A mere 52 years on from my first shot of this famous two-seater Spitfire (here), this is how she looks now. Repainted from its RAF livery (MT818) in USAAF colours for the 2025 season, it represents Spitfire IX MH894 as flown by Lt John E Fawcett of the 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group. Deployed to Gibraltar in November 1942, it operated in North Africa and then the Italian campaign. The name "Lady Ellen III" is after the pilot's wife Ellen; they were married in May 1942 just before he deployed to Europe