MH415

It is with pride, awe, humility and a lot of joy that we would like to inform you that Flying Legends GmbH is now the owner of the legendary Spitfire Mk. IX, MH415.

In March 2024, Georg Raab was made aware by Frédéric Vormezeele of Fast Aero that MH415 was for sale again. Georg had been in contact with the restoration company Vintage Fighter Restoration in Australia from the beginning of the restoration in 2015 and had observed the project for some years. However, due to the purchase of the Mustang, the Harvard and the Corsair, the project was lost sight of. But electrified by Frédéric’s information in March 2024, negotiation with Platinum Fighters began.

This was followed by a first inspection in Sywell, followed by some small change requests and improvements and the final inspection on 25.05.2024. Moving forward, MH415 will be transferred from Sywell (UK) to FAST Aero in Braschaat (Belgium), then transferred to the Belgian register and finally stationed in Siegerland, the home base of Flying Legends GmbH.

MH415 will be seen at European airshows from 2025. Until then, training flights will take place in Siegerland.

A bit of history:

Built for the RAF, MH415 rolled off the Vickers-Armstrong production line in Castle Bromwich during the summer of 1943. This Spitfire commenced Operational Service with 129 (Mysore) Squadron at Hornchurch in August 1943. It was coded DV*G and flown regularly by Sqn. Ldr. Gonay and Sqn. Ldr. Tripe. On 4 September 1943, it is reported to have damaged a Bf-109 whilst being flown by Sqn. Ldr .H. Gonay DFC and on 24 September 1943, it is reported to have shot-down and destroyed a Fw-190 whilst being flown by Flg. Off. D. F. Ruchwaldy DFC, DFM, North West of Amiens, France. MH415 then transferred to 222 (Natal) Squadron and was coded ZD*E during October 1943 where she was flown by a variety of pilots. On 2 January 1944, MH415 transferred to the Air Fighting Developing Unit at RAF Wittering and then on 28 September 1944, joined 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron at Bradwell Bay, Essex. Soon thereafter, MH415 was transferred to various Maintenance Units (MU) until war’s end.

Post-war years saw MH415 sold to the Dutch Government and she, along with stable-mate MH434, was shipped to the Dutch East Indies where she served from 22 December 1947 as H-108 and later H-65 with 322 Sqn. RNAF until 2 November 1949. Sold to the Belgium company COGEA in June 1956 and registered as OO-ARD, she commenced duties with the company who had target-towing contracts with the Belgium and NATO armies. In 1961, MH415 was leased to a film company and starred in the epic movie The Longest Day (1962). Purchased by Rousseau Aviation of France, she appeared at several airshows in both the UK and Europe.

Sold again in 1966 to Gp. Capt. H. Mahaddie for the now legendary and epic movie The Battle of Britain (1968). At the end of filming MH415 was acquired by the movie’s Chief Stunt Pilot, Wilson “Connie” Edwards of Big Spring, Texas (USA). “Connie” shipped 415 along with 13 Spanish built “109s” to his Ranch at Big Spring where they spent the next 46 years in dry-storage. During that period, “Connie” flew MH415 approximately 50 hours during the early 1970s and then parked the Spitfire in his barn.

In the early Summer of 2014, “Connie” engaged Platinum Fighter Sales to sell his beloved Battle of Britain movie collection, including Spitfire MH415.  After 46 years in the warm, dry Texas climate, MH415 was sold to consortium of investors and shipped to Pay’s Air Service of Scone, NSW (Australia). Vintage Fighter Restorations (a division of Pay’s Air Service) completely disassembled the aircraft and undertook a 100-point restoration to the highest standard over a five-year period. With eventual ‘G’ registration in mind, all original British hardware has been utilized, along with the fitting of new wing spars. On completion, MH415 was shipped to Air Leasing in the UK and placed on the G Registration with the UK CAA as G-AVDJ, with her first post-restoration flight taking place in April 2021.

This iconic Spitfire is possibly the most original and authentic Spitfire Mk. IX.

(Source: Platinum Fighters, all pictures by Darren Harbar)