Spitfire Mk.IX

An aircraft that we think of as a sentimental favourite for all of New Zealand is Brendon Deere's beautifully restored Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX. This aircraft came to be restored here in New Zealand as the result of a desire by Brendon to pay homage to his uncle Al Deere, a WW-II Spitfire pilot who became a legend in his own time as he endured a broad range of trials as an RAF fighter pilot through the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain and beyond. His autobiography NINE LIVES remains a 'must read' for any enthusiast or student of WW-II flying and provides a wonderful insight into the challenges associated with surviving in this hostile environment which in the case of Al Deere, included numerous narrow escapes in which his aircraft was destroyed but he managed to survive to fight on.

Image: Spitfire Mk.IX - Photo by Gavin Conroy

Brendon's Spitfire enjoyed a long and involved career, flying with the RAF, the Italian Air Force, the Israeli Air Force and eventually with the air force of Burma. The aircraft was recovered as a long static gate guardian, taken to the USA and then sold to New Zealand as a restoration project.  Brendon set about restoring the aircraft with a home grown team of dedicated enthusiasts and completed it in time to make its debut at our Classic Fighters Airshow here at Omaka over the Easter weekend of 2009. In addition to the Spitfire, Brendon has added a Harvard and the magnificent Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber to the fleet and now has a genuine ex-RNZAF P-51D Mustang under restoration to fly. All of the fleet can be found at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre at RNZAF Base Ohakea in the lower North Island.

It is always a great thrill for us to welcome the Deere family and their team back to Omaka!

Image: Spitfire Mk.IX

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About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.