The wreckage was discovered in 1980 and restored to its original condition. It is to be auctioned for £2.5million

At one point it was almost certainly flown by Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, later Big X of the Great Escape fame

But Spitfire P9374 never made it to Battle of Britain as it crash-landed on French beach and lay hidden for 40 years

The Mark 1 version of the iconic plane was one of the first Spitfires to go into action, and was built in March 1940


One of the earliest Spitfires ever to go into action has gone on sale for £2.5 million after spending 40 years buried in sand on the French beach it crashed on.

The Mark 1 version of Reginald Mitchell's famous design was among the first built in March 1940 but Spitfire P9374, once flown by an airman involved in the Great Escape, never made it to the Battle of Britain as it crash-landed in May 1940.

The fighter plane, dubbed the ballerina because of its grace in the skies, was being piloted by Flying Officer Peter Cazenove over Dunkirk when it was hit by a single bullet from a German Dornier bomber.

Before it was lost, Spitfire P9374 was at one point almost certainly flown by Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, later 'Big X', who was part of the famous breakout from German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III.

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Back in the sky: This iconic Mark 1 plane was among the first built in March 1940, but Spitfire P9374 never made it to the Battle of Britain as it crash-landed over Dunkirk in May 1940. In 1980 the wreckage was discovered when part of it was spotted poking out from its sandy grave

Beached: German soldiers sitting on the Spitfire brought down on the wet sands at Calais by Flying Officer Peter Cazenove. It had been hit by a single bullet from a German Dornier bomber. The plane was consumed by the sandy beach and remained there for 40 years

Captured: The fighter plane (pictured left) was being piloted by Flying Officer Peter Cazenove (right) over Dunkirk when it was hit by a single bullet from a German Dornier bomber. Cazenove was then captured by the Nazis and taken to the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp

Cazenove, a 32-year-old Old Etonian of the stock-broking dynasty flying his first combat mission, had no choice but to bring the aircraft down on the wet sands at Calais, despite radioing in to say 'Tell mother I'll be home for tea!' shortly before doing so.

He was then captured by the Nazis and also taken to the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp, famous for The Great Escape.

The plane became consumed by the sandy beach and remained there for the next 40 years. In 1980 the wreckage was discovered when part of it was spotted poking out from its sandy grave.

It was corroded and covered in barnacles but amazingly still intact. The plane was dragged from the beach and taken to the Musée de l'Air in Paris.

Sadly, Cazenove died just a few weeks before the Spitfire was discovered. Shortly before he passed away he is even said to have told his wife ‘I wonder whatever happened to my Spitfire'.

Steeped in history: A technician with the propeller of the restored Supermarine Spitfire (pictured left) at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and pilot Ken Wilkinson (right), who is photographed with the Spitfire that he flew during the Second World War

Second World War Spitfire pilot Ken Wilkinson posed next to the Mark 1 aircraft at the Imperial War Museum earlier today. The Spitfire, one of the last of its kind remaining, is due to be auctioned for charity on July 9 and is expected to fetch up to £2.5million

Donation: The plane was bought by American billionaire philanthropist Thomas Kaplan after it was discovered in 1980. He had it restored to its original condition and now plans to donate the proceeds from the sale to the RAF Benevolent Fund and wildlife charity Panthera

THE HISTORY OF SPITFIRE P3974 The Spitfire P3974 after its restoration Originally built at the Vickers Armstrong factory in Southampton, Spitfire P3974 was delivered to 92 Squadron at RAF Croydon in March 1940, one of the most celebrated squadrons in the RAF. The Merlin III engine installed in P9374 was built at Rolls-Royce, Derby, on October 27 1939. During Spitfire P9374's service with 92 Squadron it is known to have been flown by at least eight different pilots, and was almost certainly flown by the squadron's commanding officer Squadron Leader Roger Bushell, later 'Big X' of the Great Escape fame. Records show that P9374 had a total flight time of 32 hours and 5 minutes at the time of its loss. Advertisement

Eventually the plane was bought by American billionaire philanthropist Thomas Kaplan, who had it meticulously restored to its original condition by a team of expert engineers.

Mr Kaplan, an Oxford-educated gold trader, owns both of the surviving Mk1 Spitfires.

He has now listed the plane Cazenove piloted for sale through London auctioneers Christie's UK, 75 years since the Battle of Britain, with an estimate of £2.5 million.

He plans to donate the proceeds to the RAF Benevolent Fund and wildlife charity Panthera.

The other Mk1 - N3200 - will be gifted to The Imperial War Museum Duxford.

Mr Kaplan said: 'When my great childhood friend Simon Marsh and I embarked upon this project, it was to pay homage to those who Winston Churchill called The Few, the pilots who were all that stood between Hitler's darkness and what was left of civilization.

'These coming events are more than anything else, concrete gestures of gratitude and remembrance for those who prevailed in one of the most pivotal battles in modern history.

'The return to Duxford of N3200 which was itself piloted by the heroic Commander of RAF Duxford, is an act of love for Britain that began with my and Simon's mutual passion for aircraft and desire to enshrine a British legacy.'

He added: 'The sale of P9374 for charity is likewise an opportunity to share that passion with others and to benefit causes that have moved me since boyhood.

'The RAF Benevolent Fund represents a way to honour that breed who gave so much for Britain when its existence was imperilled.'

John Romain, pilot and chief engineer at the Aircraft Restoration Company which undertook the project, said the original Spitfire is a remarkable piece of Second World War history.

He said: 'We have restored it over the last five years. It came to us quite literally in boxes of parts that had been removed from the beach in France.

'We spent five years restoring it back to its original state - it is unique in that sense.

'We have seen Spitfires at auction before, but many years ago. This one is particularly special, it is very unusual to see a Spitfire like this go to auction.

'It was a special project for me to be involved in.'

Experts say the plane offers a unique insight into the skirmishes Allied pilots faced.

Robert Copley, Christie's UK deputy chairman, said: 'Christie's is proud to be entrusted with the sale of this Spitfire; a truly iconic aircraft which is symbol of the bravery of The Few in the Battle of Britain'. Second World War Spitfire pilot Ken Wilkinson (pictured) with the plane

The cockpit of the restored Supermarine Spitfire, which was one of the first Spitfires ever built in 1940, at Duxford's Imperial War Museum

Records show that the P9374 Spitfire (pictured left and right) had a total flight time of 32 hours and 5 minutes at the time of its loss

THE SCOURGE OF THE LUFTWAFFE When Luftwaffe commander Hermann Göring asked his flying ace Adolf Galland what he needed to win the Battle of Britain, he replied: ‘A squadron of Spitfires.’ The plane was so feared by the Luftwaffe that many Nazi crews claimed to have been shot down by one when they had really been downed by the slower, more numerous, Hurricane. The first plane shot down by a Spitfire was an RAF Hurricane in 1939 in a friendly fire incident known as the Battle of Barking Creek. After D-Day, flying ace Johnnie Johnson organised a supply run of Spitfires with barrels of beer slung under each wing to bring the ‘necessities of life’ to pilots on front-line airfields in Normandy. Spitfires were occasionally painted pink to blend in with the sunset and sunrise when used for low-level reconnaissance flights. Advertisement

Its pilot, Mr Cazenove, who came from a banking dynasty, was part of the ill-fated bid for freedom from Stalag Luft after he had been captured by German forces. He did not manage to get away as he was a big man who couldn't fit in the escape tunnel - which probably saved his life.

Mr Romain said: 'He got involved in the Great Escape, but luckily for him he didn't escape that day. Most of his colleagues who did were then shot.

'He came back to the UK after the war.'

Spitfire P9374 is now flyable once more and will take to the skies again at IWM Duxford in the VE Day Anniversary Air Show on May 23 and 24.

'We have restored 18 Spitfires over the years but have never been asked to restore one to such an exacting standard,' Mr Romain added.

'I've done the test flying and it was beautiful to fly. It really is a beautiful aircraft. It has flown at Duxford and people there started calling it "the ballerina", and that nickname has stuck.'

Mr Kaplan said he embarked on the project because he wanted to 'enshrine a British legacy'.

Robert Copley, deputy chairman of Christie's UK, said: 'Christie's is proud to be entrusted with the sale of this Spitfire; a truly iconic aircraft which is symbol of the bravery of The Few in the Battle of Britain.

'We look forward to seeing this extraordinary Mk.1 Spitfire reach new heights at The Exceptional Sale, which will be a unique moment in auction house history.'

The sale will take place in London on July 9.

The Merlin III engine installed in P9374 was built at Rolls-Royce, Derby, in October 1939. The iconic aircraft's sale will take place on July 9

Taking to the skies: Spitfire P9374 will be flying again at IWM Duxford in the VE Day Anniversary Air Show on May 23 and 24