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Spitfire
MEMORIAL HIGHLIGHT
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa, P7973
Fighter Aircraft, Second World War
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Australian Air Force and Allied air forces during Second World War. This particular machine saw service with Australian, English and Czech Squadrons, as well as with a number of operational training units and the Central Gunnery school. During its service with 452 Squadron, it was flown by one of Australia's greatest air aces, 'Bluey' Truscott.
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In the National Collection
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa, P7973, is preserved in the Australian War Memorial's National Collection.
About the Spitfire
Type: Fighter aircraft
Make: Vickers Armstrong Ltd
Model: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa
Serial number: P7973
Squadron code: R-H
Call sign: -
Service:
222 (Natal) Squadron, Royal Air Force
452 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
313 (Czech) Squadron
Conflict: Second World War
Missions: -
1941: Built
1941-42: Military service
1941: Crashed in France while serving with 313 (Czech) squadron
1944-45: Acquired by the Australian War Memorial (RELAWM31795.001)
Keith "Bluey" Truscott is one of Australia's best-known flying aces of the Second World War. Equally notable was Truscott's fame on the football field, playing Australian Rules for Melbourne's premiership team in 1939.
Truscott enlisted in the RAAF on 21 July 1940 and, within a year, was deployed to No. 452 Squadron in England. Although he was not a natural pilot, Truscott gradually earned his wings - achieving his first airborne victory his Spitfire (P7973) in August 1941. Over the next three months he totted up a further 11 victories and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in in October 1941. Truscott was promoted and went on to serve with No. 76 Squadron in Milne Bay and later Western Australia - continuing to fly in Spitfires and Kittyhawks.
Truscott was killed in action during a training flight over the Exmouth Gulf on 28 March 1943.
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Learn more about "Bluey" Truscott on the Australian War Memorial's website, or take a look at these items, held in the Memorial's National Collection to discover more of the story.
View his portrait, Squadron Leader Keith Truscott by Alfred Cook.
View "Bluey's" watch
View Truscott's place on the Roll of Honour.
Please note: all links listed below are to external websites.
For more details about the Spitfire's service:
- Australian War Memorial Wartime article “Spitfires on the Continent” by Dr Karl James - https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/66/spitfires
- Australian War Memorial encyclopedia, "452 Squadron" - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U59437
- Australian War Memorial encyclopedia, "76 Squadron" - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U59414
