// Spitfire
-Project About To Take Off
Spitfire
By Grant Carr
Patience could well have been the watchword for engineer Brendon Deere and his dedicated and enthusiastic team of specialists involved in their labour of love Spitfire resurrection project. But after over five years of re-creating the mount of his famous uncle World War 11 Spitfire ace WGCDR Al Deere, the project is about to reach its zenith.
With a little luck and heaps of preparation on their side the Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1X (call sign: Spitfire Alpha Lima) will take its test flight in mid-March with former RNZAF pilot Keith Skilling at the controls. The aircraft will fly from Base Ohakea and whether it uses the Base’s ample grass runway or avoids the dangers of soft spots by using the new tarmac depends on the wishes of the test pilot.
Outside the Paintshop
Deere’s aircraft, which is now housed at RNZAF’s Historic Flight in Hangar 1, has undergone a substantial part of its repaint with the main camouflage and markings applied. PV270 is being restored in the colour scheme of Alan Deere’s personal Mk 9 Spitfire when he was Wing Leader at Biggin Hill. Still to apply are around 60 different stencils, lines and other markings which complete the original paint specifications for the period. Stencils are now computer generated, greatly simplifying the wartime process which used hand-cut metal stencils.
Mr Deere says he appreciates the work Base Ohakea’s Paintshop personnel put into the project on their own time. ‘Their experience and skill was critical to the project’s success,’ he says.
Mr Brendon Deere
The project’s patron was another legendary New Zealand flying ace with plenty of experience flying Spitfires during World War 11 - WGCDR Johnny Checketts, DSO, DFC, US Silver Star, Polish Cross of Valour.
Johnny was an inspirational force behind the project. Sadly he passed away on 21 April 2006 before he could see the completed aircraft in the markings of his ‘mate’ Al Deere. With the kind permission of his family, he will continue his role of patron to the project ‘from above’.
SQNLDR Sean Perrett
Mr Deere says the unfortunate crash of Doug Brooker’s Supermarine Spitfire on the eve of the Wings over Wairarapa air show hasn’t caused any major rethink of how the aircraft should be flown. ‘It’s just one of those things,’ he says philosophically ‘and I hope to see the aircraft back in the air soon.’
Ironically the Deere Spitfire was originally scheduled to fly at that air show. Now, assuming the aircraft passes its flying test without major adjustments required it will make its first public flying appearance at the South Island’s Omaka air show over Easter with former Air Force pilot John Latham at the controls. And poignantly it is scheduled to fly from RNZAF Base Ohakea on ANZAC Day 2009 under the expert guidance of No.42 Squadron’s SQNLDR Sean Perrett.
Paintshop team
Deere admits he hopes to fly the aircraft himself one day ‘depending on the skill levels required.’ Until recently the project had a very low profile overseas. ‘We’re a long way from the US and Britain but in the past few months strong interest has developed.’
No doubt, public interest in the project will grow exponentially once it completes its test flights.
The icing on the cake will, of course, be its scheduled flight on ANZAC Day. We wish Mr Deere, his fellow team members (engineers Pete Burgess, Joe Deere, Pete Jesten and Daniel Frew) and all other contributors the best of luck in this most worthy of Air Force and New Zealand heritage projects.