Spitfire Mk IX - "Lucy"

You are now standing in front of a Spitfire Mark 9 – this one we named “Lucy”. The Spitfire Mark 9 was originally developed as a stopgap measure - as a response to the appearance of the German Focke-Wulf 1-9-0-A fighter plane. Capable of speeds over 400 miles per hour - the mark 9 is a four bladed propeller type with three main versions – of which the key difference was the Merlin engine type. Modified engines gave the aircraft improved performance and capability. The majority of Mark 9’s carried four 20 millimetre cannons - or two 20 millimetre cannons and four point 3-0-3 inch machine guns – as seen here, on Lucy. The ammunition was extremely limited - allowing a total of only sixteen seconds on the fire button - hence pilots would fire in very short bursts of only 2 seconds at a time.

Another difference from Vicky – across the hangar – is the teardrop shape of the pilots canopy – which allowed greater visibility and allowed the pilot to turn his head. You will also notice the “rear-view-mirror” which was standard build on models later in 1940 – however – on earlier models - pilots would fit their own – taken from cars!

The first Mark 9 test aircraft flew on 26 February 1942 - and was so successful it was ordered into full production - which began in June 1942. The mark 9 Spitfire entered service in July 1942 with number 64 squadron - at Hornchurch in Essex. Its first combat success came on thirtieth of July 1942 - when a Spitfire Mark 9 shot down a Focke-Wulf 1-9-0. Amongst other notable achievements, the Mark 9 took part in the highest altitude combat of the Second World War, when it intercepted a Junkers 86-R at 43,000 feet - on twelfth of September 1942 - over Southampton, England. On the fifth of October 1944 - a Mark 9 Spitfire of 4-0-1 Squadron - was the first allied aircraft to shoot down a German M-E 2-6-2 Jet – the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft - capable of speeds of 530 miles per hour!

The Mark 9 remained in service until the end of the war and - with its similar variant the mark 16 - was produced in greater numbers than any other type of Spitfire - 7,011 aircraft in total.

Lucy is registered with the British Aviation Preservation Council - and is currently wearing the markings of 6-1-1 West Lancashire Squadron, representing aircraft Foxtrot Yankee-Foxtrot, tail number B-S-4-3-5. This aircraft was the ride of Australian Squadron Leader Hugo “Sinker” Armstrong. Sinker was already an Air Ace of World War Two – meaning he had 5 confirmed kills - when he was himself killed in action. Flying B-S-4-3-5, on the fifth of February 1943 - he was on a "Scramble" mission with two other Spitfires - to intercept a Focke-Wulf 1-9-0 raid. The Spitfires were attacked by eight enemy fighters and Sinker was killed over the English Channel - off Boulogne. The German pilot credited with his "kill" was Heinz Goman.

 

The black and white stripes represent the Normandy invasion markings - and were added to Lucy in 2019 for the sixth of June D-Day seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations and displays.

Lucy was one of only six Spitfire replicas commissioned by the RAF and manufactured by TDL Replicas. In 1982 - she replaced the original Spitfire Gate Guardian at RAF St Athen in South Wales. After her guardian duties - she was sent to the 6-1-0 RAF Squadron Association, based at the former RAF Hooton Park airfield. Following the disbanding of the 6-1-0 Squadron museum - “Lucy” fallen into very poor condition and was on the verge of going to the Scrap Man. Fortunately - in 2009 - Lucy was purchased by John Coombes - Chairman of the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team. Her mission - to help raise funds for the construction of the Filde Spitfire Memorial. The memorial - located at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham - was completed in 2014 - and since then the Team have continued to display Lucy all over Europe at shows and key WW2 remembrance events.

Lucy has been lovingly restored over several years - and re-engineered to enable her to be easily transported by road. Her cockpit has been reinstalled using original spitfire parts. Other major components have also been restored, even the undercarriage saw action in WW2!  Lucy’s TV appearances include the period dramas, “Land Girls”, “Foyles War”, “Home Fires” as well as WW2 themed documentaries. She has also graced the big screen in feature films such as “Allied” and “Lancaster Skies” - and more recently was used in the acclaimed BBC WW2 drama series “World on Fire”.

You may also have seen Lucy on TV in Portsmouth – in 2019. She was honouring the WW2 D-Day seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations - in front of the British Prime Minister - Teresa May; American President - Donald Trump; and Her Majesty the Queen. So - Lucy has been on parade in front of some prestigious people and filmstars!

On Hangar42 visitor open-days - and at travelling events – additional funds are raised for our restoration projects, by allowing people to sit in Lucy’s cockpit to experience how it would have felt going into combat inside the cramped cockpit. Currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic – we have had to temporarily stop this activity. Through this fundraising - Hangar 42 now owns three of the original six RAF commissioned Spitfire replicas.

Picture yourself flying Lucy across war ravaged Europe – out-numbered by the might of the German Luftwaffe - as a young pilot - with just a handful of hours training - and 15 seconds worth of ammunition!

To support our project to have an airworthy Spitfire at Blackpool Airport - donate 5 pounds by texting the Word - SPITFIRE - to 7-0-9-7-0.