Platinum fighter sales have just been listed 1944 Vickers-Armstrong Spitfire IX, PL344. The aircraft has only 204.5 hours since its complete restoration, and 182 hours on its Packard Merlin 266 engine, rebuilt by the Vintage V-12.
A legendary history
Ordered from Vickers-Armstrong in June 1943, the PL344 was built by the LF IX of the Merlin 66 engine and E-Type Armament of. It was delivered on 1 July 1944 at the 8th MU of Little Rissington and soon joined the 602 Squadron (City of Glasgow) to operate within the wing No. 128. The encoded LO-P, the aircraft was damaged by an enemy fire on August 12, 1944. After repair, PL344 was reassigned to Squadron No. 442 (Reindeer), RCAF, RCAF, code Y2-P, and continue to use the services it occupies. Europe, operated in bases in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Further damage on December 28, 1944 was repaired, and in April 1945, the PL344 was transferred to the 401 (RAM) squadron of the RCAF, where it became the preferred aircraft of choice for the squadron leader Bill Klersy DSO, DFC & Bar.
Successful battle
Flying PL344, Klersy claimed to kill 6.5 times, including FW 190 on April 19, 1945, the day when the plane joined the squadron. The next day, he defeated BF 109 and shared another BF, then before other successful missions against enemy aircraft. On May 1, Klersy, despite gravity damage to another FW 190, on May 3, he and PL344 stomped on Schönberg Aerodrome, destroying Heinkel He He 111 and Junkers Ju 52. At that time, hostilities officially ceased at 08:00 that morning, Europe’s last wartime sorting.
Post-war service and recovery
After World War II, the PL344 was damaged during the wheel landing in Eindhoven on 6 May 1946 and was subsequently assigned to teaching duties in Belgium. In 1947, it was acquired by the Delft Technology Institute, which lasted for educational purposes until the rescue of Harry van der Meer in the 1980s. Charles Church received PL344 in 1985 and began to restore suitable Airworthy conditions. After the church’s death, Kermit Weeks purchased the plane, which was further repaired by Tony Bianchi of Tony Bianchi’s Personal Aircraft Services Co., Ltd. Completed in 2000, the PL344 was acquired by Tom Blair, who flew it in the United States and then shipped it to the UK in 2006 for a wide range of Iran/Aircraft Repair Company (ARCO ) fix. During this restoration, the aircraft was carefully rebuilt, including structural corrections, installation of the original fuel tank, and reassembly of the wings. It was repainted in the real World War II and registered there as VH-IUK.
Howard Mitchell’s photos sold through Platinum Fighter
Howard Mitchell’s photos sold through Platinum Fighter
Can be used for inspection
The Spitfire IXE PL344, now headquartered near Sydney, Australia, is still in motion and can only be checked by appointment. To check carefully, please contact Platinum fighter sales More details on this historic and impeccable Warbird.
