Unique opportunity to own a piece of aviation history
Option of continued revenue through current operator (additional information available)
Only 223.5 airframe & engine hours
Largely original cockpit with functioning gun sight
Detailed history from birth
Zero hour restoration
TD314 was built at Castle Bromwich in late 1944 and fitted with a Merlin 70 as a High Level Fighter (HFIXE). She was one of the last
high back Spitfires built as the production line switched to low back aircraft in February of 1945. She was delivered to 33 MU at Lyneham
on 30th March 1945, transferring later that month to 30 MU before a further move to 6 MU where she was prepared for service
with 183 (Gold Coast) Squadron at Chilbolton on the 24th June 1945. 183 squadron only kept its Spitfires for a short time before reequipping with Tempests.
TD314 moved to 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron at Bentwaters on 26th July 1945, it is in this squadrons colours that she is currently
finished with the squadron codes of FX-P. Whilst with 234 squadron it is possible that TD314 took part in the 1945 Battle of Britain
flypast over London. When 234 squadron converted to Meteors, TD314 was transferred to 29 MU at High Ercall for disposal on
the 27th February 1946.
In early 1948 TD314 was selected as one of the 136 Spitfire IXs to be sold to the South African Air Force and she was sent to 47 MU
RAF Sealand where she was packed for shipment, leaving Birkenhead on the SS Clan Chattan 23rd April and arriving at Cape Town
on the 12th May 1948. Details of her use with the SAAF are not known but she was sold for scrapping to the South African Metal &
Machinery CO, Salt River, Cape Town, sometime during 1954. She remained in the scrap yard until recovered by Larry Barnett of Johannesburg
in 1969. From there she passed through the hands of several owners before arriving in the UK via Canada in 2009.
Acquired by Aero Legends in 2011, restoration commenced at Biggin Hill culminating in a first flight on the 7th December 2013.
TD314 is heavily featured in the new Haynes manual on Spitfire restoration having its picture pride of place on the front cover. TD314
has been named “St. George” which is prominently displayed on the fuselage.
