Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia X4009
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia X4009 was flown by Australia’s top-scoring Battle of Britain ace, Flight Lieutenant Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC.
This historic aircraft, known as The Pat Hughes Spitfire, was generously donated to Hunter Fighter Collection Incorporated by Ross and Ann-Maree Pay. Spitfire X4009 is currently being restored to airworthy condition by Vintage Fighter Restorations, and once completed will operate as a flying memorial to Pat Hughes.
HFC commenced the restoration of Spitfire X4009 with an Australian Commonwealth Grant from the Saluting Their Service program and is seeking corporate donors and sponsors to help progress the restoration and rebuild.
Your support is vital to help complete this restoration. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC
Flight Lieutenant Paterson ‘Pat’ Clarence Hughes DFC was Australia’s highest-scoring Battle of Britain ace. Pat is credited with as many as 17 aerial victories during the aerial campaign of summer 1940, ranking him sixth in the Ace of Aces. Ten of his victories were scored in X4009.
On 7 September 1940, 22-year-old Pat was killed after an engagement with a Luftwaffe Dornier Do 17 south-east of London when his parachute failed to open after bailing from his damaged Spitfire.
The Restoration
The wreck of X4009 was acquired by Ross and Ann-Maree Pay and donated to Hunter Fighter Collection. A substantial amount of material was recovered, making this an unusual Spitfire restoration. Initial work on the fuselage assembly commenced at Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight, UK, funded by a $150,000 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grant from the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs.
The engine and wreckage, amounting to nearly 500 kg, has been shipped from the UK to Scone. Full restoration to airworthy status will be undertaken by Vintage Fighter Restorations at Scone, NSW. Once completed, Spitfire X4009 will reside permanently in Australia with Hunter Fighter Collection and cannot be sold, ensuring the aircraft always remains accessible to the Australian public.
X4009 Replica
The HFC technical team has assembled a Spitfire replica from GB Replicas, UK, constructed as a Mk IX and painted in the colour scheme of X4009. This replica is on display while the original aircraft undergoes restoration.
Mobile Fuselage Display
HFC has also secured a Spitfire fuselage on loan for fundraising purposes. The fuselage structure has been completed with a skin applied and accurately painted as a representation of Spitfire Mk Ia X4009. Unusable original components from the real X4009 have been added to the display, and it has been fitted with accurate equipment and fittings. Once mounted on a trailer, it travels to airshows, ceremonies, and events to publicise and raise funds for the restoration.