AA39216 Supermarine Spitfire MkI - RAF No.222 Sqn - Flt Lt Douglas Bader (Battle of Britain 85)

Unquestionably one of the most famous military pilots to have ever lived, the story of Douglas Bader’s life is extraordinary, and could even be likened to reading about some mythical heroic figure from the pages of a ‘Boys’ Own’ magazine. Losing both his legs in a pre-war flying accident, the Second World War allowed Bader to rejoin the Royal Air Force, with his drive and determination later becoming the inspiration for an entire nation. 

After successfully completing a refresher course, Bader was initially posted to No.19 Squadron at Duxford, then on to No.222 Squadron at Hornchurch as a Flight Leader, both to fly the Spitfire Mk.I. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I P9443 was the 606th Spitfire built and was subsequently delivered to the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1940. She was initially flown to No.6 Maintenance Unit at Brize Norton, then on to No.222 Squadron at Hornchurch on 4th June. 

She was a standard mid-production Mk.I Spitfire, presented in the standard markings of an Operation Dynamo fighter, with Night/White and Aluminium undersides. Bader used this aircraft to score his first aerial victory over a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 1st June 1940 as he took part in Operation Dynamo, when what he thought must have been a novice pilot flew straight in front of his Spitfire, taking no evasive action when he opened fire on it.