’St. George’ Spitfire HF - TD314 - Aero Legends

Aero Legends Supermarine Spitfire HF , TD314, G-CGYJ, the ’St. George’ Spitfire, flying at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford Airfield on Saturday 15 April 2022. TD314 was built at Castle Bromwich in late 1944 and fitted with a Merlin 70 as a High Level Fighter (HF ). She was one of the last high back Spitfires built, as the production line switched to low back aircraft in February 1945. She was delivered to 33 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Lyneham on 30th March 1945, transferring later that month to 30 MU before a further move to 6 MU where she was prepared for service with 183 (Gold Coast) Squadron at Chilbolton on the 24th June 1945. 183 squadron only kept its Spitfires for a short time before re-equipping with Tempests. TD314 then moved to 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron at RAF Bentwaters on 26th July 1945. It is in this squadrons colours that she is currently finished with the squadron codes of FX-P. Whilst with 234 Squadron it is possible that TD314 took part in the 1945 Battle of Britain flypast over London. When 234 squadron converted to Meteors, TD314 was transferred to 29 MU at RAF High Ercall for disposal, on the 27th February 1946. In early 1948 TD314 was selected as one of 136 Spitfire IXs to be sold to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and she was sent to 47 MU at RAF Sealand, where she was packed for shipment. She left Birkenhead on the SS Clan Chattan on 23rd April and arrived at Cape Town on the 12th May 1948. Details of her use with the SAAF are not known but she was sold for scrap to the South African Metal & Machinery CO, Salt River, Cape Town, sometime during 1954. She remained in the scrap yard until recovered by Larry Barnett of Johannesburg in 1969. From there she passed through the hands of several owners before arriving in the UK via Canada in 2009. She was acquired by Aero Legends in 2011 and restoration started at Biggin Hill, culminating in a first post restoration flight on the 7th December 2013. TD314 has been named “St. George” which is prominently displayed on the fuselage. Video and Audio content is Copyright © High Flight This video and audio material may not be reproduced in any form (except as the videos Youtube embedded video option on any other website), without written permission.