During the five years of operational squadrons based at RAF Westhampnett, many aces, high ranking officers, war artists, members of parliament and even royalty were to visit and the list is a who’s who of World War 2. Douglas Bader as we know was stationed at the airfield in 1941 but we must not forget that one of his section of 616 Squadron operating at RAF Westhampnett in the summer of 1941 went on to be the RAF top scoring ace of World War 2 and for me eclipses all others.
“Johnnie” Johnson not only flew 700 Spitfire combat sorties during WW2 but he went on to score 38 confirmed victories, some of which were claimed whilst flying from Goodwood. He also was awarded a staggering three Distinguished Service Orders (one award below Victoria Cross) and two distinguished flying crosses amongst other awards from other allied countries.
His first ‘innings’ at the airfield as a pilot officer started when he was with 616 Squadron at Goodwood in May 1941 flying as part of ‘Dogsbody’ section. On the 26 June he was to score his first success against a Bf 109. Soon after his score stated to build rapidly, destroying two more on the 6 and 14 July 1941. His score card was well and truly opened and his success as a fighter pilot is now legendary. He was on the operation that Douglas Bader was shot down on the 9 August 1941. Post the loss of Bader, he famously had painted a slogan on the cowling of his Spitfire after stating “Bader Bus Co Still Running”. By September of 1941 he had claimed his fifth and sixth confirmed victories.
He was posted as squadron commander to 610 (County of Chester) Squadron in 1942. The squadron was to return to RAF Westhampnett after its first tenancy in 1941. It arrived in January of 1943 staying until April of that year. “Johnnie” Johnson claimed his 8th and 9th victories at this time whilst leading his pilots from the airfield.
His success continued as did his luck and he was promoted to Wing Commander to lead the Kenley Wing. He also subsequently led a Canadian Wing of Spitfires in 1944 tasked with keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft over the eastern flank of the D-Day invasion fleet.
The Spitfire Mk IX simulator, operated by Spitfires.com is painted in the colour scheme that Johnnie Johnson’s aircraft was on the 6 June 1944 coded JE-J. Hs Spitfire was serial EN398, JE-J, in which he shot down 12 aircraft and shared five plus six damaged while commanding the Kenley Wing.
EN398 was part of batch EN112 to EN759 built by Vickers Armstrong between November 1942 and August 1943. This lot was originally ordered as Spitfires Mk. VC but as new marks of the fighter reached the production-ready status, it became a mixture of Mks. VII, IX, XI and XII.
EN398 was representative of the early production Mk. IX and was fitted with a “C” type wing with two cannon but broad cannon blisters.
Our simulator fuselage is built from roughly 50% wartime parts meaning the airframe has actually, in part, fought in defence of our freedom. The next 40% has been made from parts destined for modern restorations that didn't pass the strict standards required for a newly restored aircraft, perhaps because they were slightly mis-drilled or twisted. The final 10% of parts have been made specifically for the simulator to aid the conversion from analogue to digital information. This means the cockpit is indistinguishable from the real thing even to a wartime or modern Spitfire pilot. The gauges are all original, with the workings having been removed and replaced with modern electronics so that the computers can drive them but retaining the original dials and needles. And all the controls and dials work exactly as the would in the aircraft.
Many of the controls are original and wartime including the spade grip with which you fly the aircraft meaning when you fly this simulator you are flying a piece of history. Original wartime parts include but are not limited to: Spade grip parts; fuselage frames; rudder mechanism parts; fuel tank cover; all instruments; the undercarriage selector; primer pump; seat belt mechanism; canopy frame; door mechanism parts; switches; throttle quadrant parts; gunsight; numerous other controls and more.
We pay tribute to Johnnie with our Sim, who was a truly formidable fighter pilot. He did not stop at the ends of hostilities and went on to serve in the Korean War and remaining in the RAF, gained the rank of Air Vice Marshall. His book ‘Wing Leader’ is an inspiring read and mentions his time at Goodwood both as a squadron pilot and squadron leader, highly recommended to our customers. One of our most famous pilots who sadly passed away in 2001 aged 85.
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