Prelude - a photo on Flickriver

Prelude

            This was Elizabeth the Spitfire that I took a flight in taken in the morning but my flight was not until after lunch ! 
  This all took place at Headcorn Airfield or back in the day RAF Lashenden .
Headcorn Aerodrome, formerly known as RAF Lashenden, was a prototype for the temporary Advanced Landing Ground airfields that were built in France after D-Day. The need for advanced landing fields was becoming urgent as a result of the Allied forces moving east across France and Germany.

While Headcorn Aerodrome was officially introduced in 1943 it was in fact requisitioned by the Airfields Board in 1942. The RAF named the aerodrome ‘Lashenden’ as an attempt to confuse the enemy. Lashenden is actually several miles to the southwest of the aerodrome. On the 6th August 1943, 127 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force moved in comprising of 403 and 421 Squadrons. Both Squadrons equipped with Spitfire IXb’s and under the command of ‘Johnnie’ Johnson.

The airfield was then passed to the United States 9th Air Force before being upgraded by the construction organisation. On 13th April 1944 the airfield was taken over by the 100th Fighter Wing, 19th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force using Shenley House as its headquarters. On 17th April, 354th (Pioneer Mustang) Fighter Group comprising 353rd, 355th and 356th Fighter Squadrons arrived operating the North American P51D Mustang.

        Enough history , time now to watch the very short video of the Spitfire heading off for take off ( Do make sure the volume is high to enjoy the Merlin please ) .
SPITFIRE MK IXT NH341 ‘ELIZABETH’
Spitfire NH341 was built at Castle Bromwich as a Spitfire Low Level Fighter (LFIXE) and delivered to 8 MU on the 28th April 1944. It was sent to Miles Aircraft for modifications to be fitted before delivery to 411 (Grizzly Bear) squadron RCAF on 12th June 1944.

This was the only squadron NH341 served with and was flown by 9 pilots. The most notable use of NH341 was in the hands of Flt Lt Hugh Charles Trainor who gained his third kill in 48 hours on 29th June 1944 when he downed an ME109 five miles West of Caen whilst flying her. Flt Lt Trainor destroyed another ME109 on the evening of 30th June 1944 over Thury Hurcourt, again in NH341.

Flt Lt Trainor gained ace status later flying another Spitfire when he destroyed two more ME109s in a single flight on the 4th July, this was after NH341 had been lost on the 2nd July whilst being flown by W/O J S Jeffrey who escaped unscathed after tangling with FW190s South East of Caen.

The substantial remains were placed on display at the Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie at Bayeux during 1996. It was later displayed at the Juno Beach Museum at Courseulles-sur-Mer during 2003 where it was described as being ML295. Inspection of the aircraft however shows that a substantial amount of the parts originated from NH341 with only a few parts from another Spitfire.

NH341 was delivered to 411 Squadron’s airfield at B4 Beny sur Mer near the Normandy coast shortly after D Day (6th June 1944) on 12th June 1944, flying its first sortie on 14th June. NH341 made 27 operational combat flights over the post D Day battlefields in the hands of 9 pilots. F/L Trainor scored two air victories in NH341 against ME109s on the 29th and 30th June.

A summary of the missions undertaken by NH341 were as follows;

1 escort to Lancaster bombers on a mission to Le Havre to attack E boats
10 patrols over the Normandy beach head
8 armed reconnaissance patrols
2 bridgehead patrols
1 fighter sweep
2 dive bombing missions
3 front line patrols
The fuselage of NH341 arrived at Historic Flying Ltd, based at The Imperial War Museum Duxford in July 2015. The restoration of this historic aircraft has been completed in a two seat MK IXT configuration to allow Aero Legends customers to experience flying in a Spitfire. The colour scheme and equipment are designed to mirror as closely as possible NH341 flying with the Canadian pilots of 411 Squadron.
   

Taken in: UK / England / Maidstone / Headcorn (show map)

Taken on: August 24, 2023

Tags:

spitfire-flight

Spitfire

RAF-Lashenden

Elizabeth « less

Sets appears in: • Flight in a Spitfire • Videos more » • Headcorn • Motors • OddShots • history • Action • Aviation « less

Groups appears in: • History is All Around Us • Spitfire! more » • Lashenden/Headcorn - EGKH • Magical Merlins • ALL AVIATION PHOTOS • [][][]100%PERFECT[][][] • ♣My Hat's Off to You!! • Amateur Photographer Magazine • flickr world wide • Aircraft around the world • Images including a geotag or location • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • Video, world wide « less

Stats: 1,014 views / 11 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: