1942 Spitfire MkVb EP122

EP122 Mk Vb ‘The Malta Spitfire’

Ordered 23/8/41, EP122 was one of the fourth batch of Spitfires, numbering 904 aircraft, to be built at the Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory. Final assembly in tropical spec complete with the large chin-mounted air filter.

Once accepted onto the RAF strength, the aircraft was then disassembled and crated on 8 June 1942 for shipment to the North African theatre of operations.

Shipped to Gibraltar and assigned to Malta where it was repainted into Temperate Sea Scheme (extra dark sea grey and slate grey over sky)

Claude Weaver, the youngest Allied WW2 ace:
Claude Weaver enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 13th February 1941. After earning his wings and briefly flying in the UK, he joined No.185 Sqn at Malta, from July to September 1942. With 10.5 victories and 3 probables, he was shot down on 9th September 1942 and taken prisoner. After a year, he escaped from his PoW camp, walked 300 miles to freedom and began flying again, this time with No.403 Sqn RCAF. He scored another two victories before being shot down once more.

On 28th January 1944, he was shot down by Gerhard Vogt of JG26, who watched as Weaver escaped from his aircraft. His parachute became entangled in the tail of the stricken aircraft and Weaver was dragged down to the crash site, where he lay, still alive, just metres from his aircraft. He was taken to hospital by the Germans, but died a few hours later.