Summer of Flight – Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe

Known by her war-time serial number MJ730, the Museum’s Spitfire is a veteran of over 100 combat missions. Originally manufactured at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory by Vickers-Armstrong, MJ730 was test flown by Alex Henshaw on December 10, 1943. She was then shipped to Casablanca aboard the S.S. Leeds City.

MJ730 saw her first combat missions with No. 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force defending the Anzio Beachhead from a base at Marcianise, Italy. Re-assigned to No. 154 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF) MJ730 would fly 95 combat missions supporting the invasion of Southern France from a base at Poretta, Corsica. In October 1944 the airplane was passed to No. 32 Squadron RAF based at Kalamaki, Greece. During this time, it would fly 12 combat missions over the Balkans before being finally reassigned to No. 94 Squadron, RAF at Sedes, Greece.

Saturdays at 1pm from May to September, the Military Aviation Museum will be showcasing historical aircraft and commemorating important wartime events through narrated flying demonstrations.

Experience the rumble from the engine up close as you hear from the pilots about what it is like to fly these incredible aircraft, learn about the battles they participated in, and about the men and women who built, flew and maintained them during the war!

Summer of Flight is included in your general museum admission and free for museum members. Each event starts at 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.

Flights, Aircraft and Topics subject to change. Due to inclement weather, dates may be rescheduled to a later date or canceled. All flights are weather and maintenance permitting.