Supermarine Spitfire TR.9

Supermarine had planned to produce a two-seat conversion trainer model of the Spitfire from 1941 for fast tracking pilot training but the idea was rejected by the British War Ministry. It wasn’t until 1945 that Vickers Supermarine started the construction of a prototype/demonstration aircraft which lead to 20 Mk.IX airframes being converted to 2-seat trainers.

A 'canopy-to-crowd' shot during the RNZAF's 75th Birthday Airshow shows of the fine eliptical lines of the Spitfire wings.  Photo: © Historical Aviation Film Unit

 Year: 1936  Built: 22,000+ (5,656 Mk.IX)  Serial: MH367  Registration: ZK-WDQ  Top Speed: 657 km/h  Wingspan: 11.23m  Height: 3.58m  Length: 9.52m Engine: 1,710hp Packard Merlin 266 V-12 inline Ceiling: 13,106m  Range: 2,575km Armament: 2 × 20mm Hispano Mk II cannons and 2 × 0.50in M2 Browning machine guns

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    • MH367 served in Europe and took part in two major airborne (paratroop drop) operations, Market Garden in 1944, and Varsity in 1945. In 1948 it was damaged on landing and deemed surplus to requirments, so was scrapped. Its remains were discovered 40 years later and were incorporated into a two-seat Spitfire project underway at the time in the USA. MH367’s first post restoration flight was in Nov 2006 and was painted in the colours of a Mk. V Spitfire (ER570) flown by Major Robert Levine of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, United States Army Air Force in Tunisia 1943.

    The aircraft was later sold to Doug Brooker and arrived in New Zealand in May 2008 where it was registered as ZK-WDQ (WD-Q was ER570’s squadron code). The aircraft is currently painted in the colours of EN520, an 81 Squadron RAF Spitfire that was flown by New Zealand’s highest scoring ace, Colin Gray, in the North African campaign.

    This two-seat Spitfire is available for adventure flights with operator Warbird Adventure Rides for anyone interested in experiencing the feeling of flight in a genuine historic WW2 aircraft - click here for more details.

    Doug Brooker displays the Supermarine Spitfire TR.9 (two seater) at the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 75th Birthday Airshow at RNZAF Ohakea, New Zealand

    Colin Falkland Gray was the top-scoring Royal New Zealand Air Force ace of World War II. Born on November 9, 1914, in Christchurch (New Zealand), Gray joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) in 1939 and quickly distinguished himself as a skilled pilot. His exceptional skills as a fighter pilot were demonstrated during the Battle of Britain and subsequent air campaigns. Over the course of World War II, he achieved an impressive record, credited with shooting down at least 27 enemy aircraft, a tally which made him the most successful New Zealand-born fighter pilot in the history of the RAF.

    View from of Spitfire during a 'night-run', when the engine is run-up after dark in order to view the exhaust flames.  Photo: © Historical Aviation Film Unit

    Gray's combat service spanned various theaters of World War II, including the European and Mediterranean fronts. His leadership and flying skills earned him several high honors, including the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with two bars. After the war, he continued his career in the RAF, serving in various command roles until his retirement in 1961. Following his retirement from the military, he returned to New Zealand, where he remained until his death on August 1, 1995.

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