...have a Spitfire, but not just any Spitfire. Perhaps the most famous of all Spitfires still flying today, MH434 Construction No. CBAF-IX-552 was built in 1943 at the Vickers factory at Castle Bromwich. This Spitfire is almost completely original, and has never been fully rebuilt. August 1943, MH434 was air tested by Alex Henshaw . Within the month MH434 was scoring with 222 (Natal) Squadron . It became the personal aircraft of South African pilot Flight Lieutenant Henry Lardner-Burke, DFC, he is credited with seven and a half combat kills and three damaged, of which two and a half, plus a damaged were achieved whilst flying MH434 as follows: 27 August 1943 in the St Omar area over France: Shot down a Focke-Wulf FW-190 and damaged a second during a mission to escort USAAF B-17 bombers. 5 September 1943 in the Nieuport area over France: Shot down a his second Focke-Wulf FW-190 8 September 1943 over Northern France: claimed a half share in the downing of a Messerschmitt Bf-109G MH434 remained with 222 Squadron until early 1944 before being briefly transferred to 350 (Belgium) Squadron , also at Hornchurch, but in March MH424 was back with 222 Squadron, but later the same month was allocated to No.84 Group Support Unit, possibly for repairs. MH434 was then allocated to 349 (Belgium) Squadron , her final operational RAF Squadron. MH424 was retired from operations in March 1945 by which time the Aircraft had flown 79 Operational Sorties and a total of Five Combat Kills to her credit. On retirement MH434 was initially transferred to 8 MU at Cosford for storage and then to No.76 MU at Wroughton in 1946 for disposal. In 1947, MH434 was bought by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and was delivered, crated, to Tilbury docks on 19th May for shipment on the SS Rotti alongside 25 other Spitfires. The ship left Tilbury on 13th June 1947 and delivered six aircraft direct to Holland, where they were stored at Leeuwarden Air Base , the remaining 20 Aircraft including MH434 continued their voyage, destination Batavia (or Djakarta, now Jakarta) , arriving on 22nd July. The aircraft were then transported overland to Kalidjati air base, some 10 miles inland and there assembled and test flown by crews from No.322 Squadron LSK. MH434 was the first to be completed and was test flown by Sgt 'Tub' Bruggink on 10th October 1947. In Dutch service it became H-105 (changed to H-68 in July 1948) of No.322 Squadron, and was used against the Nationalists forces from Kali Bentang Airbase, near Semarang, Indonesia, the first six Spitfires being pronounced operational on 22nd December 1947 under the command of Captain Thijsen. It is believed that as H-105/H-68 the Aircraft flew some 165 sorties, completing an estimated 192 flying hours, during which the aircraft dropped fifty 250lb bombs, plus food and medical containers for the troops and was engaged in strafing operations. I was a bit 'miffed' when I realised I'd cropped the prop on this, but as a pano it holds up quite well, despite my poor cameramanship.... Duxford Flying Legends 2012...3 Frame pano (and a little de-cluttering :-)