RAF Museum Midlands Spitfire Tour
Published on: 29 April 2022
Between 15 May and 17 July 2022, the RAF Museum Midlands is taking a Spitfire on tour. Coming to a location in the Midlands near you!
To celebrate 50 years of sharing the RAF stories from across the Midlands, our Spitfire will be leaving home from Cosford and visiting towns and cities across the Midlands. Come along and see the Spitfire yourself, make sure you take a photo, and tag #RAFMuseum #SpitfireSelfie
The Spitfire
Our rare Supermarine Spitfire Photo Reconnaissance PR.XIX PM651 is starring on this tour.
The PR. XIX is fitted with the Griffon engine as opposed to the Merlin engine used in earlier models and was notably faster than its predecessor. Distinctly, PR. XIX had extra fuel tanks in place of the machine guns, a retractable tail wheel making its profile more streamlined, and a pressurised cabin critical for the high-altitude reconnaissance flights.
Dates and locations
Saturday 14, Sunday 15 May Telford Southwater Central Library
Saturday 18, Sunday 19 June Coventry Millennium Place
Saturday 25, Sunday 26 June Shrewsbury Quarry Park
Saturday 16, Sunday 17 July Leicester Jubilee Square
Where is the Spitfire going next?
Coventry Millennium Place
Saturday 18, Sunday 19 June 2022
Pop down to see us at Millennium Place in Coventry on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. No booking required, just turn up and remember to tag your photos on social media with #RAFMuseum #SpitfireSelfie to be in with a chance of winning a prize bundle worth £50 (Terms and Conditions apply).
Spitfire connections in the Coventry Area – Coventry Fighter Fund
P7940 was the first Spitfire bought with proceeds from the Coventry Fighter Fund set up by the Midland Daily Telegraph (now the Coventry Telegraph) in 1940.The paper urged readers to contribute to the Fund. In three weeks £18,000 was raised – enough to purchase three Spitfires
P7490 served throughout the Second World War with various squadrons, taking part in aerial combats on fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions. It suffered two crashes, shot down one Messerschmitt Bf 109, and even undertook air sea rescue patrols over the Channel. It was sold for scrap in March 1946.
Where has the Spitfire been?
Telford Southwater Central Library – 14 and 15 May 2022
Visit the RAF Museum Midlands
Visit the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford and explore the RAF Story. We have lots to offer all the family. Book your free tickets now!