On October 8, 1940 Supermarine Spitfire I X4590 was taken on charge by 609 (West Riding) Squadron at Middle Wallop in Hampshire. The unit codes 'PR-' were painted on its flanks, as was the individual letter 'F-for-Freddie'. Two days later 23-year-old Pit Off S J Hill took it up for very probably its first operation - an uneventful patrol lasting 70 minutes. Pit Off Hill was again at the helm of 'PR-F on the 11th, 12th and 14th. Using the call-sign Red 2, Hill was airborne in X4590 over Portland on the 21st when he took part in a low-level chase after Junkers Ju 88A-5 8116 '9K+BH' of I/KG5I,which was returning from a raid on Old Sarum,Wiltshire. Hit several times, the twin-engined bomber impacted at Milford on Sea, killing all four on board. Red 2 was awarded half of the 'kill' and the Ju 88 had become 609's 100th enemy aircraft claim. Four days later, Pit Off J Churchin was flying X4590. Upon return to Middle Wallop, the landing was more abrupt than planned. Churchin had left the undercarriage in the 'up' position; thankfully only his pride took a knock. 'F-for-Freddie' was repaired and back in the fight with 609 on November 15, but there we shall leave it as the Battle of Britain was over and won. Spitfire I X4590 flew on with various units until it was allocated for museum purposes on August 28, 1944. It was November 15,1972 when X4590 joined the RAF Museum and it has been on show at Hendon since 1978.
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