Unfortunately the BBMF was grounded whilst investigations into a Merlin engine problem were ongoing. Fortunately the BBMF also operate a Griffon engined late Mk PRXIX spitfire which was able to display.

Built at Southampton in 1945, Spitfire PR Mk XIX PS915 entered service just too late to see service in World War Two, joining 541 Squadron at Benson in June 1945 before moving to the PR Development Unit to take part in tests of new cameras.

In April 1947 she was assigned to No 2 Squadron at Wunstorf in Germany, flying ‘Cold War’ strategic reconnaissance sorties in connection with the East/West divide of Europe and during the Berlin Airlift of 1948/49. She was returned to the UK in 1951 and, after a period in storage at Cosford, joined the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring (THUM) Flight at Woodvale in 1954.

The PR designation stands for Photo Reconnaissance and the camera ports can be seen on the underside and side of the fuselage. The PR Spitfire was unarmed and used it's speed and height capabilities to outrun the enemy.