Built at Southampton and delivered to the central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson on January 13, 1945. She moved then to 16 Squadron of 34 Wing initially at Melsbroek Belgium and later at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. She was later transferred to 268 squadron, which was to re-form as 16 Squadron at Celle in Germany on September 18, 1945.

She was back in the UK by March 1946, to 29 MU (Maintenance Unit). A flying accident damaged her on January 17 1949, she went in for repairs on March 9 the same year. She left South Marston February 28, 1950 after the repairs were made to go to 6 MU where she would  be converted and her Photo reconnaissance equipment removed and Met recording instrumentation installed. She joined the THUM Flight (Temperature and Humidity Flight) in July 1950. She would  remain with the unit until June 9, 1957.

She was flown to join the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for a short period on June 14, 1957. On November 8, 1957 she went to 32 MU and on December 20 the same year she was allocated to Biggin Hill's Station Flight.  After just a few months at Biggin Hill she got assigned to the Station Flight at North Weald on March 1, 1958. After a short stay she went yet to another unit on April 14, this time the Central Fighter Establishment.

She was struck off charge on May 1, 1958 and became West Rayham's gate guardian as 7548M until 1961 when she was taken to 19 MU to be restored to flying condition, returning to West Raynham in November 1962.  On April 14 1964 she transferred to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coltishall. In 1967 the aircraft was allocated for the film the Battle of Britain in which it was to fly bearing the codes N3316, N3321/AI-G, AI-M, EI-K. She returned to the Flight on completion of filming.

She was eventually sold to Euan English and got registration G-MXIX early in 1995 but back up for sale in 1996 following English's death in a flying accident on March 4, 1995. Rolls Royce Heritage Department became her new owner in September 1996 and her registration became G-RRGN (short for Rolls Royce Griffin the engine that powers the Spitfire).

The PS853 flies in the authentic blue colours she weared during her years as Photo Reconnaisance plane.

Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIX
G-RRGN - PS853/C