Researched 2026-10-11 from the sources listed below. Airframes move between hangars, workshops and loans: check with Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre before travelling to see this one.
The airframe in brief
| Serial / registration | P7350 |
|---|---|
| Type | Supermarine Spitfire IIa |
| Built | Castle Bromwich (believed 14th Spitfire built there) |
| Entered service | August 1940 |
| Units / operator | 266 and 603 Sqns (Battle of Britain); later 64 and 616 Sqns; BBMF |
| Arrived | BBMF, 5 November 1968 |
| Markings | 54 Sqn KL-B (Al Deere) from 2019 |
| Status | Airworthy |
| Where | Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre, Lincoln |
The story of P7350
P7350 is believed to be the 14th of 11,989 Spitfires built at the Castle Bromwich factory. It entered RAF service in August 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain.
During the battle it flew with 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron and then 603 Squadron. It later served with 64 and 616 Squadrons. It is the only Spitfire that fought in the Battle of Britain still flying, and the oldest airworthy Spitfire anywhere.
It joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on 5 November 1968 and has flown with the Flight ever since. Its colour schemes have changed over the years to mark individual pilots and squadrons.
For the Flight's 50th anniversary in 2007, it wore 603 Squadron's XT-L for two seasons. These were the markings of Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton's personal aircraft. In 2019 it was repainted as KL-B of 54 Squadron, representing Al Deere's aircraft of July and August 1940.
It remains on the Flight's strength as an airworthy aircraft, based at RAF Coningsby.
Seeing P7350 today
When not away at displays or in maintenance, P7350 can be seen in the BBMF hangar at RAF Coningsby on the Visitor Centre's guided tours.
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors CentreLincoln, Lincolnshire | £12.50 | 11 | Lancaster PA474 — one of only two airworthy Lancasters on Earth — when she's home (she periodically visits Duxford for deep maintenance,… |
Also known as: Spitfire P7350 · Spitfire Mk 2a · BBMF Spitfire · KL-B · XT-L · oldest airworthy Spitfire