1940 VICKERS SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE IA P9374 For Sale in United Kingdom

1940 Vickers Supermarine Spitfire IA P9374

History

The restoration of Spitfire Mark I P9374 was a true labor of love undoubtedly the most authentic Spitfire restoration ever completed.

The effort required was immense in terms of time, manpower, and financial commitment. The restoration project demanded the dedication and devotion of 12 English craftsmen, working full time, for three whole years and consumed almost 27,000 man hours. The attention to detail was meticulous and all consuming. No item or issue was too insignificant. The quest to bring back this one of a kind aircraft to its exact original state, as it had been when departing on its last flight on May 24, 1940, became an all-consuming endeavor. This enterprise paid off handsomely and, with the resurrection of P9374, a critical piece of history, once lost to the sands of time, has come alive for the world to experience.

History in the Sand

In September 1980 the wreckage of a Spitfire emerged from the sands of Calais beach. It was P9374, an early Mk I version of Supermarine’s finest creation. On March 6, 1940 at RAF Croydon, it joined 92 Squadron, a famous fighter squadron engaged in Home Defense duties.

Pilot Officer Williams ‘blooded’ P9374 in action on 23 May when he claimed a twin engine German Me 110 destroyed over the French coast.  Flying Officer Peter Cazenove was at the controls on 24 May 1940, along the French coast, in what was to be his first and last combat sortie of the war. In the early days of the war, many aircraft and pilots were lost shortly after joining the fight. P9374 was no exception with a total flight time of only 32 hours and 5 minutes at the time of its loss.  P9374 was hit by fire from a Dornier 17-Z bomber which holed its coolant system. With an overheating engine, Cazenove landed wheels-up on the beach. He radioed that he was OK, adding, Tell mother I’ll be home for tea!’ Cazenove made his way into town and fought a rear-guard action with the army before he was taken prisoner. It would be many years before he had tea again with his mother.

P9374 sat unmolested and slowly sank deeper into the sands until it had vanished from sight. Its re-emergence in 1980 is likely the components, including the engine and machine guns, were found to be in remarkably good condition. Sadly, Peter Cazenove died shortly before the recovery.

Not long before passing away he had remarked, I wonder what happened to my Spitfire and if anyone will ever find it?’

A Painstaking Process

There followed a meticulous reconstruction. This process involved a 100 percent faithful commitment to the build, down to sourcing exactly correct instruments, fabric, paint, and equipment.

Paint and stencils located inside the wings, never to see the light of day again were created in painstaking detail looking exactly as they would have when the aircraft was built at Supermarine’s Woolston Factory.

The plane incorporates an original Rolls Royce Merlin engine, and is the only existing flying Mk I Spitfire to do so. (Currently kept as a spare.  The plane currently flies with a more modern Merlin 35 for reliability purposes.).

Other unique items include flare tubes, a working gunsight, original radio, original single tier rub=dder pedals, exact fabric covered ailerons, pneumatically operated landing lights, a set of .303” Vickers Bowling machine guns with their pneumatic operating equipment, ammo boxes and chutes, and the rarest of all, original 1940 dated belts of ammunition.

The undercarriage on the Mark 1 was manually lowered and raised with a hydraulic hand pump. This is the only Spitfire in the world to incorporate this original system.

Another reproduction challenge was the smooth-treaded Dunlop tires. An original example of the tire was sent to Dunlop who recreated the tires down to the period script on the tire walls.

The extraordinary ‘biscuit tin’ voltage regulator, very visible behind the seat was found and overhauled to working condition.

Even many components from the original engine of P9374 were incorporated into the build.

• 93.2 hrs since complete restoration by The Aircraft Restoration Company, Duxford, UK
• SPARE: Rolls Royce Merlin 3 – original engine Zero time by Vintage V-12’s

• Restored to 100% original condition 10/10

• Painted in its original 1940 paint scheme as P9374 of 92 Squadron 10/10