BBMF Media pack 2025 | Page 17

© Claire Hartley

Spitfire PR Mk XIX PM631

Spitfire PR Mk XIX PM631 is thought to have been built at Reading and was delivered to Southampton in May 1944 , where it appears to have been used for tests . Although it did not serve operationally , it is representative of similar high altitude photographic reconnaissance Spitfires which did . Spitfire PR XIXs were unarmed but could fly at 370 mph at 40,000 feet ( with pressurised cockpits ) and had a range of 1,500 miles . By March 1946 , PM631 was at RAF Benson , where it remained until May 1949 when it was issued to 203 Advanced Flying School . After being modified for meteorological work , she was flown by civilian pilots with the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring ( THUM ) Flight based at Hooton Park and Woodvale from 1951 to 1957 . The THUM Flight made daily ascents to 30,000ft to gather meteorological information . On 11 July 1957 , PM631 was flown to Biggin Hill from
Duxford by World War Two fighter ace Gp Capt Jamie Rankin DSO * DFC *, in formation with two other THUM Flight Mk XIX Spitfires , PS853 and PS915 , to form the Historic Aircraft Flight which later evolved into the BBMF . PM631 is the longest continuously serving aircraft of the BBMF and still remains in the colour scheme she wore on 11 July 1957 when the flight was established , therefore PM631 is in colours authentic to its own history and tells the story of the founding of the BBMF .