AA33911 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I - R6775 / YT-J - Flying Officer Jeffrey Quill

When it comes to the subject of people who became inextricably linked to the legacy and ongoing development of the Supermarine Spitfire, few could claim to have been as influential as Vickers test pilot Jeffrey Quill. Commissioned in the RAF in 1931, Quill joined Vickers as a test pilot in 1936, retaining his RAF volunteer reserve status, and rising to Chief Test pilot just prior to the start of the Second World War. 

He would become famous for flying every one of the 52 variants of Spitfire tested, from the original prototype K5054, to the Mk.47 Seafire, and has even been described in certain circles as Mr Spitfire himself.

Keen to do even more to help the war effort, Quill used his RAF contacts to arrange deployment to a combat unit during the Battle of Britain, where the experienced pilots of No.65 (East India) Squadron schooled him on the finer points of aerial combat. During a short 19 day period with the unit, Quill was credited with several aircraft damaged, probably destroyed, however, to his dismay, was recalled to his test flying duties by Vickers Armstrong, because the new Spitfire Mk III was ready to begin its test program. 

It transpired that this work would not start for several weeks, leaving Quill livid at the situation, however, as far as Supermarine officials were concerned, Jeffrey Quill must not be risked, and would make a much greater contribution to the British war effort by test flying new Spitfires, as opposed to flying them in combat.