Airfix Advent Special - Is this the world's most famous Spitfire?

Spitfire MH434 wearing temporary invasion stripes to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day at a Duxford Airshow in 2019 - just one of her many presentation guises. 

When the Airfix team reflect on 2022 in the years to come, we will no doubt think of it as a real Spitfire year for us, one which started with the announcement of our latest 1/24th scale model kit tribute to this iconic fighter and ended with this magnificent kit being produced in the most fitting place possible, right here in the UK. As we follow the development of all new Airfix kit projects throughout the year within our Workbench blog, the subject of Britain's most famous fighting aeroplane has been featured several times in various blogs during 2022, but in a year dominated by Spitfires, we started thinking about a rather subjective question, 'Which was the most famous Spitfire of them all?'

Clearly, we will all have our own opinions on this particular aviation quandary, but out of the 20,351 Spitfires produced (not including Seafires), should we consider the prototype aircraft K5054 to be the most famous, as this was the start of this aviation story which was to become such an enigma? With their historic place in British aviation, should we perhaps be thinking of the first Spitfire delivered to an operational RAF Squadron, the Spitfire which performed the final RAF sortie or indeed the last aircraft ever produced to be the most famous? There will no doubt be several aircraft which are worthy of consideration, however, as most currently airworthy Spitfires have spent more time preserving the legacy of this iconic aircraft than Spitfires ever did during their Royal Air Force service (not including the BBMF), we would like to offer a very special Airshow Spitfire as our suggestion, an aircraft which is simply known as MH434.

MH434 - A Spitfire of distinction

Coming in to land at Duxford, resplendent in her D-Day identification markings, this aircraft is a unique link to WWII RAF operations, as she has never undergone complete rebuild from her wartime service. 

When it comes to the subject of airworthy Spitfires, there is one aircraft which stands above all others, an aircraft which whilst having an active service career, went on to do more in preserving the legacy of this most famous of British aircraft than any other and continues to do so to this day.

Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXb MH434 was produced at the Vickers Supermarine Castle Bromwich factory during the summer of 1943, making its first flight in the hands of famous Supermarine Test Pilot Alex Henshaw on 7th August 1943. Just six days later, she was delivered to her first operational squadron, No.222 (Natal) Squadron based at Hornchurch, a new replacement machine as the unit upgraded their existing Spitfire fighters. During an active service career, MH434 would regularly be flown by South African pilot Flt Lt Henry Lardner-Burke DFC, who would use this aircraft successfully in combat with the Luftwaffe. She can claim to have several aerial combat victories to her name, in addition to several more shared and probable victories, which mark her as an aircraft possessing real wartime combat provenance.

After completing 79 operational sorties during WWII, MH434 was retired in March 1945 and sent to No.9 MU at Cosford, where she was stored whilst awaiting disposal, however, this was not to be the end of her operational flying career. She would later form part of a consignment of 25 Spitfires destined for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, but whilst some were shipped and unloaded in Holland, the majority remained on board bound for the Dutch East Indies and operations against Indonesian pro-independence guerrillas. Flying fighter bomber missions during her time in Southeast Asia, she would go on to fly a further 165 operational sorties in this role.

Following the withdrawal of Dutch forces from the region, MH434 arrived back in Holland during the summer of 1950 and to something of an uncertain future, however, would later be one of several aircraft sold to the Belgian Air Force, a rather short lived period in Belgian markings. For MH434, a much more active future awaited her.

In March 1956, this Spitfire was purchased by a young airline pilot who had always dreamed of flying a Spitfire, brought back to the UK, where she underwent inspection at Elstree aerodrome. She would carry the civilian registration G-ASJV and would be flown for fun by the pilot who could hardly believe his good fortune and under his ownership, would also make her film debut in the 1965 movie 'Operation Crossbow'. Her film credentials would go on to include the now legendary Battle of Britain movie, a time when her owner decided to sell his Spitfire to the production company following a change in his circumstances. Following the end of filming, MH434 was sold once more, this time to Cathay Pacific Airways board member and millionaire businessman Sir Adrian Swire, who having purchased the Spitfire, released it for service on the growing UK Airshow circuit, often displayed in the hands of former Red Arrows leader Ray Hanna.

The star of many a UK Airshow, MH434 carries the name of wartime pilot Henry Lardner-Burke's wife 'Mylcraine' on the port side fuselage, complete with his impressive victory tally.

Flown for the first time by Ray Hanna in 1970, he would go on to become synonymous with this aircraft, with his thrilling displays doing much to present the Spitfire to a new generation of admirers. Everyone fortunate enough to have enjoyed one of his Spitfire displays in MH434 will probably have described the experience as marvelling at man and machine in perfect harmony. In fact, Mr Hanna would become so attached to this Spitfire that when an opportunity to purchase her presented itself in 1983, he simply had to have her, becoming the founding aircraft of the Old Flying Machine Company. 

During her time with OFMC, MH434 would become a much loved component of the UK's growing Warbird scene, with Ray Hanna's stunning displays leading many to describe him as the finest Spitfire pilot in the world. Displays which created a legend all of their own, Ray's show closing displays at the annual Biggin Hill Airshow would become one of the highlights of many a display season, where he and MH434 would hold the crowd spellbound as this magnificent machine graced the skies of Kent in a way only this special pairing could do, a unique aviation experience at this former RAF fighter station. There was something very special about a Ray Hanna Spitfire display at Biggin Hill and is an experience greatly missed, but always cherished by those who were fortunate enough to have seen one.

Over the years, MH434 went on to star in numerous TV, film and commercial productions, whilst at the same time entertaining millions of Airshow enthusiasts at shows up and down the country. As such, she has arguably done more than any other Spitfire in maintaining the legacy of this iconic aircraft, re-affirming the affection in which this aircraft is held by those who consider themselves already converted, whilst at the same time introducing new legions of admirers to this aviation classic, with every display routine she performed.

Up where she belongs, is this the most famous Spitfire to have ever taken to the skies?

Still the star of many an Airshow event and residing at her long term IWM Duxford home, a venue which many consider to be the spiritual home of the Spitfire, MH434 has created an aviation legacy all of its own, a combat veteran aircraft with aerial victories to its name and one which had never been fully rebuilt since leaving the Castle Bromwich factory in 1943. Truly a piece of aviation history the British public are able to experience on an annual basis, surely this aircraft has to be considered the most famous Spitfire of them all - the greatest of the few. If you have a more worthy suggestion for such an accolade, please do drop us a line and let us know, because we would love to hear about such a machine.

When you next pay a visit to Duxford, make sure you seek out MH434 and spend a little time in the company of Spitfire royalty - you won't regret it.

Out of the sun - Ray Hanna giving one of his final Biggin Hill performances in Spitfire MH434. An unusual shot, but one which always reminds me of how much I enjoyed seeing this aviation pairing in action.

On behalf of the entire Airfix team, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. For the aviation fans amongst us, may 2023 be all blue skies and Spitfires.