Few aircraft embody the story of the Royal Air Force quite like the Supermarine Spitfire. Its elegant elliptical wings, slim fuselage and unmistakable Rolls-Royce Merlin engine made it one of the most celebrated fighters of the Second World War. But AB910 is much more than a beautiful historic aircraft: it is a genuine combat veteran that flew operational missions over France, took part in the fierce air battles surrounding the Dieppe Raid, and later supported the Allied landings in Normandy on D-Day. Today, it remains one of the treasured aircraft of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Built by Supermarine at the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham, AB910 was completed in July 1941. It was a Spitfire Mk.Vb, powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine and armed with two 20 mm Hispano cannon and four .303-inch Browning machine guns. Its early service began with No. 222 Squadron at RAF North Weald, before it moved to No. 130 Squadron at RAF Perranporth in Cornwall. There, it flew convoy protection patrols and escorted daylight bombing raids, helping defend Britain while the Luftwaffe remained a threat across the Channel.
In June 1942, AB910 joined No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, based at Biggin Hill. The Eagle Squadrons were RAF fighter units staffed by American volunteers who had travelled to Britain before the United States officially entered the war. By the time AB910 joined the squadron, these units were flying alongside British and Commonwealth pilots in increasingly intense operations over occupied Europe. The Spitfire’s role was to intercept German fighters, protect Allied bombers and challenge the Luftwaffe over the Channel coast.
One of the most dramatic episodes in AB910’s wartime career came on 19 August 1942, during Operation Jubilee — the Allied raid on Dieppe. The operation involved a major amphibious landing on the French coast, supported by an enormous air battle. AB910 flew four sorties that day, with Flying Officer Eric Doorly flying three of them and Flight Sergeant “Dixie” Alexander flying another. During Alexander’s patrol, he claimed a German Dornier Do 217 bomber, making it the aircraft’s most celebrated individual combat success. The fighting was costly for the RAF, which lost 62 Spitfires that day, but AB910 survived the operation.
Following its service with No. 133 Squadron, AB910 flew with No. 242 Squadron and later with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s No. 416 Squadron. In January 1944, it joined No. 402 Squadron RCAF, known as the “City of Winnipeg” Squadron. By then, Allied preparations for the invasion of occupied Europe were gathering pace, and fighter units were increasingly tasked with patrols and cover missions to protect shipping, airfields and ground forces. On 6 June 1944, AB910 flew beachhead cover patrols over the Normandy invasion area, helping protect the vulnerable Allied forces establishing a foothold in France. It continued flying patrols supporting the invasion until 13 July 1944, bringing its frontline operational career to a close.
14th February 1945, a cold and overcast morning, the Duty Controller at RAF Hibaldstow instructed that ‘rough weather’ procedures should be observed by all, on account of strong winds. As such, a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air force (WAAF), Margaret Ida Horton, assisted the pilot of AB910, Flight Lieutenant Neil Cox DFC, by sitting on the plane’s tail while he taxied to take-off position. This was common practice in order to prevent the aircraft ground looping in the gusty conditions.
The pilot dutifully carried out all necessary checks and – having forgotten Margaret was sitting on the tail entirely – started down the runway and promptly took off. It was immediately clear to the pilot that AB910 was not handling in its usual manner and upon investigating the cause, he quickly realised that poor Margaret was still wrapped around the aircraft’s tail, clinging desperately to its elevator. Fortunately, he was able to turn into the circuit and land AB910.
After the war, AB910 escaped the fate of many surplus military aircraft. It was purchased by Group Captain Allan Wheeler and registered G-AISU, becoming an air racer. Following a heavy landing during the 1953 King’s Cup Air Race, it was refurbished by Vickers-Armstrong. The aircraft was later displayed by renowned Spitfire test pilot Jeffrey Quill, who had played a major role in the development and testing of the Spitfire family. In 1965, Vickers-Armstrong donated AB910 to the RAF, and it joined the historic aircraft flight that would become the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
AB910 also has a particularly unusual story from its post-war training days. On 14 February 1945, while based at RAF Hibaldstow, Flight Lieutenant Neil Cox was preparing to take off in strong winds. A member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, Margaret Horton, had been sitting on the aircraft’s tail to help prevent it ground-looping while taxiing. Cox inadvertently took off with her still clinging to the tail. Fortunately, he recognised that the aircraft was handling strangely, completed a circuit and landed safely. Horton survived the extraordinary incident, which remains one of the most unusual anecdotes in the Spitfire’s long history.
More recently, AB910 underwent an extensive maintenance programme at The Spitfire Company at Biggin Hill, including major structural work to its forward fuselage, tail and wings. On 28 January 2026, after more than two years away from flying, it completed a successful post-maintenance air test. The RAF reported that the aircraft would return to the BBMF once weather and further rectification work permitted. Its new markings represent the Spitfire as it appeared on D-Day in 1944, when serving with No. 402 Squadron RCAF — a historically meaningful scheme that brings the aircraft back to one of the defining moments of its service.
Today, AB910 is a flying memorial to the RAF and Commonwealth aircrew who fought across the skies of Europe. Operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from RAF Coningsby, it appears at commemorations, flypasts and airshows, helping keep the history of wartime aviation alive.