Supermarine Rolls-Royce Spitfire Mk XIX PS853 | Rolls-Royce

The Spitfire PR Mk XIX was the last of the specialised photo reconnaissance Spits and the only one with a Griffon engine, being delivered to the RAF from mid-1944 to shortly after the end of WWII. The Mk XIX was unarmed and could carry two vertical cameras and/or one oblique camera in a heated compartment aft of the cockpit. ‘Alone, unarmed and unafraid’ was the motto adopted by the RAF’s photo-reconnaissance units during wartime, the speed and operating altitudes of the Spitfires used for the purpose enabling them often to avoid enemy attentions.

Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX PS853 was one of 79 Mk XIXs built at Supermarine’s factory in Southampton, England. In January 1945, PS853 was delivered to the Central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire before being transferred to the 2nd TAF’s 34 Wing and 16 Squadron RAF at Melbroek, and later Eindhoven, in Holland. With the code “C” it flew some nine operations against German V-weapon sites. In September 1945, PS853 was transferred to 268 Squadron RAF and with the end of the war returned to the UK and 29 MU at High Ercall. In July of 1957, PS853 participated in the inaugural “Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Flight”, now called the “Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.” The aircraft was acquired by Rolls-Royce, plc. in the mid-1990s and following a major restoration effort performed by The Aircraft Restoration Company, the Rolls-Royce Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX PS853, flew once again at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire, England.

While in the care of The Aircraft Restoration Company, the Spitfire was completely de-rivitted and re-skinned and was treated to a repaint which returned the plane to its appearance when it served in the RAF’s 16th Squadron in 1945. Spitfire PR Mk.XIX PS853 (registered G-RRGN) continues to be owned and operated by Rolls-Royce, plc and is part of the aerospace company’s permanent collection of historical aircraft.

Photo Gallery