Grace ML407 Spitfire Revisits Lyneham
10th May 2003
Between the rain filled clouds, we experienced a remarkable reunion to the Wiltshire skies. A classic Mk Tr. 9 Spitfire that was originally delivered from Lyneham's World War II aerodrome, touched down again at RAF Lyneham nearly 50 years after its first delivery flight.

The ageing Spitfire, in pristine condition, was flown by the only female Spitfire pilot in the world, Carolyn Grace into the Wiltshire base after an awesome air display at the Wessex Show at Frome. It is amazing not only to be visited by such an historic aircraft, but this same aircraft has enormous historic links to Lyneham itself.

Today she is fitted with a Rolls Royce Merlin 25, achieving the same performance below 12,000 feet. ML407 was delivered to 33 Maintenance Unit Lyneham on April 23, 1944, destined for the RAF’s 2nd Tactical Air Force, on the 29th April was delivered by Air Transport Auxiliary ferry pilot Jackie Sorour (now she is Moggridge) to 135 Airfield ALG Selsey. It was allotted to 485 Sqn.(RNZAF) where it was adopted by Flying Officer Johnnie Houlton hence the code OU-V. On 6th June 1944 after weeks of a heavy schedule of dive-bombing and bomber escort duties Houlton shot down a Junkers 88 over ‘Omaha beach’. ML407 and Houlton were credited with the first enemy aircraft to be destroyed on D-DAY.

In the late 1930's and the expansion of the Royal Air Force, Lyneham residents saw the area being surveyed for a possible airfield in 1937. First reconnaissance indicated that the water table would be to near the surface, but this did not become a hindrance the builders arrived in 1939. A local resident recalls the early days when things historically changed in Lyneham village. "Officials came, men dug holes over the fields and decided that was the place for the new station". She remembers vividly the day she was en-route to play her daily game of tennis, to be confronted with industrial machinery changing the loved corn fields, field-paths and lanes into the aerodrome. The Village Green was used to build "phoney" Spitfire Hangers, one camouflaged as a Church.

The Royal Air Force station opened as Number 33 Maintenance Unit on the 18th May 1940 with no ceremonies and very few people. The unit was responsible for maintaining the WWII aircraft in tiptop condition for their numerous battle flights. Today this aircraft registered as G-FLIX flies the skies at many air display around the world. Still in it's original colour scheme, it reminds many folk what a magnificent aircraft the Spitfire was, to bring peace to all of us in Great Britain.

ML407 started performing at air shows, and has featured in films such as "Perfect Lady", and "Piece of Cake". In 1988 Carolyn Grace (already a PPL holder) undertook the task of learning to fly her, soloing in 1990. Carolyn gained her Display Authorisation in 1991, and also holds a CAA Unlimited Formation Display Authorisation. Carolyn is currently the only qualified female Spitfire pilot in the world.