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In 1951, MJ730 was among a batch of Spitfires sold by the Italian government to Israel. The Israeli Air Force assigned the number 66 to the aircraft and it served in an Operational Training Unit at the Ramat David Airfield.

It was finally decommissioned in June 1956, when most of Israel's other Spitfires were sold to Burma. MJ730 was saved to provide young Israeli children with a subtle desire to become fighter pilots. It was moved to a playground at a kibbutz in Kabri, near the border of Lebanon.

It was here that the aircraft was found in a dilapidated condition during the 1970's and transported back to England in 1978. The initial restoration work was begun by a firm in the south of England. But in August 1986, the project was sold to Fred Smith, founder and President of Federal Express. The work was completed in November 1988, but immediately offered for sale. It was purchased by David Pennell, an electronics manufacturer in Birmingham, England. The aircraft spent the next ten years in the Midlands area performing at many charity events and memorial functions.

In 1998, the Fighter Factory learned about the possible availability of this aircraft while in New Zealand searching for assorted Curtiss P-40 parts. An inspection in England was arranged and a contract was signed at the May Duxford airshow. An engine problem developed prior to delivery, which necessitated an overhaul of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine in Great Britain. The aircraft finally arrived at the Fighter Factory facilities in Virginia during the beginning of 2000.

During the war, it was common for the RAF squadron commander to put his initials on the side of the airplane as an identifier that it was his personal airplane -- hands off. The airplane was newly assigned to a different squadron (Royal Air Force Squadron 249) in Greece, after the fighting in Northern Italy, and the ground crew asked the commanding officer what identifier did he want applied to his personal choice airplane (our MJ730). He replied with some comment such as "I haven't got any idea," so they painted a question mark on the side as a joke.

A special thanks to Spitfire pilot/owner Jerry Yagen and photoplane pilot Bob Baird.

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