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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a Spitfire LF.XVIe. |
January 1945 |
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First flight.
Flown at Castle Bromwich. |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n TB252. |
March 1945 |
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Transferred to 340 Squadron, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Holland.
Carried out 40 operational sorties and credited with five confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed. |
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Photographer: Unknown |
From 12 September 1955 to 1959 |
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Transferred to RAF Odiham.
Displayed as a gate guard. |
From August 1959 to 1969 |
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Transferred to RAF Acklington.
Operated with markings: RR M
Displayed as a gate guard. |
14 July 1969 |
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Transferred to RAF Boulmer.
Displayed as a gate guard. |
From 5 December 1969 to 1986 |
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Transferred to RAF Leuchars.
Operated with markings: GW H
Displayed as a gate guard. |
By September 1970 |
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Transferred to RAF Leuchars, Fife.
Displayed as a gate guardian. |
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Photographer: Unknown |
10 September 1977 |
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Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Spitfire LF.XVIe named Lucky Nine was the gate guardian at the 1977 RAF Leuchars Airshow. |
From April 1986 to 1988 |
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Transferred to RAF Bentley Priory.
Operated with markings: GW H
Displayed as a gate guard. |
June 1988 |
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To Tim Roustis/Historic Flying Ltd, Cambridge. |
16 November 1988 |
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Recovered.
Retrieved from Bentley Priory. |
September 1990 |
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Transported by ground.
Moved to Audley End. |
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Restoration started. |
From 3 July 1992 to 28 March 2001 |
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To Historic Flying Ltd, Mitchell Hangar, The Airfield, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4LF with new c/r G-XVIE (SPITFIRE LF XVI E, CBAF IX.3807). |
From 1995 to 2001 |
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To Nicholas Springer, Germany keeping c/r G-XVIE. |
From 1995 to 2001 |
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Restored.
This was a long-term restoration with the work being carried out at Audley End. |
February 2001 |
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To Peter J. Wood, Twyford, Bucks keeping c/r G-XVIE. |
28 March 2001 |
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Civil registration, G-XVIE, cancelled. |
2001 |
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Dismantled airframe sections were moved to Great Dunmow. |
2002 |
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In the inventory of Private Collection of Tony Banta, Livermore Municipal Airport, Livermore, CA.
 View the Location Dossier |
May 2002 |
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To Banta Aviation/Tony Banta, Livermore, CA. |
From Unknown to 29 October 2002 |
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Transported by ship.
Moved to Auckland, NZ, for an airworthy restoration There were many components missing. |
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Contracted to Avspecs Limited, Ardmore Airport, Auckland, Auckland, North Island for work on the airframe.
View the Location Dossier |
13 December 2002 |
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To Banta Aviation Corp, Dover, DE with new c/r N752TB. |
From 2002 to 2020 |
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Restoration continued.
The work was carried out at Auckland-Ardmore, NZ. |
19 May 2014 |
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To Banta Aviation Corp, Pleasanton, CA keeping c/r N752TB. |
2018 |
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Placed up for sale for $2,500,000 USD. |
28 March 2019 |
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To Somers Charles Michael, McClellan, CA keeping c/r N752TB. |
23 March 2020 |
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Civil registration, N752TB, cancelled.
Exported to New Zealand. |
27 March 2020 |
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To AVspecs Limited, Auckland with new c/r ZK-NLJ. |
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Restoration started. |
18 January 2021 |
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Markings Applied: NL J, TB252
Flown at Ardmore. |
February 2021 |
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Transported by ship.
Moved in a container from Auckland to USA. |
15 March 2021 |
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Civil registration, ZK-NLJ, cancelled. |
18 March 2021 |
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To unknown owner with c/r N752TB. |
25 March 2021 |
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To Somers Charles, Hillsboro, OR keeping c/r N752TB. |
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In the inventory of Private Collection, McClellan AFB (formerly), Sacramento, CA.
View the Location Dossier |
4 May 2021 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX752TB issued. |
15 September 2021 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
15 September 2021 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
