JG891 took to the air again on 6th July 2018. The Spitfire in the markings of LF.Vc JK879 of 249 Squadron at RAF Takali (Ta Qali), Malta, as flown by F/Sgt John 'Jack' Hughes, RCAF, in 1943. Of note is the 'Saint'-emblem and the 26 bombing symbols.
Westland-built Spitfire LF.Vc was presented to 129 (Mysore) Squadron at RAF Ibsley on 31 May, 1943, donated by the British community in Urugay. First post-restoration flight took place on 15 May, 2015 by Peter Monk from Biggin Hill.
Restoration of Shuttleworth's LF.Vc AR501 is progressing rivet by rivet but will take some time to complete. AR501 is seen here in the restoration hangar on 7th August, 2016.
Over the past six years, both airframe and Merlin 45 of Shuttleworth's LF.Vc AR501 have been overhauled completely. Its return to the skies over Old Warden is eagerly awaited.
This Spit was allocated to the British-based Czech 312 Squadron on September 11, 1942. On a daring wave-top raid against enemy shipping at St. Peters Port, Guernsey, AR 614 was heavily damaged by flak.