Vickers Supermarine Spitfire MkVb (Trop) Malta 1943
Take off.
Heading out to sea.
Making the intercept.
First Victory.
Close encounter.
Second victory.
Returning home.
Rubber and tyre smoke, but safely home.
EP829 was delivered to Malta in September 1942 having flow all the way with a 170 gal slipper tank rather than being delivered by aircraft carrier, as was the case with many Malta Spitfires. Coded T-N it became the mount of Sdr. Ldr. Joseph Lynch, OC 249 Squadron. Lynch, an American who served previously with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, used this aircraft to make ace by destroying 6 enemy aircraft in the defence of Malta in 1943. With this he also achieved the 1000th enemy aircraft destroyed by the Malta defenders.
Many Malta Spitfires, including EP829, were painted locally in this rather unusual brown/blue scheme to help make them harder to spot whilst flying over water.
Love that bird, just downloaded, she is a beaut isn't she
