Two Spitfires Mk I's (P9398, 9379) of 74 Squadron shot down by Me 109's |
Compiler of this calendar, Pieter Jutte, sits in MK732 (24 June 1993)
| | |
