BUILT

P8081, Fl/Lt. Tomáš Vybíral, No.312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF Ayr, Great Britain, November 1941

Spitfire Mk.IIa P8081 was painted in scheme type A. From both sides of the fuselage there is a light gray inscription GARFIELD WESTON IV.

It is one of 16 aircraft funded by Willard Garfield Weston, Canadian member of the House of Commons. This philanthropist was owner of the

Allied Bakeries. He also helped to create a canteen system in the London Underground during the Blitz bombing offensive. P8081 first served

with the No.222 Sqn, where Sgt. Burgess used it to damage a Ju 88 in April 1941. Later on the Spitfire was assigned to Australian No.452 Sqn

for about a month and from October till December it was used by Czechoslovak No.312 Sqn. A number of pilots flew with P8081, including

F/Sgt Václav Šlouf. On November 17th, it was damaged by F/Lt. Tomáš Vybíral after landing in poor visibility. This pilot scored 7 victories in

the French Air Force and achieved the rank of Wing Commander in the RAF. After the war he emigrated from Czechoslovakia and joined the

anti-communist resistance.

#648580 Spitfire Mk.I exhaust stacks (Brassin)

#648579 Spitfire Mk.I wheels (Brassin)