Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 flew 143 operational missions in a remarkable wartime ‘career’ that spanned almost 3 years on ‘ops’. Initially allocated to 222 (Natal) Squadron at North Weald in August 1941, the aircraft was damaged during a forced landing at Lympne within days of arriving. After repair, it was re-allocated to 130 Squadron, at Perranporth, Cornwall, flying convoy protection patrols and escorting daylight bombing raids. In June 1942, the aircraft was delivered to 133 (Eagle) Squadron at Biggin Hill. ‘AB’ flew 29 ‘ops’ with this unit, including four sorties on 19 August 1942 during the fierce aerial battle in support of the Dieppe Raid. One of her pilots, Flight Sergeant ‘Dixie’ Alexander, was credited with destroying a Dornier 217 bomber in AB910 during these combats. ‘AB’ continued to fly operationally up to July 1944, serving with 242, 416 and 402 (RCAF) Squadrons, flying numerous cover patrols with the latter over the D-Day invasion beach heads on 6^th June 1944 and afterwards.

From mid-July 1944, AB910 was relegated to support duties initially with 53 OTU at Hibaldstow and later with 527 Squadron (a radar calibration unit). On 14 February 1945, whilst at Hibaldstow, ‘AB’ famously flew with a girl on the tail! LACW Margaret Horton, a WAAF ground-crew fitter, was sitting on the tail whilst the aircraft taxied out to the take-off point (as was standard practice in rough weather) without the pilot, Flt Lt Neil Cox DFC*, realising her presence. He then took off with Margaret still there. The combination of her weight on the tail and her grip on the elevator very nearly had disastrous results but fortunately Neil was able to maintain control and one circuit later he landed with a considerably shaken WAAF still wrapped around the fin!

Post-war ‘AB’ was ‘demobbed’ and flew as an air racer for 6 years before being returned to Vickers- Armstrong for refurbishment in 1953. After this it was displayed regularly by the renowned Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill until being donated by the company to the BBMF in 1965

For the 2012 display season AB910 will appear in the colour scheme that it actually wore whilst serving with N^o 133 (Eagle) Squadron in 1942, with its ‘MD-E’ code letters. The full story of Spitfire AB910’s part in the fierce aerial battles that took place during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 is in the RAF BBMF 2012 Yearbook, which can be purchased online.

Images:

Header Image: ( Larger size) AB910 European scheme, head on in 1996

Image 1: ( Larger size) Eagle Squadron shoulder patch

Image 2: ( Larger size) FS Dixie Alexander, 133 Eagle Squadron

Image 3: ( Larger size) AB910 underside at Southport in 2011 (Photographer: John Rooney UKAR)