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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941 Sandy was to fly his first trip to Germany: Mission 18 - Spitfire X4499 Did my first trip over Germany. Leaving Benson at 10:10 and landed at Coltishall, near Norwich, to refuel as I had an “F” Type. Pretty poor weather to Norwich, flew below cloud but found

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY PR.XVI NS777, at B58 Melsbroek most likely in October 1944 as the aircraft still wears its D-Day stripes. Assigned to 140 Sqn , the unit had arrived in Belgium at the end of September 1944. NS777 survived the war and passed into service with the Armee de l'Air in June 1946.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

SANDY’S BIRTHDAY Today is an important day for the project each year - it would have been Sandy Gunn’s birthday. However on this day in 1941, Sandy had other work to do before he could celebrate his 22nd birthday: Mission 17 - Spitfire X4499 “My birthday. Did a trip to Le

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

FORCES IN STEM AT RAFM COSFORD We were delighted to return again to the The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands this week alongside other industry STEM providers to welcome 1,400 KS2 pupils keen to learn about aerospace engineering. With our ‘Spitfire 90’ STEM activities

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

TODAY IN 1941 Sandy was back in the air on operations: Mission 16 - Spitfire X4499 “It was foggy as usual in morning. Given a trip but could not get off early so had an early lunch at 12:00 and got off just after 13:00. Out over Selsey Bill at 25,000 ft; flew to Caen and on to

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

FORCES IN STEM - RAFM MIDLANDS As a project we are once again delighted to be supporting the Forces in STEM event at The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands this week. Delivered in partnership with the Royal Air Force Youth STEM team, this event features the very best of the Midlands

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY An RAF Flight Sergeant in a staged photo demonstrates the operation of the Type 35 camera controller in the nose of a PR Mosquito. Part of a selection of photographs taken at RAF Benson.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941 Sandy was off on PR duties again, this time to the Netherlands: Mission 15 - Spitfire X4499 “Poor weather in morning, hoped for an early flight, and was at work by 07:00 but nothing doing. At lunch time weather reported OK over North Sea, so went off on trip to Holland. Did a

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

RAF BENSON GATE GUARDIAN REDEDICATION It was a huge pleasure to return to RAF Benson this week to attend the Gate Guardian rededication ceremony alongside station personnel, members of Bill Johnson’s family, and the entirety of RAF Benson Primary School who dressed for the

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

FIRST SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONAL SORTIE OF A MOSQUITO Whilst famed as a fighter/bomber, it was for use in the reconnaissance role that ultimately saw the DH Mosquito go into production. Having arrived at Benson in the evening of the 13th July 1941 with S/Ldr Clerke at the controls, the aircraft

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

TODAY IN 1941 Sandy was made operational as a member of D Flight 1PRU with just 11 flights and 22:50 hours in the Spitfire: “Mission 13 - Spitfire R7043 Off from Benson at 10:45, down to Selsey Bill, over to Le Havre, but covered by cloud. Flew back to

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941… Sandy would fly his last training flight before being made operational: “Had a ‘shaky do’ today. Got off on the Holyhead trip at last; climbed to 23,000ft. Through cloud over Benson, set course and flew over 10/10 cloud until ETA. Nothing

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941… Sandy’s training continued: “Prepared to go to Holyhead once again, but weather was too thick. Went up to 30,000ft over aerodrome for about an hour; very soon lost sight of aerodrome owing to low cloud. Managed to keep fairly well over it; came down

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941… Sandy started his photographic training: “All set to go off to Holyhead at 30,000 ft at 09:00, but machine was unserviceable, dropping 200 revs on starboard magneto. Went off to St Eval eventually at 2,000 ft landing there to deliver some letters; quite a decent ’drome. Came

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

PRU MONUMENT INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH APPEAL As a small team work through the individual biographies of all those who served in the RAF Reconnaissance Squadrons, various challenges have arisen in finding details of some international airmen and PIs. As such we are appealing to our followers for

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941: Back in the air on the 10th September it was time for Sandy to get properly to task on the Spitfire, not just learning to fly it but how to carry out the role of the PRU in it: “Did two hours of circuits and bumps in the morning; some of the landings were not too bad but what

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today’s subject is Spitfire PR.XIX, RM632, pictured at Eastleigh, Hampshire. Delivered to 542 Sqn at RAF Benson it was tasked with photographing an area NE of Cologne on the 6th January 1945. Damaged over the enemy territory, F/o Leslie Glyn Roberts limped the aircraft

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1941… Sandy Gunn arrives at RAF Benson to begin his life in the Photo Reconnaissance Unit: “I arrived at lunchtime, very modern and palatial aerodrome and a good Mess. There were Spitfires of all shades all over the place – very attractive

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today we see PR.IX LR432 return but this time with two more aircraft from 544 Sqn. This type carried over 1000 gallons of fuel which, with its twin 1,680Hp Merlin 72 engines, gave it a range of over 2,450 miles at 250mph. In total 90 PR.IXs were built.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today’s aircraft is X4502. Built as a PR.1C in February 1941, it served with 1PRU and was modified to PR.1F in November 1941. Assigned to 140 PR Sqn, the aircraft failed to return from a mission to Cherbourg on the 2nd June 1942. NZ P/o Francis Blackwood

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today’s aircraft is Mosquito PR.IX, LR432 of 544 Sqn based at Benson. LR432 was initially delivered to 540 Sqn on the 4th September 1943 and was passed to 544 Sqn the following month. It carried out 544’s first operational sorties with the PR.IX as a type shortly

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today’s subject is the prototype Spitfire PR.XI EN654. This aircraft first flew in May 1943 before ops with 16 Sqn from October 1943. In June 1945 it was modified as a mail carrier for service with Fighter Command Communications being sold off in August 1947.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

2026 RAF AIR CADETS NATIONAL AIR & SPACE CAMP The project was once again delighted to attend Royal Air Force Air Cadets NASC for our third year alongside our partners Thales. One of some 90+ representatives of UK Aerospace and Defence industry, the day welcomed some 3,000 aviation-

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

RAF BENSON FAMILIES DAY The project was delighted to once again return to RAF Benson for their 2026 families day where this year we featured a public display of the results produced by RAF Benson Primary School as part of our work on the station gate guardian. It was wonderful to

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today’s aircraft is Mosquito PRI W4059 photographed in 1942. It flew 75 operations with 1PRU before serving with 540 Sqn. It finished its days with 8(c) OTU training future PR pilots.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today’s subject is PR.XI PL841, shown here as part of 681 Sqn operating in the Far East. This aircraft took off from RAF Alipore, India on the 7th June 1945 for a mission to Moulmein, Burma with F/Lt Thomas Woodhouse from Honour Oak Park, London at the

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

STAFF CAR SATURDAY It was a huge privilege to publicly debut the project’s RAF Staff Car at the recent RAF Benson families day this week where it could be seen in use by the Station Commander around the site. Built in 1937, this Standard Flying 12 actually came to us in

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today we feature PR.IV DZ466 of 540 Sqn which belly landed on the beach near St.Brieuc returning from Paris on the 20th February 1943. Both crew members were taken prisoner. The aircraft was repaired and was evaluated by the Germans believed to be coded T9+XB.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Spitfire PR.X SR396 at Eastleigh prior to delivery to 542 Squadron at RAF Benson. Only 16 PR.X were built, the aircraft being based on the fuselage of a Mk.VII combined with PR.XI wings (the PR.XI was already in service). SR396 would eventually be written off

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

RETURN OF THE GATE GUARDIAN As many who work in the Benson area will have seen, the replica PR.XI Spitfire was recently remounted in front of Station HQ at RAF Benson. It has been a real privilege to have been carrying out the extensive renovation on this local landmark, which included a complete

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY With the D-Day commemorations just about a couple of months ago, today’s image is of this lovely collection of striped PR Mossies taken at RAF Benson during a spell of wet weather!

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today we feature PR XI EN427 photographed at RAF Benson. After a failed attempt to deliver the aircraft to the Middle East, EN427 would eventually join 682 Sqn in Italy. The aircraft went missing while on a sortie over Genoa on 29 August 1943. The pilot W/Cdr P B

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

PRU IN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN Today in 1940, the PRU entered the Battle of Britain - in a Hornet Moth! G-AELO was a hack with the PRU and today in 1940 F/o Dakeyne took off in it with his brother from Heston and intercepted a Dornier 17 that was bombing Weybridge, chasing the enemy away.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today’s image is an original wartime colour shot of PR.XVI NS591, part of a batch of PR.XVI Mossies supplied to the USAAF in 1944. This aircraft stayed in a PR role, survived the war unscathed, and was eventually transferred to the French Air Force in July 1946.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

LOSS OF AFP FANE Today the project remembers the loss of AA810 pilot AFP Fane, who died today in 1942 in Cambridgeshire in bad weather returning from his 25th reconnaissance mission. Forced lower and lower in the cloud and rain, his Spitfire struck trees just outside the

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY The first production Mosquito PR Mk.1 W4051 of 1PRU RAF Benson. Built in the summer of 1941, it was operational with 1PRU before serving with 540 Sqn and then 8(c) OTU training PRU crews. The aircraft had a long service life, ultimately suffering substantial damage

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today we feature PR.IV AB131 in the hands of the Germans in late 1942. This aircraft failed to return from a high altitude training exercise on the 1st Sept 1942, arriving at the Luftwaffe base of Sint -Truiden in Belgium that same day where pilot P/O Carlyle Heggveit was taken POW.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 86 YEARS ON Today is the date that many recognise as the start of the Battle of Britain, one of the most significant moments in UK history. Some 41 pilots who took part flew reconnaissance operations either before or after the battle and will be commemorated as

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today we see PR.34 PF650 at Benson immediately post war. This aircraft would be lost in May 1949 in the Suez Canal Zone. Both crew would survive but the aircraft was lost.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today we feature five PR.XIs of 541 Squadron taken at St. Eval - but there are several interesting features here. What can you see?

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

HAPPY 4th JULY TO OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS Whilst the Eagle Squadron seems to be the main focus of public memory with regards to US nationals in the RAF, what isn’t widely known is that 11 US Nationals flew in RAF PR before the US entered the war. Tragically 8 of those men would be

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

CANADA DAY Today is Canada Day and we recognise the 87 Canadian nationals identified so far as being eligible for inclusion on our National PR Monument. These include Johnny Kent from Winnipeg who served in the PDU before the Battle of Britain. Sadly we know that at least 41

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Today we have PR.IX MM230 seen here in early 1944 undergoing experimental work for reducing exhaust flame which proved unsuccessful. It later flew with the Fighter Interception Unit before rejoining De Havilland as a trials & display aircraft. It was SOC in 1946.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

SPITFIRE SUNDAY Today we feature one from the late Bill Williams’ personal album. PR.XI MB776/Y ‘FDP’ taken in early 1945 was assigned to 681 Squadron’s CO, Wg Cdr F D Proctor DFC. Bill flew this aircraft on a couple of occasions. It was scrapped in October 1945.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

ARMED FORCES DAY 2026 Today is Armed Forces Day, as a project we are very proud to support those who serve today, and those who have served in the past. Since the project began we have been proud to work supporting RAF Charities, Cadets, Veterans, and the work of the

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

PRIMARY SCHOOL STEM The team were delighted to spend yesterday with the pupils of RAF Benson Primary School as part of their learning on the Spitfire in its 90th birthday year. Pupils from reception through to year six got hands on with history, from

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

FATHERS DAY Today is Father’s Day in the UK, thinking of all those young men who didn’t get the chance to become a dad, or who were lost with young children that they barely met.

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

ON THIS DAY IN 1963… The film story of the Great Escape premiered in the UK. An adaptation of Paul Brickhill’s book, the film brought awareness of the murder of 50 RAF officers to a global audience. Whilst the storyline has been altered from historical fact in many details, the

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SpitfireAA810.bsky.social @spitfireaa810.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

MOSQUITO MONDAY Another image from a recently inspected personal archive, this image captured of a PR.34 taking off at the end of the war. With several new unpublished albums located recently, watch this space for more interesting images to come!

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