DEDICATION
Masters of Spitfi re
MH434, Ray and Mark
Hanna at La Ferté-Alais,
south of Paris, captured
by the lens of Duncan
Cubitt in 1984. This
feature is dedicated
to the memory of Ray
and Mark.DEDICATIONDEDICATION
Masters of Spitfi re Masters of Spitfi re
MH434, Ray and Mark MH434, Ray and Mark
Hanna at La Ferté-Alais, Hanna at La Ferté-Alais,
south of Paris, captured
by the lens of Duncan
Cubitt in 1984. This
feature is dedicated
to the memory of Ray
and Mark.“It was the most stable and easy
aircraft I have ever been lucky
enough to fly. MH434 was the
perfect Spitfire”life not been cut short. Between
them, nothing seemed impossible.
“For me some of the best moments
were those quiet times after shows
or conventions, enjoying a beer with
the others as we watched the light
fade and the sun set over Duxford.
Duty done, the Spitfire was a
silhouette on the flight line.
“Anyone who has been at the
historic airfield ‘after hours’ will have
experienced these pleasant chills.
In Tiger Tales I described it as ‘like
being surrounded by benevolent
ghosts’. Today it’s the same and their
company is all the stronger.”
PART OF THE MACHINE
Paul Bonhomme, who has piloted
types as varied as the Boeing 747 to
Red Bull racers, first added MH434
to his logbook on August 11, 2006.
He also has the Mk.I, V, XIV and
the two-seat IX in his extensive list
of types flown.
The author started off asking him
what the Spitfire – as a broad type –
meant to him: “From every aspect it
is beautiful. Engineering wise, it is
a masterpiece. Flying wise, you are
part of the machine. Historically, it
played a major part in the freedom
we enjoy today. Aesthetically, the
shape, sight and sound of a passing
Spitfire cannot be ignored.”
With all of its history, what does
MH434 mean to you? “I consider
myself extremely lucky to be able to
fly MH434. It flew over northern
France, with success, in 1943.
“Among others, it has been flown
by Henry Lardner-Burke and Alfred
‘Bill’ Burge. It flew in the Battle
of Britain movie. It has since been
flown by Adrian Swire, Ray and
Mark Hanna and has been sat in
by Adolf Galland. It is the aviation
equivalent of a Ming vase.
“It is kind to fly and will warn
you of the limits. It has the most
amazing wing for the diverse speed
range in which it will fly. The
famous shape of that wing is also
something to admire while rolling
over the green fields of England!
“When flying MH434 you have to
remember that you are, temporarily,
the trustee of an incredible part of
history hence you need to be very,
very careful.”LAST WORD
It is only right that the last words
on MH434 come from Bill Burge.
Having flown early Spitfire
versions before mastering the
Mk.IX he went on to try out a wide
range of combat types – ‘ponies’ as
he called them – at Wittering and
West Raynham.
On his return to 64 Squadron, Bill
flew the Merlin-engined Mustang
III and the challenging DH Hornet
twin. This wide experience makes
his assessment of MH434 – a true
warbird – all the more definitive.
“I did not get my MH434 back
until March 7, 1944, when we were
once again based at Hornchurch.
I was pleased to get the aircraft
back as it was a delight to fly. After
another five offensive sorties my
beloved MH434 was taken
from me.
“I lost MH434 because Fighter
Command had split in two:Air Defence of Great Britain and the
2nd Tactical Air Force. The latter
was destined to go into Europe with
the invasion.
“So, although MH434 was my
mount for a time, I did not get to
‘drive’ it very often. It was the most
stable and easy aircraft I have ever
been lucky enough to fly.
“I received a brand new
aircraft, MK797. This one came
equipped with a bomb rack,
for a 500-pounder, and had the
appropriate sighting equipment,
something that MH434 did not
have. This Spitfire had, of course, no
maintenance time on the airframe or
engine, and consequently would
not require any major servicing for
some months.
“The new aircraft issued to me
never had the stability that MH434
had. I never developed the same
affection for MK797: MH434 was
the perfect Spitfire.”With many thanks to Sir Adrian
Swire and all at the Old Flying
Machine Company, Duxford –
http://www.old-flying-machine-company.
co.uk