Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX LZ842 | Mark Bennett

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX LZ842 flown by owner Mark Bennett at Shuttleworth Premier Airshow 2025
  • STATUS: Airworthy
  • LOCATION: Biggin Hill
  • OWNER: Mark Bennett
  • ROLE: Fighter
  • BUILT: 1943
  • LENGTH:  9.12 m/29 ft 11 in
  • WINGSPAN: 11.23 m/36 ft 10 in
  • ENGINE: Rolls Royce Merlin 63 
  • MAXIMUM SPEED:  440mph/708 kph
  • RANGE: 432 miles/698 km
  • ARMAMENT: 4 x Wing Mounted 303 British Machine Guns, 2 x 20mm cannons

Spitfire LZ842 built in Castle Bromwich in April 1943. Originally destined to be an Mk V, but production had moved on to the Mk IX at that stage with LZ842 following suit.

The aircraft was due to be sent to North Africa, but with the surrender of the Axis forces in Tunisia it was assigned to 93 Squadron at Hal Far in Malta flying 15 numerous sorties during the invasion of Sicily.

Transferring to 253 Squadron from Borgo, Corsica, it was used on a number of escorting missions for bombing raids over Italy before again being transferred to 327 (Free French) Squadron.

Following a landing accident, the aircraft was eventually returned to England after the war before being allocated to the South African Air Force. Very little information is known about its time in South Africa, but eventually the aircraft was no longer required and broken up in a scrap yard until Larry Barnett discovered it.

The airframe went through a number of owners before ending up in Queensland, Australia, where the fuselage was restored to static condition by Ross Campbell. Campbell eventually sold the aircraft to Spitfire specialist Peter Monk who then sold it on to its current owner, Mark Bennett.

Restored by Peter Monk’s Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, LZ842 flew again in June 2021. The aircraft is maintained by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and is also based at the historic airport of the same name.

This is also the only Spitfire flying in the world with a Rolls Royce Merlin 63. Another unique feature is the fitment of a water tank for the pilot, something only fitted to Spitfires operating in hotter climates. It’s  believed to be the second earliest Mk IX Spitfire in an airworthy condition.

Photo Gallery

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX LZ842 parked at the Shuttleworth Premier Airshow 2025 ahead of her display.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX LZ842 taxies out to display at the Shuttleworth Premier Airshow 2025.