History of the RAAFA Spitfire

History of the RAAFA Spitfire

In 1957 the West Australian Division of the Air Force Association conceived the idea of obtaining a Spitfire and mounting it as if in flight outside their headquarters in Perth on Adelaide Terrace, a major thoroughfare. The aircraft was to be used as a memorial to the 1100 airmen of Western Australia who gave their lives during World War Two.

The Museum’s Spitfire Mk.22 was built at Vickers Armstrong (Castle Bromwich) Aircraft Factory at Birmingham, England, in 1945. Initially it was allocated to No 22 Maintenance Unit, RAF on 3 September 1945 and later it was issued to No 39 Maintenance Unit at Colerne. On 11 February 1949 it was issued for operations with No 611 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, for fighter duties. It was sent to Gatwick for refurbishment on 16 June 1951 and went to No 45 Maintenance Unit at Kinloss on 11 January 1952. The Spitfire was loaned to the Ministry of Supply on 14 August 1952 and on 29 May the following year was returned to Vickers for repair. It was issued to No 5 Maintenance Unit at Kemble on 18 August 1953 and the next day transferred to ‘non-effective stock’.

The Brighton and Hove Branch of the Royal Air Force Association bought the Spitfire on 15 September 1955 and used it as a static display on various Battle of Britain Week displays. The aeroplane was probably partly dismantled and stored during those times it was not on display.

- The Spitfire in Britain being prepared for its journey to Western Australia.

The Western Australian Division of the Air Force Association bought the Spitfire on 5 August 1958 and, on 14 May 1959, it was shipped from London to Fremantle aboard the MV ‘Queensland Star’. The purchase price had been Ł100 but this was reduced to Ł87/10 when some slight damage was done to its forward fuselage while being dismantled. Transporting the Spitfire to Perth cost over Ł500.

- The Spitfire in its crate being unloaded from the Queensland Star at Fremantle docks on 10 June 1959.

- The Spitfire being reassembled in the Royal Aero Club’s Hangar at Perth Airport in August 1959.

- The Spitfire reassembled at Perth Airport, behind it a Qantas Lockheed Super Constellation.

The aeroplane arrived at Fremantle on 10 June 1959 and was taken by road to Perth Airport where it was reassembled in the Royal Aero Club hanger. On 6 September 1959 it was placed on a pylon outside the Air Force Association’s headquarters in Adelaide Terrace, Perth. The State Governor and the Archbishop of Perth officiated in a ceremony on 14 September 1959 to dedicate the Spitfire as a memorial to fallen airmen.

- Putting the Spitfire on its pylon outside Air Force Memorial House in StGeorges Terrace, Perth, 6 September 1959.

- A memorial service being conducted in the shadow of the Spitfire in the early 1960s.

The aircraft had been acquired without its Griffon engine, and as it was mounted in the air, the seat, undercarriage and instruments were not fitted but placed in storage. At this time the aeroplane was still in a natural metal finish, with a red spinner, black propeller blades, and RAF roundels and fin flash. The machine was treated with a ‘liquid envelop’ plastic finish to protect it from the weather. Unfortunately lack of time prevented it from being painted in the camouflage colour scheme that had been proposed.

- The Spitfire painted in camouflage colours outside Air Force Memorial House in about 1966.

The Spitfire was eventually painted into its camouflage scheme in December 1962, and a few years later the cockpit canopy was replaced with a fibreglass replica, which had been fabricated by the Carlisle Technical School - the original having been smashed in a storm.

On 18 July 1970 the Spitfire was taken down from its pylon as the Air Force Association had sold its building in Perth, and it was taken by road to Jandakot Airport for storage in the Air Culture Ltd hanger. The aircraft was removed from that hanger and used as a static display for an air display in September 1970 and then returned to the hangar after the show.

- The Spitfire being taken down from its pylon outside Air Force Memorial House.

- The Spitfire at Jandakot Airport in late 1970.

The Spitfire was repainted at Jandakot Airport in March 1971 and a week later was moved to the Air Force Association’s new premises at Bullcreek, where it was re-erected on its pylon on 13 March 1971.

- Taking the Spitfire from its pylon on 21 May 1977 to go to Jandakot Airport for refurbishment.

Due to the ravages of the weather, the Spitfire was removed from its pylon on 21 May 1977 and trucked to Jandakot Airport, where it was placed in the Royal Flying Doctor Service hangar, and the existing paint work stripped off, and the aircraft was refurbished. The freshly painted aircraft was replaced on the pylon several weeks later.

- The Spitfire on its pylon at the RAAF Association Memorial Estate, 1981.

In December 1981 the aircraft was again repainted, this time without it being removed from the pylon. By 1984 the Air Force Association was becoming somewhat concerned at the deteriorating condition of the Spitfire, and how much longer it could withstand the Western Australian weather - a combination of very hot summers and wet winters. Following a detailed examination of the aircraft, some corrosion was found in the starboard wing (due to rainwater lying in the wingwell) and a decision was taken to thoroughly refurbish the aircraft and place it in the Association’s Aviation Heritage Museum immediately adjacent to where the Spitfire had stood on its pylon.

The Aircraft was removed from the pylon in December 1984, and Museum volunteers immediately dismantled the machine and stripped the paint from it. Some work was carried out in cutting out the corrosion, and the Spitfire was then moved to the RAAF Base Pearce where Air force volunteers completed the refurbishing work, and the machine, repainted in wartime camouflage, and returned to the Aviation Museum, was placed on display in November 1985. Its estimated value by 1990 was $400,000.

- The completely restored Spitfire being moved into the South Wing of the Aviation Heritage Museum, November 1985

- RAAF personnel reassembling the Spitfire, November 1985, the Museum;s restored Avro Anson is behind them.

A replica Spitfire, acquired from New Zealand, was purchased for $35,000 and mounted on the display pylon at the entrance to the Air Force Association Memorial Estate in August 1985.

- The replica of a Mk.16 Spitfire on the pylon at the Memorial Estate. The distinguishing features between it and the real Spitfire Mk.22 are the four bladed propeller, the Malcolm Hood canopy and the clipped wings.

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