Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 BBMF

Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 | BBMF

BBMF Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB AB910 displays at Shuttleworth Wings and Wheels 30 May 2026

STATUS: Airworthy
LOCATION: RAF Coningsby
OWNER: BBMF
ROLE: Fighter
BUILT: 1941
LENGTH: 9.12 m (29 ft 11 in)
WINGSPAN: 11.23 m (36 ft 10 in)
ENGINE: Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,440 hp
MAXIMUM SPEED: 369 mph (594 km/h) at 19,500 ft
RANGE: 470 miles (756 km)
ARMAMENT: 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannon, 4 × .303 Browning Mk II machine guns

AB910 is regarded as one of the most historically significant flying Spitfires in the world. Unlike many surviving warbirds, it served continuously in front-line operations throughout much of the Second World War and remains airworthy today.

Wartime Service

AB910 entered RAF service in 1941 and served with several RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force units, including No. 222 Squadron RAF, No. 130 Squadron RAF, No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron RAF, No. 416 Squadron RCAF, No. 402 (City of Winnipeg) Squadron RCAF, No. 53 Operational Training Unit and No. 527 Squadron RAF. During an active front-line career spanning nearly three years, the Spitfire flew approximately 143 operational sorties, making it one of the most extensively combat-flown surviving Spitfires.

Battle of the Atlantic

Escorted Allied convoys and shipping protection missions.

Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee), 19 August 1942

Flew combat sorties during the air battles over Dieppe.
Credited with the destruction of a German Dornier Do 217 bomber.

D-Day and Normandy Campaign

Served with No. 402 (City of Winnipeg) Squadron RCAF.
Flew cover patrols over the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944 and during the subsequent campaign.

The “Girl on the Tail” Incident

One of AB910’s most famous stories occurred on 14 February 1945.

Women’s Auxiliary Air Force fitter Margaret Horton was sitting on the Spitfire’s tail during taxiing—a common practice to help balance the aircraft in windy conditions. The pilot forgot she was there and took off.

Realizing something was wrong, the pilot returned and landed safely with Horton still clinging to the tailplane. Both survived unharmed, making it one of the most remarkable stories in RAF flying history.

Post-War Career

Following the war:

Sold to Group Captain Allan Wheeler.
Registered as G-AISU.
Competed in British air races.
Later acquired by Vickers-Armstrong.
Displayed by renowned Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill.

In 1965, Vickers donated AB910 to the RAF, where it joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and has remained part of the fleet ever since.

Restoration and Preservation

AB910 has undergone several major restorations during its long preservation career. After an extensive maintenance and structural renewal programme at Biggin Hill, the aircraft returned to flight in January 2026 and rejoined BBMF operations in its authentic D-Day-era markings representing its service with 402 Squadron RCAF.