Spitfire TR 9 fighter affiliation

Two dual-seater Supermarine Spitfire TR9s and a Hispano Buchon tail-chasing in the skies over England. A version of my depiction was originally commissioned by someone who flew in the centre Spitfire, to recall his "absolute, untoppable, experience" of doing this in 2014.

The Spitfire he was in was MJ627 in the markings of 9G-P of 441 (Silver Fox) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the unit it first served with in 1944. After the war it was converted to a two-seat trainer for the Irish Air Corps, but subsequently pillaged for spare parts until it was purchased for restoration in the 1970s, eventually flying again in 1993. It has continued in flying trim ever since, apart from repairs after a forced landing in the late 90s, and is now operated by Warbird Experiences Limited at Biggin Hill. Since the flight depicted here it has been re-coded as 9G-Q, its first operational designation, with its D-Day stripes pared down to the undersides only.

The other Spitfire is SM520, built in 1944 but not used operationally until being sold to the South African Air Force (SAAF) four years later. It suffered two accidents and was sold for scrap in 1954. A quarter of a century later some of its major parts were recovered and eventually returned to the UK as a restoration project, involving conversion to its current Tr 9 two-seat configuration. It is now owned by Boultbee Flight Academy and flies in the markings of an RAF two-seater that was converted from a 4 Squadron SAAF Mk V Spitfire in Sicily: KJ-I.

On the right is Hispano Buchon HA-112-M1L in the 'Yellow 10' markings it wore as one of the stand-ins for German Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s in the 1969 film Battle of Britain. These were Spanish-built versions of the 109 which - like Spitfires - used Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. This machine, built in 1959, was one of a batch of aircraft given to the American pilot Wilson 'Connie' Edwards for his work on the Battle of Britain. Sold back to UK owners in the 1990s it is now operated by Historic Flying Ltd, based at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire, with the UK registration G-BWUE.