Restoration of a Burmese Spitfire

Another fascinating restoration project was announced by the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, Biggin Hill aerodrome (UK) on 8 November. The restoration of Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IX ML119 (c/n CBAF.IX1892) is bound to start sometime next year. The fighter, registered as G-SDNI, already resides at Biggin.

Manufactured at the Vickers factories in Castle Bromwich, ML119 was taken on charge by No. 1 Squadron based at RAF Martlesham Heath on 4 April 1944. It soon became the personal Spitfire of Squadron Leader Lardner-Burke. In the following months No. 1 Squadron moved to North Weald, then Ayr, Predannack and Harrowbeer. While No.1 Squadron was active in combating incoming V-1 flying bombs, it was based at RAF Detling and RAF Lympne.

After the end of WW II, ML119 was sold to the Czech Air Force which flew the Spit from 1946 to 1948, as A-719. The Czechs then sold 60 of their Spitfires to the infant Israeli Air Force. ML119 was one of these, it became serialled as 20-20 and flown in Israel until 1955.

Next stop was the Burma Air Force, which bought it in 1955 and gave it serial UB441. It was flown until 1965 and then used as gate guard at several locations. Burma (now Myanmar) sold UB441 to David Gouldsmith of Cassville (MO), USA in 1998. It arrived in the US in 1999, but was soon sold to Peter Monk and Mike Simpson of Maidstone (UK).

UB441 was shipped to the UK and arrived there in November 2000. Five years later Paul M. Andrews, of Sedlescombe became the new owner. But apart from transporting the Spit to his place, no attempts were made to start a restoration. In 2009 the project was registered as G-SDNI to Paul M. Andrews/ The G2 Trust, High Wycombe.

With such a variety of exotic prior identities, it will be very difficult to choose one once the restoration has been taken up. Of course Scramble will keep you updated!

Source: Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar