MOVIE NIGHT
THE PERFECT LADY
Monday 26th May 2025 at 18.30 in the AYC Events Center
The Antigua Yacht Club
in association with
The Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda
will screen the documentary
THE PERFECT LADY
Hosted by Peter Mullins.
This documentary will be of particular interest to history buffs, flying aficionados, War Bird enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in the Second World War and the famous SPITFIRE.
My first cousin Nick Grace purchased this Mark IX Spitfire ML 407 in the early 80’s and took the next 5 years restoring her to flying condition. Now known as The Grace Spitfire, ML407 was built at Castle Bromwich in early 1944 as Mk IX single seater fighter and served in the front line of battle throughout the last 12 months of the war. ML 407 flew a total of 176 operational sorties amounting to 319 hours of combat. ML407 was delivered to 485 NZ Squadron on 29 April 1944 by Jackie Muggeridge one of the top lady pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary. ML 407 became the mount of FO Johnny Houlton DFC who was accredited with the first enemy aircraft shot down over the Normandy Beachhead on 6th June D-Day. Both Jackie Muggeridge and Johnny Houlton plus the RAF armorers and riggers of ML 407 are interviewed in this unique documentary which also includes some wonderful original footage of Spitfires taken at the time. In 1950 ML 407 was selected by Vickers Armstrong of Eastleigh Southampton for conversion to a 2-seat configuration for the Irish Air Corps as an advanced trainer.
As a young boy growing up in Southern Ireland, I well remember seeing these Spitfires training and flying overhead, once you have seen and heard a Spitfire you will never forget it.
Sadly, my cousin Nick Grace was killed in a car accident in 1988, but his wife Carolyn knew there needed to be a Grace flying ML 407 so took on the immense task of learning to fly the Spitfire. This task was documented in the film Going Solo.
I look forward to seeing you all at 18.30 on Monday 26th May in the Events Center for a screening of this fascinating documentary.