Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Fields Yet Another Flying Spitfire

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar in England has a newly-restored Supermarine Spitfire that is about to take its first flight after being involved in a tragic crash in Blue Canyon, California in June of 1998 that took the life of its pilot and owner, Thomas Jackson of Manitoba, Canada.

Originally delivered to the 604th Squadron, RAF in April, 1947, RW382 was to spend the early 1950s with the Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit at Exeter before being retired in July 1953, when it then became an instructional airframe followed by being placed on static display as a gate guard at RAF Leconfield. After use during production of the Battle of Britain film in 1968 as a ground-based prop, RW382 was refurbished and went to RAF Uxbridge, where it was again placed on static display, though this time mounted to a pylon.

As part of this most recent restoration project, Rw382 was converted from a low-back Mk XVIe to high-back configuration.

This plane will become the fifth fully operational Spitfire in the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, alongside Mk I X4650/G-CGUK, Mk IXs TA805/G-PMNF and MK912/G-BRRA, and another “low-back to high-back” Mk XVI conversion, TE184/G-MXVI. Besides the current fliers, there are three more Mk IXs that are also in the hangar, awaiting completion of of the work required to return them to the skies.