by Brendon Deere
ISBN 978-0-473-16711-0; ITL Aviation Ltd, New Zealand
The Aviation Bookshop, 31-33 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1BS
8 1/2in x 12in hardback; 304 pages; illustrated
£39.99 plus £5 p&p

The Spitfire has probably attracted more authors than any other aircraft (a quick check on Aeroplane’s bookshelf revealed 44, and we do not have them all by any means), but this one concerns one aircraft, Mk IX PV270, and its restoration from the ground up and return to flying condition in New Zealand.

The author is the nephew of the late Second World War ace Al Deere, the inspiration behind the decision to undertake the restoration. In his foreword, Air Chief Marshal Graham Lintott, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, points out that there was only one New Zealand Spitfire squadron, No 485, formed in March 1941, initially with Mk Is and finishing with Mk IXs. Beginning with a brief account of the Spitfire in general, the book then covers Al Deere’s life (pages 33 to 118) before passing to the history of PV270, built at Castle Bromwich in September 1944. Based in Italy, with some servicing being undertaken by Macchi, it was sold in 1952 to Israel, becoming its 80th Spitfire, coded 2080 with 107 Sqn. After going to the Burmese Air Force as UB424, it eventually became a gate guardian, painted as UB425, then passed to the Air Force Museum in 1995. In 1999 Burma sold a number of aircraft to the USA, including PV270, which was a possible restoration project, but its owner was preoccupied with other projects and sold the Spitfire hulk.

Many colour illustrations show work in progress on the airframe; there was much to be done. The Burmese had secured it on a plinth using four large bolts, then poured cement into the belly to add strength before leaving it in the open for 26 years. A rebuilt Rolls-Royce Merlin 70 was obtained, and on March 18, 2009, PV270 flew for the first time in more than 53 years. A chapter on pilots describes their training and aircraft, and the book is loaded with many illustrations, including colour drawings. This is a splendid example of restoration and a tribute to all those involved.

MIKE HOOKS

RATING: ΘΘΘΘΘ