Spitfire PR.IV AA810 will be restored to airworthy condition, a project dedicated to the memory of all the men of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit.
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20 Nov 2019
Major Announcement! Today the UK CAA have issued AA810 with its new civilian registration: G-PRID. This was chosen by the project as it pays homage to the pedigree of the PR.IV; the production version of the PR.1D, & officially places AA810 on the UK Aircraft Register. #Spitfire
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Jun 15
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 With several new unpublished albums located recently, watch this space for more interesting images to come!
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Jun 14
SPITFIRE SUNDAY
Today’s aircraft is a PR.XI coded ‘T’ of 681 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron shown here taking off from RAF Chittagong, India on detachment from RAF Alipore. Just 111 aircrew carried out RAF unarmed reconnaissance operations from
India during the war. Six
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were killed and are buried out there still, a further 10 remain missing to this day.
spitfireaa810.co.uk/national…
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Jun 13
OPERATION CROSSBOW AND THE V1 OFFENSIVE
Today marks the anniversary of the start of the V1 offensive on London. Operation Crossbow which had begun in August 1943, was monitoring and targeting the build up of the German V weapon programme. The targeting of launch sites began in
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December 1943, but despite this the first V1 attack on the UK would begin 82 years ago today. Our photo shows the V1 launch site at Vignacourt in the Somme region, the ramp being hidden amongst the trees to the top right of picture.
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Jun 12
WILLIAM JOHNSON - BENSON’S GATE GUARDIAN
Born in Larkhall, Scotland, William Johnson was called up from teacher training in October 1940, before flying training in Georgia and Alabama graduating in March 1942. After further reconnaissance training at 8(c)OTU he was qualified on
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was shot down. Our second image is the top of his flying boot through which a bullet that brought down his Spitfire passed.
We are delighted that pupils at RAF Benson Primary School were inspired by Bill’s story and selected his aircraft to be represented at the entrance to the
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base. As ever we are hugely grateful to William’s family for sharing his story with us.
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Jun 11
MOSQUITO LR412 FIRST FLIGHT
Today in 1943, Mosquito LR412 carried out its first flight from Hatfield in the hands of factory test pilot John deHavilland. Flying 19 ops, inc Italy &Norway, an engine & propeller from this aircraft will be the centre piece of our National Monument.
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MOSQUITO MONDAY
A PR.IV of 540 Squadron shown here in May 1943. This aircraft DZ383 went on to later serve with 138 Wing and survived the war to be scrapped in late 1946.
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SPITFIRE SUNDAY
Today we feature Spitfire PR.VII Type G, X4786, on the ground at RAF Benson, at the conclusion of its operational service with No. 543 Squadron RAF. Originally a MkI fighter, X4786 was converted as a Type G photographic-reconnaissance aircraft, retaining its
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armament and fitted with two vertical F.24 cameras in the rear fuselage. It entered service with 1PRU in March 1941, and was further converted to a PR VII the following September, also receiving a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine. On 30 September 1942, X4786 was transferred to
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No. 543 Squadron RAF, and by August 1943 was being operated by No. 8(c)OTU at RAF Dyce. The aircraft was struck off charge in February 1945.
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D-DAY 82nd ANNIVERSARY
With the world remembering D-Day; the beginning of the Allied liberation of Europe 82 years ago today, the AA810 project additionally remembers those of the RAF Reconnaissance squadrons who flew unarmed above the beaches. They gathered vital intelligence
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