Spitfire Mk I R6613 of No 92 Squadron RAF, as it would have appeared on the day it was lost in combat, 11 September 1940. (Illustration © Gaëtan Marie)
UK-based Spitfire enthusiast and author Greg Davis has reached a significant milestone with his long-running Spitfire Mk I restoration project. The aircraft, Supermarine Spitfire Mk I R6613, has successfully passed inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority and is now officially registered as G-RRST.
The legendary 29-victory British ace Robert Stanford-Tuck.
The chosen registration pays tribute to Squadron Leader Roland Robert Stanford Tuck, who flew R6613 on seven occasions during the Battle of Britain. The aircraft itself has a notable combat history: on 11 September 1940 it claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 before being shot down later the same day. Its pilot at the time, Jim Paterson, managed to bail out safely, though he suffered burn injuries.
R6613’s manufacturer plate and a copy of Robert Stanford-Tuck’s logbook. (Photo courtesy Greg Davis)
The restoration project is particularly complex, comprising more than 200 individual structures, parts, and recovered fragments, all supported by strong provenance. It also carries added historical weight, as the late Peter Arnold was able to contribute to the CAA review process shortly before his passing, lending further authority to the aircraft’s documentation and approval.
With the registration now secured, Greg Davis has made clear his ambition to return R6613 to the air in single-seat configuration. To achieve this, he is actively seeking an investment partner to provide the financial backing required to complete the restoration and bring this historically significant Spitfire back to flying condition. Greg Davis can be reached at the address ttssp@outlook.com.
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