Warbirds Online looks into the past of a Supermarine Spitfire restoration HF Mk.9 RR232 which was imported into Australia and then rebuilt to static standard and made its way to the UK where it was finally rebuilt to fly again.
It was fairly unusual in the 1980’s in that the aircraft was not an Australian sourced machine as most of the wrecks and restorations in Australia at that time were MkVIII or MkV ex RAAF sourced aircraft. This aircraft was sold by Supermarine and delivered to the South African Air Force (SAAF) as 5632. It was brought on charge in May 1949 and served a quiet life until retired and scrapped in Jan 1954.
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- Spitfire RR232 at Bankstown
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- Spitfire RR232 at Bankstown
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- Spitfire RR232
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- Spitfire RR232 & Peter Sledge
Peter Sledge of Sydney sourced the wreck of this aircraft (by then only a bare fuselage) from South Africa in 1976 from the famous South African Metal & Machinery Co., Salt River, and Cape Town, South Africa group of wrecks.
Peter spent the period from 1976 to 1984 completing a full static rebuild of the aircraft which was then placed on display at the FAA Museum Nowra, NSW from 1985-1986. Peter used parts sourced from many places to complete the aircraft including wings from Thailand. The engine was in fact not a Spitfire Merlin but was an RAAF Avro Lincoln unit which caused a little problem in the restoration process as it was a bit too long for the usual cowlings!
As is the case with many Australian based Spitfire projects, RR232 was purchased by UK interests and in 1986 it made its way to the collection of the late Charles Church, Micheldever, UK from 1986-1989. In 1989 RR232 passed to Sussex Spraying Services, Ltd, Shoreham, Nov. 22, 1989-1995.
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- Spitfire RR232
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- Spitfire RR232
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- Spitfire RR232
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- Spitfire Rolls Royce Merlin engine
In 2001 the aircraft passed on to Martin Phillips of Newton St Cyres, Devon UK and fully restored to flight as G-BRSF and flew on 18 December 2012, it then spent several quiet years but is believed to be again flying in the UK. Martin has in the meantime commenced the rebuild of a Tr.9 two seater.
Warbirds Online saw the restoration of this machine in Australia several times including when it was displayed at Nowra many years ago Today we present a few of our images of this great aircraft and of course one with Peter Sledge.
© John Parker 2016
I found your article whilst researching the history of RR232 and found it very interesting. I thought you might be interested to know that Martin Phillips now has his aircraft based with us (the Boultbee Flight Academy) at Goodwood Aerodrome. She is now regularly flying displays in the South of England and people can now fly alongside her in helicopters with our new venture ‘Flying with Spitfires’.
I’m currently updating our website and preparing a script for our upcoming hangar tours with some more detailed information about the aircraft, and wondered if you might be kind enough to let us use some of the images above?
With best regards,
Charles Osborne,
General Manager.
Hi Charles
Thank you for the information. We have supplied some images & are always happy to help. Keep in touch.
kind regards
John
Hi, I have some pics of RR232 at Duxford.
If you would like just give us the nod and I will send the
Hi Peter
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, we appreciate your kind offer. Please send your photos to warbirdsonline@bigpond.com
Kind regards
John
Interesting that RR 232 does Not appear in Spitfire History by Morgan And Shacjkady in the DR group. It is missing number in the series. Your comments would be appreciated.
Hello
We do not know why it is not in the publication as the history is well documented.
Kind regards
John
J utting – I’m not sure what you mean by the ‘DR Group’ – miss spelling for ‘RR Group’ maybe? But RR232 is listed on page 371 and 377 of the 1st edition (1987) of ‘Spitfire The History’ which says ‘RR232 HFIX M70 45MU 14-10-44 FAAC 26-10 ROS ECFS 17-3-45 VAO SAAF 5632 21-4-48 Extant, Nowra , Australia.
“…in Australia at that time were MkIIIV…”
That is, indeed, a Spitfire Mark unbeknown to me.
Hi Hugh
Unbeknown to us too! Its obviously a typo. Hope you enjoyed the article otherwise.
Kind regards
John
The fuselage of RR232 was rebuilt and re-skinned for Peter Sledge by Ian Whitney in the 1914 Hangar “210” from @1976 to @1979.
Hi Mark
That’s very interesting. Thank you for the information.
Kind regards
John