2nd TAF SPITFIRE

Signed on the title page by

Johnnie Houlton DFC  ~ 485(NZ) Squadron
Carolyn Grace

British Aviation Heritage first edition 1986.  105 pages and well illustrated with photographs, including some in colour, colour profiles of her various liveries, copies of Houlton’s logbook pages and Squadron ORB extracts.

Near Fine condition card cover book in Quarto size (9 x 8 inches).  Some gentle rubs and marks to the covers but very presentable.

The story of Spitfire ML407 which served with 6 squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Normandy, Belgium, Holland and into Germany.  Her pilot on D-Day, New Zealander Flt Lt Johnnie Houlton of 485 Squadron, is credited with the first aircraft shot down over the Second Front.

Miraculously surviving the war and the scrapman, she had a further career as a 2 seater in the Irish Air Force, and after years in storage, was returned to flying condition by Nick Grace. Nick was tragically killed in a road accident shortly afterwards and the mantle of maintaining, flying and displaying ML407 was taken up by his widow, Carolyn Grace. ML407 has since become one of the best known Spitfires in the world.

This book was produced about the same time as a TV programme about her called ‘The Perfect Lady’ in which Johnnie Houlton was reunited with, and flew in, his wartime aircraft, and he contributed the forward to this book.

A scarce Spitfire book signed by two pilots most associated with her history. Perfect for a Spitfire enthusiast or anyone who has ever had the good fortune to fly in The Grace Spitfire.