WW2 British Supermarine Seafire Mk XV propeller blade. Stamped to blade RA 10167 J.R.S which dates its production to late 1944. The Serial Number 270332 confirms it as a heavy-duty, climate armoured, naval propeller blade manufactured by Jablo/Rotol in late 1944. It was built specifically to survive the brutal wet, high vibration environment of the British aircraft carrier flight decks. Interestingly the Seafire Mk XV propeller blade is the same as the propeller found on the Spitfire Mk XII which saw action from late 1942 to late 1944. Just as the RAF was retiring its land-based Spitfire Mk XIIs in autumn 1944 to move on to 5-bladed variants, the Royal Navy took that exact same low-altitude 4-bladed Griffon engine concept and adapted it to create the Seafire Mk XV. This propeller blade was manufactured immediately after the Spitfire Mk XII line closed, using the evolutionary blueprint it left behind. The propeller originally came from Donibristle Airfield a military base in Fife, Scotland. Donibristle airfield was called HMS Merlin during WW2 a Royal Naval air station that acted as a major service and repair centre for the Fleet Air Arm Naval air squadrons. There is some damage to the protective "Rotoloid" covering to the rear of the propeller, otherwise very good condition. Only 2,646 Seafires were made compared to 20,351 Spitfires. Very Rare.
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