SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE IX

MH434

Supermarine Spitfire IX MH434 (G-ASJV) is undoubtedly the most well-known Spitfire in existence owing to its unparalleled history. The aircraft rolled off the Castle Bromwich production line in August 1943 and was air tested by record-breaking pilot Alex Henshaw, who is believed to have flown ten percent of all Spitfires and Seafires produced. Within the week, MH434 was on the charge of 222 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch in Essex. ‘434’s main pilot initially was a South African, Flt Lt Henry Lardner-Burke, who went on to achieve 3 ½ victories in the aeroplane over the following month. A squadron relocation at the end of the year saw the Spitfire remaining at Hornchurch having been transferred to 350 Squadron. 222 came back to Hornchurch on 10th March 1944 and MH434 returned to its original unit. The airframe spent the next few days primarily in the hands of Flt Sgt Alfred ‘Bill’ Burge flying escort to various USAAF bomber operations before her final recorded wartime mission just 6 days later. At this point, owing to newer production Spitfires coming onto strength with 222 Squadron, MH434 quietly spent the rest of the war on the charge of 84 Group Support Unit before slipping into storage at RAF Cosford in March 1945.

In 1947, the Spitfire was purchased by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and shipped to Java where it became H-105 with 322 Squadron. Here the aircraft was again used operationally on 165 sorties, including strafing and air-dropping supplies to ground forces, until suffering a landing accident in 1949. It flew again a month later but the Spitfires were soon replaced and in mid-1950 H-105 arrived in the Netherlands. After a thorough overhaul, the Spitfire was purchased by the Belgian Air Force and gained the identity SM-41 – it operated with 13 Wing and the Advanced Pilot School before retirement in 1956. MH434 was then civilianised and for a few years was operated in Belgium by COGEA - a target-towing firm - seeing its first film role in 1961 as part of The Longest Day. In 1963 the aeroplane returned to the UK after many years absence, having been purchased by airline pilot Tim Davies. He flew the aeroplane often and it was soon participating in the making of Operation Crossbow. In 1967, MH434 was sold to Spitfire Productions and took part in the renowned Battle of Britain film alongside so many of its stablemates, spending many hours flying in mock aerial combat for the cameras throughout the summer of 1968.

The film’s release generated a huge level of interest in vintage aeroplanes and in due course many of the fighters featured came up for sale or went on to lead new lives. MH434 (G-ASJV) was no exception, being purchased by Sir Adrian Swire, then Chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways. Throughout the 1970s the Spitfire became renowned for its displays in the hands of Neil Williams and Ray Hanna. Hanna had been a founding member and leader of the Red Arrows display team, the acme of a sparkling RAF career, and swiftly developed a harmony with MH434 which was to last for over 30 years. In 1983 the Spitfire went up for auction and moved into the hands of the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford, headed up by Ray Hanna and his son Mark. Both went on to add to the aircraft’s captivating post-war story owing to their masterful handling of the machine both at events and on screen. Perhaps the pinnacle of this came as part of the filming for the TV series Piece of Cake where Ray flew MH434 under Winston Bridge in County Durham – a precisely-judged piece of flying which further established that blend of pilot and aeroplane existing in perfect harmony.

Ray Hanna flew MH434 until shortly before his passing in 2005, which was an immense loss to the vintage aviation scene. However, MH434 still operates in the Hanna tradition– indeed Ray’s daughter Sarah continues to manage the aircraft’s operation to this day. Owing to ‘434’s incredible pedigree, only a handful of pilots are entrusted with handling this special Spitfire which continues to make event, film and TV appearances on a regular basis. Resplendent in the 222 Squadron codes that would have been seen some 80 years earlier upon its entry into service, in 2023 MH434 is also marking its 40th anniversary of residence at Duxford – just another milestone in the history of this phenomenally original Spitfire.