Supermarine Southampton 1 N9899 RAF
This hull belongs to one of six wooden-hulled Southampton Mk.I of the first production batch (N9896-9901) ordered in August 1924. In July 1925 was assigned to No. 480 (Coastal Reconnaissance) Flight at RAF Calshot, Hampshire. Since April 1927 flew with Development Flight, MAEE Felixstowe, Suffolk and in March 1928 returned to No. 480 (CR) Flight. On 23rd November 1928 was wrecked in Portland moorings in the gale, only engines were salvaged and re-used. Wooden hull was in 1929 sold to a Mr Kemp and used as houseboat… In 1967 was recovered, in 1984-95 hull restored in Cardington and in May 1995 delivered by road to RAF Museum Hendon. preserved without wings. Designed by R J Mitchell, (the designer of the Spitfire) the Southampton first entered RAF service in 1925. Eighteen Mk 1s were built with the gorgeous an all-wooden (cedar and mahogany) hull remeniscent of the contruction of a boat. Southamptons were in RAF service for 11 years. This is the world’s sole surviving example. restored after being beached in Felixstowe for many years. The later MkII had an aluminium hull and 40 of those were built. | Rob Vogelaar