Suffolk: Spitfire pilot Carolyn Grace dies in Australia

Carolyn Grace, who lived in Cornwall, had a deep connection with Suffolk as she kept her historic ML407 at Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham, near Woodbridge.

She was often seen taking it for a spin across the county’s skies.

Her plane, which was nicknamed the Grace Spitfire, is one of only a handful of working models and was the first to shoot down an enemy plane on D-Day in June 1944. 

The Grace Spitfire once belonged to the 485 New Zealand squadron and flew 176 operational sorties during the Second World War.

Caroyln Grace flying her spitfire above Suffolk skies (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Grace learned to fly the Spitfire ML407 in 1988 after the death of her husband Nick, who had restored the Second World War fighter. 

In 2011 she welcomed about 50 youngsters from Rendlesham Primary School to have a look at her Spitfire and learn about its history. 

She is the first woman since the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary service in the Second World War to be a qualified Spitfire pilot. 

Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian, said he was very saddened to hear that Mrs Grace had passed away. 

Mr Saunders said that Mrs Grace's son Richard was also in the car at the time of the crash, but only sustained minor injuries. 

A spokesman for the Hume Police District in New South Wales said: "A woman has died and her passenger injured in a two-vehicle crash at Goulburn.

"The crash happened at 6pm on Friday 2 December 2022, when a grey Suzuki and a silver Hilux collided on Middle Arm Road.

"Officers from The Hume Police District attended and found a 70-year-old woman driving the Suzuki had suffered critical injuries.

"She was airlifted to The Canberra Hospital where she later died.

"Her passenger, a 38-year-old man, was taken to the same hospital with minor injuries."