Cutaway Design Mug - Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX, MH434 Flown in combat by South African Pilot Flt Lt Henry Lardner-Burke, No. 222 Squadron, RAF
This World War II Fighter Cutaway Mug is made in the U.S.A. by the same fine company that produces the beautiful museum quality wood cutaways. On one side, a detailed full color rendering of the aircraft. On the other side, a detailed, extremely accurate cutaway drawing. This beautiful 11 ounce mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.
Perhaps the most famous of all Spitfires still flying today, MH434 was built in 1943 at Vickers, Castle Bromwich. This Spitfire is completely original, and has never been fully rebuilt. A delight to fly, the aircraft is beautifully responsive and extremely maneuverable.
At the beginning of August 1943, MH434 was air tested by Alex Henshaw - a record breaking pilot from pre-war days. Within the month MH434 was scoring with 222 Squadron. It was flown in combat by South African pilot Flt Lt Henry Lardner-Burke, DFC (1916-1970), seven and a half kills, three damaged, retiring as a Wing Commander. On the 27 August in the St Omar area over France, Lardner-Burke shot down a Focke-Wulf FW-190 and damaged a second during a mission to escort USAAF B-17 bombers. On the 5 September 1943 Lardner-Burke and MH434 shot down another FW-190 in the Nieuport area, and on the 8 September 1943 claimed a half share in the downing of a Messerschmitt Bf-109G in Northern France.
In 1944 MH434 was transferred to 350 Sqn. Hornchurch, before being returned to 222 Sqn. After 79 operational sorties, MH434 was retired in March 1945.
MH434’s guns were loaded again when bought by the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1947. The Spitfire served with 322 Sqn. As H-105 - mainly ground strafing and light bombing missions - before crash-landing in Semarang, Java. After spending some time in storage, MH434 was repaired and flew again in Holland on the 10 March 1953.
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