Warbird Information Exchange

Legendary Spitfire is to fly again
By JOHN MYERS - Feilding Herald | Tuesday, 13 January 2009
A former Rangitikei College teacher turned international businessman, Brendon Deere, from Marton, is on the verge of completing the project of a lifetime - re-creating the mount of his illustrious uncle, World War II Spitfire ace Al Deere.


Yesterday morning Manawatu's worst-kept aviation secret, Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX serial PV270, veteran of four air forces, travelled by road from the Feilding Aerodrome hangar where it has spent five years undergoing a total overhaul.

It's now at RNZAF Base Ohakea, where it will undergo final preparation for its first flight since 1956.

One of the most successful and numerous versions of the legendary British fighter, Spitfire PV270 is, in all essential respects, identical to the Mk IX flow by Wing Commander Al Deere, DFC and Bar, DSO, OBE, CdeG, DFC(US) from 1943 as commander of the fighter units based at the famous RAF base Biggin Hill.

PV270 will be finished identical - except for the lack of weaponry - to the plane that carried the identification letters AL on scores of missions.

Weeks before the Battle of Britain, July-October 1940, King George VI awarded Deere his first Distinguished Flying Cross.

In the course of the great air conflict he won his second (the bar). His war career record was 22 enemy aircraft down, 10 probable, 10 damaged. He was New Zealand's second-ranking ace after Group Captain Colin Gray.

Deere retired from the RAF as air commodore in 1971. While he visited New Zealand - notably to appear on This Is Your Life for wartime mate Johnny Checketts - he never lived here after the war.

Nephew Brendon says he developed a relationship with his uncle late in his life and developed tremendous respect for him.

Having become a private pilot, it was about 10 years ago that the idea of getting involved in the warbirds movement began to develop - but the great leap into buying a Spitfire and restoring it happened very quickly when "the right machine" became available from the Myanmar Republic (Burma).

The restoration, led by specialist warbird engineer Greg Johnson and with a team of professionals that has varied from four or five to about nine, has become even more of a family affair. Mr Deere's son Joe has been involved throughout and has used the restoration as the practical side of his work toward aviation engineer qualifications, mentored by the team leaders.

"It's amazing what we have been able to do locally," Mr Deere says of the project which has seen only a few components worked on overseas, such as the engine and propeller.

He has engaged top New Zealand warbird pilot Keith Skilling, a senior captain with Air New Zealand, to undertake the test flying programme, and says he's hugely gratified that the RNZAF has agreed to help in the final stages of preparation and in allowing Ohakea's big new runway to be used for the tests.

The first flight is about a month away.

That's very good news. How long is the big runway at that base? The bulges on the wing tops for the cannons look larger that I am used to, more like a Mk XIV. Where did Al Deere live if not in NZ?

Wow, exciting news! Will this be the first ex-Burmese Spit to take to the air? What is the status on the other ones]?

Yes

SL633 well advanced for a US customer at HFL Duxford.

ML119 in store in the UK pending restoration.

PeterA

Thanks for the info, Peter! Are you at liberty to say who SL633 belongs to?

Err...no. Not without asking.

P

The owner of Spitfire SL633 is John Sessions, who is based at Paine Field in Washington State. The info is public knowledge as it is on the Historic Aircraft Foundation website http://www.kilo6.org/spitfire1.html.

The story of how the serial number was discovered is in a two part article in Flypast Magazine De07 and Jan 08. Written by Peter A, it only took 23 years to sleuth it out !!

mrp

I thought you Spitfire enthusiasts might like to see photos of my R/C model of Al Deere's Spitfire alongside the real thing, but I can't see how to upload the photos. I need help!!