During the dark days of the Battle of Britain, the sight and sound of a Hurricane and Spitfire overhead gave hope and encouragement to the civilians caught up in the war. It was however the Spitfire that became the icon of the battle. With victory in 1945 thousands of Spitfires were scrapped and only the later marks were to continue in RAF service until the late 1950’s. One aircraft built just before the war ended was a Spitfire Mk9 serialised TA805. It was built at the Supermarine works at Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands and started its career with the RAF at 29 Maintenance Unit in December 1944.

It joined 183 (Gold Coast) Squadron based at Chilbolton on the 17th June 1945. The squadron were then converting from the Hawker Typhoon to the Spitfire. It did not however stay long with 183 being transferred to 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron at Bentwaters in Suffolk on the 27th July. This squadron had converted from the Mustang to the Spitfire and were shortly due to fly down to Hawkinge in Kent to attend a Practice Armament Camp. After one month the squadron returned to Bentwaters where, with the cessation of war, 234 Squadron were to be part of a wing of 24 Squadrons led by the legendary Battle of Britain ace and later famous test pilot, Wg Cdr Roland P Beamont DSO and Bar DFC. This wing flew the 1945 Battle of Britain commemoration flight over London in September and it is possible that TA805 was one of the aircraft taking part.

The aircraft was then struck off charge and shipped to the South African Air Force in early 1949. Not much is known about this period of service but the aircraft was scrapped in 1954. It was not until 1981 that the remains of TA805 were discovered and eventually returned to the UK. In 1995 Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight started the re-build before it was passed to the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford who completed the re-build and TA805 took to the skies once again in December 2005.

The aircraft was purchased by Peter Monk and Mike Simpson, both Kentish Men, in 2006 and moved to Biggin Hill where it is still based. They wanted it to fly in memory of 131 (County of Kent) Fighter Squadron, a wartime squadron that was purchased by donations given by the good people of Kent in 1941. In addition the CO’s aircraft was emblazoned with the caption ‘Spirit of Kent’, the same as the present aircraft.  Today the aircraft can be seen flying all over Kent at various functions and shows.

Its first public showing was at the Biggin Hill Air Fair where, piloted by John Romain, it won the Breitling Trophy for the best aerobatic and solo performance. Three days at the County Show bought it a host of new admirers where it was the main attraction. Various open days are held at Manston for the public of Kent to see their aircraft. Remember, if you hear a Merlin engine in the skies above Kent, it may well be your own Spitfire, the ‘Spirit of Kent’.

Robin J Brooks.