Supermarine Spitfire LFIXe ML417/N2TF flew again from Duxford on 22 June following restoration work with the Aircraft Restoration Company. Owned by Houston, Texas-based Comanche Fighters since 2001, the combat veteran fighter left the UK by sea that December for the USA. ML417 was operated by No 443 Squadron, RCAF from Ford, Sussex during the D-Day period, before the unit headed off on the advance through France. In October 1946 it was converted by Vickers-Armstrongs at South Marston into two-seat trainer configuration and subsequently operated by the Indian Air Force as HS543. After conversion back to single-seat form by Personal Plane Services at Booker during the early 1980s - the trend now seems to be in the other direction - following its first post-restoration flight on 2 February 1984 it was the first Spitfire to be operated as part of Stephen Grey's fleet, going on to become a firm favourite with The Fighter Collection at airshows all over Europe for the next 17 years.
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