The RAF in Suffolk

BBMFs Spitfire Mk XVI TE311 was taken on charge by the Air Ministry on 8th June 1945, exactly one month after VE Day. So this June sees the aircrafts 75th birthday!

TE311 was built at the Castle Bromwich shadow factory as a low back, clipped wing, Rolls-Royce Merlin 266 powered L.F.XVIe. It was delivered from Castle Bromwich to No 39 Maintenance Unit at Colerne on 16th June 1945 and placed in storage. It was allocated to the Empire Central Flying School Handling Squadron on 5th October that year. In all, with spells on the ground and long periods in storage in between bouts of flying, TE311 flew for a total of only about 12 months. When it was transferred to non-effective stock in December 1954 it had only some 30 hours on the clock.