Spitfire XIX and Hunter T7 formation

Supermarine Spitfire PS853 was built at Southampton and delivered to the Central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson on 13 January 1945, before moving to Belgium and Holland. The aircraft was engaged on active service with 16 Squadron up until the end of the war and participated in “Operation Crossbow” to detect V1 and V2 launch sites.
At the end of the war it remained on duty in Germany until March1946 when it returned to the UK and was placed in storage. In 1950, PS853 was one of several Mk XIX Spitfires assigned to conduct meteorological research, known as the Temperature and Humidity of the Upper Air Masses (THUM) Flight. PS853 performed the last ever THUM sortie on 10 June 1957. Along with sister XIXs PM631 and PS915, PS853 retired into ceremonial and display duties to form the RAF’s Historic Aircraft Flight, the forerunner of today’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).

Hawker Hunter WV318 was originally built as an F.4 and delivered to 5MU at RAF Kemble on 16th June 1955. When put up for disposal she was one of the last Hunters to serve with the RAF. Just before she was retired, she was painted black along with the other three Hunters at Lossiemouth to commemorate 40 years of the type and carried the 111 Squadron (Black Arrows) crest.