Hi,
I’m writing a short article, for a local family history society about the presentation spitfire, P 8658 ‘Borough of Morley’,bought with the donations of the people of Morley.
Details about the plane: when commissioned; flight history; where based; when decommissioned would be most useful. An image of the plane would be a bonus.
I’ve downloaded details from http://www.airhistory.org.uk, about the plane.
Any help would be appreciated.
I’m also interested in the same details for MA 819 ‘Barnsley Chop’ spitfire.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Jeff
By: Eddie - 28th January 2018 at 15:45
The thing that’s interesting, though, is that it looks ‘right’ – the theory makes sense, but the fact it’s a Mk.IIb, rather than a Mk.I (would have been unlikely to make a difference to anyone receiving the plaque and photo) does suggest it’s at least from roughly the right production batch.
Is it possible that it took CBAF 5 months from introduction of the new scheme to catch up?
By: Mark12 - 28th January 2018 at 15:12
One of the Few.
I agree that the livery seems to be the scheme introduced on 18 August 1940 that was changed in on 27 November 1940 to include the tail band etc.
Some moons back I recall that a researcher had noticed the similarity of the official CBAF photographs supplied to the myriad ‘Spitfire Fund’ benefactors.
Clearly once the money is paid over the ‘Thanks’, plaque and image need to be dispatched with some speed for local press coverage.
What we may be seeing here is one dedicated Spitfire on the line up for the photo shoot that has been painted with a number of serials and corresponding stencilled donor detail, to speed the system through and also be more time effective than chasing individual Spitfires in the test flight programmes being readied urgently for delivery.
I am puzzled why respected researchers Ray Sturtivant and Henry Boot have indicated that P8658 was taken on charge by 29 MU High Ercall on 11 May 1941 when the movement card from two separate sources says that it went to 24 MU at Ternhill on 12 April 1941.
Mark
By: One of the Few - 28th January 2018 at 12:47
Great picture of P8658 Mark 12. What is interesting is that there is no Sky band already sprayed onto the rear fuselage and that the spinner is still Black. You would have thought that the manufacturers would have been doing that by the time that this Spitfire was produced!.
By: JCham - 27th January 2018 at 18:15
That was quick.
The plane didn’t last long.
I think I’ll title the piece ‘The 64 day plane’.
Thank you for the information.
Do you have a reference for the page of information, so that I can give a correct citation.
Cheeky question, I’m also interested in: MA818 ‘Barnsley Chop’ for a similar article.
Do you have any information about its history?
Thanks again.
Jeff
By: Mark12 - 27th January 2018 at 17:26
P8658 “BOROUGH of MORLEY” –
610.Sqn, controls jammed, FLd/CLd Heathfield, Kent…(Force Landed/Crash Landed)
on 14.7.41 –
By: Mark12 - 27th January 2018 at 17:21
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January 18, 2018 at 5:21 pm