Perks of the Job.

[Air Ministry .]

Thought might be of a bit of intrest , as its the U.S. Consuls Secratary !







Its a Mk XI Spitfire . P.R. , still exists , was rotting at Old Warden for years .

  apparently met its demise in 2001 . 

https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/54230438e5274a1314000be3/Vickers-Supermarine_Spitfire_PR_XI__G-PRXI_05-03.pdf

one on a Blenhiem I think , was caused by something like a wrong spring in the carburator .
Thousands of parts and every one has to be 100 % + spot on , thereabouts .




a bunch of Spitfire pilots . Theyre not wearing skirts and theyre not Scotsman . at least some of them arnt . or is that Scotswoman . 

[qaz049]

Mmm, an effeminate looking lot. Some of those chaps have breasts :-)

[John Park]

Folks:
The ladies were ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) ferry pilots: the lady in the Spitfire's cockpit in the main photo looks exactly like a noted British aviatrix called Lettice Curtis, herself an ATA pilot and probably included in the group photo though I can't pick her out.  They flew every type there was - Hawker Tempests, Avro Lancasters, Short Sunderlands even, and in all weathers.  An intrepid bunch!

Regards
John

[John Park]

Folks:
Further to my above, the big colour photo does indeed show Lettice Curtis at the 1948 Lympne air races, preparing to fly the American air attache's Spitfire XI, in which I believe she did rather well (I think she beat John Cunningham's De Havilland Vampire on handicap).  She died in 2014 at the grand old age of 99.

Regards
John