Spitfire IX EN199 1943
 

Hi guys

The restored EN199 resides at Takali Air Museum, Malta. And beautiful she is, too!

The aircraft's history is known except for May and June 1943, when it may have possibly been loaned to 52nd Fighter Group. Can anyone confirm this?

The reason for the enquiry is that a US Star was visible under the RAF roundel during restoration. I am aware that some RAF and FAA aircraft carried US Stars during and after Operation Torch to fool the Vichy French, but .......

Over to the experts.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Spitfire IX EN199 1943
 

Hello Brian,
EN199 not mentioned as being a US a/c either in EA100-EZ999 or Spitfire International.
So could be from "Torch" OR just maybe at sometime in her life the fuselage section was repaired and replaced by a section from another a/c that had been used by an American unit ?

All the best
Alex

Re: Spitfire IX EN199 1943
 

She was flown with 81 Sq. as late as June 26th and with 154 Sq. from July 3rd 1943.

John E.

Re: Spitfire IX EN199 1943
 

My father (f/sgt H Groombridge) was in 154 squadron and from his RAF logbook I can see 154 squadron arrived in Malta (his log states Ta Kali) on 4th June 1943 and moved to Lentini in Sicily on 20 July 1943 - supporting the allied invasion of Sicily. He flew EN199 (which seems to have arrived in Malta around the beginning of July) on July 6th in Malta - his logbook states - familiarisation - up to that time he had been flying mark Vc spitfires and this was his first flying experience on a mark IX. According to his log book entries he flew the plane again in Sicily on 27 July 1943 and 6th and 17th August 1943. At that time the plane had the squadron markings HT-U
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/data:i...Cr90jgrP37H//Z