BBMF-Spitfires Question

Thanks Mark, Mike and Ian.

Nice to see the Mustang is in the colour scheme of an RNZAF pilot. The Alpine Fighter Collection’s ex-P51D wore that same scheme for a while, and flew at a WoW like it when the pilot’s widow attended. Might have been WoW96 I think.

SL574 @ Halton prior to going stateside
SL574 @ Biggin Hill late 50’s
TE476, mid 80’s , RAF Northolt Gate Guard
TE311 BBMF hangar June 2001, stripped for inspection and evaluation
TB382 BBMF hangar June 2001, too far gone 🙁
TB382 DX May 1998

2004. TB382 has now been completely dismantled for spares and struck off charge, its broad chord rudder has already been fitted to Spitfire Mk.IX MK356.

TB382 RIP 🙁

http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/spitfiremk2a/stat-disp-unit-tb382.html

I wouldn’t have thought so. Technically, ALL Spits (except maybe the Pr.XIXs) were struck off charge with the RAF, weren’t they?

[QUOTE=jbs]Ian,

They where taken on by the BBMF, TB382 has become spares for the fleet and was struck off charge.

[QUOTE]

So effectively this aircraft has ceased to exist, is no more, or effectively destroyed?

Strange thing to do in these times.

Or am I mistaken?

Cheers

Cees

Interesting pics, Mark.

Am I just imagining it, or are the stump marks on the leading edge not readily apparent on the earlier shot of SL574 on the cricket pitch just after the forced landing?

MikeJ,

What you are seeing in the Halton restoration shots is the years old ‘filler’ in the indentations, exposed when the paint was removed.

Mark

It’s not cricket.

Mark12 – if there were stumps on the pitch at the time of the crash, was there a game actually taking place?

Dave

I can’t be certain but I imagine that there were was no play at the time.

It was presumably before play or at the break for lunch.

They certainly played on into the evening with the Spitfire roped off and the crowd dispersed.

Mark

The Mustang resided in Hendon until recently, in a generic 354th FG scheme, until replaced by Bob Tulius’ gift of ‘The Duck’. It was then moved to Cosford.

Make that 357th FG 363rd FS….

Martin

Ian,

See these threads for piccies of her

http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=22341
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=21389

I believe that this is a “back burner” project that is being worked on as time and circumstances allow

Hope this helps

Not flyable yet, but I understand that it’s intended to be eventually…

Is it flyable now then ?

Ian,

They where taken on by the BBMF, TB382 has become spares for the fleet and was struck off charge.

TE311 is in the BBMF hanger receiving attention, but I’m not too sure how to word its current status – Mark12 help please 🙂

TE311’s currently at Coningsby having lots of TLC lavished upon it.

Both with the BBMF, I think. There was a pic of TE311 on here recently, I seem to recall.

What happened to them ?

They had two – TE311 and TB832, I think. The former was the low-back, and I’m sure Mark12 furnished me with at least one pic of it.

(and here it is ;))

Didn’t the RAF exhibition people have a MK16 which they took around with them to shows and events. I recall seeing it in St Helier about 10 years ago. If I recall correctly it was a low back MK16, which had detachable wings for ease of transportation.

The RAF Museum swapped it for the Mustang…. Which is now at Cosford

Mark12 – if there were stumps on the pitch at the time of the crash, was there a game actually taking place? Yikes! Can imagine that one, the bowler yelling Howzat as the batsman runs for his life! 🙂

Also – was it the BBMF who swapped the Mk XVI for a P51D? If so, why? Or was there an intermediate owner between? And what became of the Mustang?

That’s the one. Nice to see her wing roundels are a bit more accurate than some of the model kit versions of that colour scheme!! 😉