First flight of Dutch Spitfire Mk.I P9372

Brilliant news, especially for Dutch warbirdfans: the long awaited third Spitfire owned by supermarket tycoon Frits van Eerd has made its first post restoration flight on 22 April. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia P9372/G-CLIH (construction number 6S/30563) has been a long-term project of the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.

Spitfire Mk.Ia P9372 was flown by No.92 Squadron based at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain. The fighter was shot down by Me 109s on 9 September 1940, and the remains were finally excavated in 1970. It was rebuilt after a crash recovery (many of the parts used to be on the hangar wall) as G-CLIH.

It has been completed in its original RAF 92nd squadron colours with code 'QJ-G'. Its first flight marks the completion of a long restoration and brings the total of airworthy Mk.Ia Spitfires to five!

Scramble brought you news on P9372 on 1 June 2021, 14 March 2022, and on 5 November 2022.

Now G-CLIH is ready, the Spitfire will be made available to the ‘Stichting (=Foundation) Spitfires Flying Vintage’. This foundation has already made a reservation for the registration PH-CAM.

Photo of  P9372 by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar on Facebook