Spitfire PR Mk XIX PS915 entered service just too late for the war, joining 541 Squadron at Benson in June 1945 before moving to the Photo Reconnaissance Development Unit to take part in tests of new cameras. Assigned to 2 Squadron at Wunsdorf in Germany she later flew strategic reconnaissance sorties in connection with the East/West divide of Europe.

She was returned to the UK in 1951, moving to 9 MU at Cosford before joining the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring (THUM) Flight  at Woodvale in 1954. In 1957, PS915 became a founder member of the Historic Aircraft Flight, the forerunner of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, but was quickly retired to gate-guardian duties, serving in that capacity for nearly 30 years at West Malling, Leuchars and Brawdy.

She re-joined the BBMF in 1987 after being modified to take an ex-Shackleton Griffon 58 engine and refurbished to flying condition by British Aerospace (Warton Division).

The longevity of the Spitfire design is evident, as the aircraft type which first entered service in 1938 was still serving operationally with the RAF 16 years later despite rapid developments in the performance of military aircraft during that time.

PS915 currently wears the colour scheme and markings of PS888, a PR Mk XIX of 81 Squadron based at Seletar in Singapore during the Malaya Campaign. This aircraft conducted the last ever operational sortie by an RAF Spitfire when, April 1, 1954 it flew a photographic mission over an area of jungle in Johore thought to contain hideouts for Communist guerrillas. For this occasion the aircraft’s ground crew painted the inscription "The Last!" on the left engine cowling.

Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIX
PS915