Spitfire V Trio

Three Mark 5 Spitfires displaying together at Imperial War Museum, Duxford during the 'Best of 2021 Flying Day' on 9th October 2021. The display begins with a flypast together with The Fighter Collection's Curtiss Hawk H-75A-1 which peels off before completing a solo routine.
Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, EP120, G-LFVB, named 'City of Winnipeg', is one of the most credited historic aircraft with 7 confirmed kills. It's owned and operated by The Fighter Collection.
EP120 was built at the Castle Bromwich factory and went to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in May 1942 with 45 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Kinloss, Scotland and then to 501 Squadron the following month, scoring six of her 'kills' while flown by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Northcott.
She returned to Castle Bromwich for repair after a ground collision and then went to 19 Squadron in Cornwall.
In April 1944 she was taken on charge with 402 Squadron ‘City of Winnipeg’ Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), coded AE-A. These are the colours she wears today.
In June 1944 EP120 went to 33 MU at Lyneham, before moving onto 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Kirton-in-Lindsey.
After time as a ground instructional airframe, EP120 was a gate guard at various RAF stations until 1967, when she was used as a static aircraft in the ‘Battle of Britain’ movie. She then went to RAF Wattisham as a gate guard until 1989, when she was transported to St. Athan along with the rest of the gate guard Spitfires.
EP120 was stored at St. Athan until she joined The Fighter Collection fleet in 1993.
Following a full restoration, EP120 flew again in September 1995.
Spitfire BM597 (G-MKVB) is one of 1000 Spitfires Mk.Vb built at Castle Bromwich against contract B981687/39. Delivered to 37 MU at Burtonwood on 26th February 1942, she was assigned to 315 (Polish) Squadron on 7th May 1942 and on to 317 (Polish) Squadron on 5th September 1942, both at Woodvale.
On 13th February 1943, she suffered category B damage, was repaired and back with 33 MU on 9th June, before being allocated to Vickers Armstrong. BM597 went to 39 MU Colerne on 23rd November before moving to 222 MU at High Ercall (Packing Depot) on 4th January 1944 and then back to 39 MU on 14th April. BM597 was stored there for almost a year until issued to 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU), its last operational unit from which it was retired on 16th October 1945. BM597 then became an instructional airframe 4 School of Technical Training, St Athan as airframe 5713M.
Following St Athan, she was assigned as a gate guardian to Hednesford (1950-1955), Bridgenorth (1955-1960) and Church Fenton (1960-1989). On 23rd January 1967 she was sent from Henlow to Pinewood and used as the master for the moulds that were made to cast the fibre glass replicas used in the film ‘Battle of Britain’. Remaining at Pinewood until August 1968 she returned to Henlow and finally went to Church Fenton in 1969. Tim Routsis, the founder of Historic Flying, recovered the aircraft in 1989 as part of a deal with the RAF and sold it to the Historic Aircraft Collection in 1993, with Historic Flying doing the restoration to original specification. BM597 now flies in the colours of 317 Squadron, though in an earlier camouflage paint scheme.
Spitfire MK Vc EE602, G-IBSY, was built by Westland in Yeovil, Somerset in September 1942, fitted with the universal ‘C’ wing. This allowed for 8 machine guns, 4 x 20mm cannons or a mix of 4 x .303 machine guns and 2 x 20mm cannons. EE602 had the mix of machine guns and cannons. It had a Rolls Royce Merlin 46 engine which produced 1,415 bhp at 3,000 rpm and +16 Ib/sq. in. boost at 14.000 ft.
EE602 started with 66 Squadron - the second Spitfire Squadron to come into existence and fought in the Battle of Britain.
She then went to 129 Squadron. In recognition of the large sums of money that the Indian Government raised through the sale of War Bonds some
squadrons were named after Indian provinces and 129 was named ‘Mysore’ Squadron. EE602's final squadron was 453 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). She completed over 100 Missions including, while with 129 Squadron, escorting the B-17 Flying Fortress ‘Memphis Belle’ back to the English coast after her now famous 25th Mission. EE602 was damaged in a taxying incident and taken off charge.
Individuals, companies, clubs, or counties could buy their own Spitfire for presentation to the RAF in order to help with the cost of the war effort.
They had to collect £5,000 for each donation. One such company
was the Uruguayan Railways which was run at the time by British expats. You will see on EE602’s side ‘Central Railways Uruguayan Staff.’ She was
formally ‘presented’ to 129 Squadron on 31st May 1943.
After a painstaking restoration lasting more than three years, EE602 now flies again in the markings she wore while serving with 129 Squadron.
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[@bobdyer422]

"They fly through the air with the greatest of ease" Excellent Christmas vid! And it didn't leave a mess to clean. Merry Christmas & Thanks!

[@HighFlight]

Thanks Bob. You can't beat Christmas Spitfires! Merry Christmas.🎅😊👍

[@453421abcdefg12345]

A fantastic Christmas video Steve! Many thanks for posting this one, and the extensive history of each aeroplane, which must have taken considerable research on your part, Happy Christmas to you Chris B.

[@HighFlight]

Thanks Chris. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the film and the information. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Steve.

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

*Thank you for posting all of your videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!*

[@pingpong5000]

Rabbit leader here, keep up red 3, taka taka taka, oops did I say that out load, must be getting over excited I blame the sound guess. :)