Spitfire IX TB863 2024-06-04

This aircraft was originally delivered to No. 19 Maintenance Unit at RAF St Athan on 27 February 1945. It was issued to No. 453 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force based at Matlask, Norfolk on 22 March 1945. After being struck-off as scrap in 1951 following a take-off incident, it was purchased by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a stage prop for their 1955 film on wartime pilot Douglas Bader titled "Reach for the Sky" and in 1967 it was involved in the making of the movie “The Battle of Britain”. Restoration to flying condition began at Booker, UK in 1982, then was sold to Stephen Grey of The Fighter Collection and restoration was begun on 19 February 1986, In 1987 ownership passed to Sir Tim Wallis and the aircraft was moved to New Zealand, where restoration was completed and the aircraft test flown at Wanaka in January 1989. Finally, this aircraft was sold and shipped to Australia after the 2006, where it continues to fly as part of the Temora Aviation Museum collection as VH-XVI.