Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 – 75 years old

Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 was built at the Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory in 1941 and was delivered, brand new, to its first RAF unit, No 222 Squadron at North Weald, on 22nd August that year. In August 2016 we are, therefore, celebrating AB910’s 75th ‘birthday’.

Exactly 75 years ago this Spitfire was engaged in offensive fighter patrols with RAF Fighter Command as it went on the offensive against the Luftwaffe.

On 26th August 1941, AB910, flown by Pilot Officer Ramsey, was part of a force of 24 Spitfires patrolling off East Goodwin to cover the withdrawal of a ‘Circus’ from St Omer. The next day AB910 was one of 12 Spitfires from 222 Squadron providing top cover at 19,000 feet to nine Bristol Blenheims on a bombing raid to Arras. On 29th August it was one of 11 Spitfires from the Squadron which flew as part of the ‘withdrawal wing’ patrolling off Dunkirk at 20,000 feet. All these sorties were flown by Ramsey. AB910 then suffered some damage, which put it out of action until December 1941 when it was allocated to 130 Squadron based at Perranporth, Cornwall, from where it flew further escort and daylight bombing raids and convoy patrols.

Amazingly, 75 years later and after having completed 143 ‘ops’ in almost three and a half years of war fighting, AB910 is still flying in RAF hands. A D-Day veteran itself, it now wears the colour scheme of Flight Lieutenant Tony Cooper’s 64 Squadron Spitfire Mk Vb on D-Day.

Happy 75th Birthday AB910!