Spitfire at Kenley

At this point, I feel it is time to bring this thread to a close.

The original question has now been answered, and I dont think we are going anywhere with the other issues.

Thread closed.

Bruce

Mervyn, while you’re here, why not share some photos of your Turkish projects and any parts that you’ve collected?

[QUOTE=Mark12;1260692]Mervyn,

Time to take serious professional and medical advice on your problem.

Your world-wide circulated, pathetic and ‘anonymous’ hate mail, forwarded on to me over the years, now exceeds two inches thick!

‘Mark12’

Peter, (‘Mark 12’)

Actually, you are quite wrong.

Perhaps you feel cheated owing to the fact that, I choose not to discuss, share publicly or otherwise, any private matters or business with you as judging by past comments made by you, you appear to feel you should be involved or advised?

I also notice that you have had several and totally unfounded and certainly uncalled for ‘goes’ at me in the past, including discussion forums such as your post above, why do you do that ? perhaps you feel you can say what you wish here but. others cannot ?

The only perfectly legitimate post made regarding you, was on 10th April regarding the sale of your Seafire. If you feel you are the only Spitfire historian out there and choose to be ‘uncomfortable’ regarding the above post please, feel free to do so.

I would also offer the suggestion that perhaps contrary to your beliefs, and my evidence, not everyone is a member of the Peter R. Arnold fan club,

My advice to you is, give very serious consideration to the libelous statement made above, sort out fact from fiction and consider an apology.

Other board members, please accept my sincere apologies regarding the offensive post made by ‘Mark 12’ and my subsequent reply, I will make no further public reference to that, or any other item of my private life on this forum. (pm acceptable from anyone)

Regards to all.
Mervyn

Perhaps you feel

Tangmere,

The identity of TB885 was known since my photographs at Kenley in 1958. This was one of the cards that were stolen in the early seventies.

One’s mind can only boggle at the magnitude of such loss of history. The perpetrator later boasted of his trawl to a foreign correspondent even sending him a copy of the Movement card of what some consider to be the world’s most famous Spitfire. 😡

Although this was pre-photocopy times, thankfully both Graham Trant and myself, independently, had spent several days at the Air Historical Branch faithfully transcribing and deciphering the then known survivors.

A snippet from a sad but interesting sounding story that I knew nothing about.
Can you tell us more about the incident and do I presume that these documents are probably still in existance somewhere with a possible chance of discovery. Thirty years or so on, is the perpertrator still alive, is he known by name, or could he be dead and the stuff lurking in a loft somewhere, I’m intrigued, along with these references to ‘D-Day’.
It always arouses my curiosity when I hear little stories like this, I realise that you ‘proffessionals/boys who get their hands dirty in the cause of preservation’, and I’m not being at all critical or nasty about this, must have some interesting tales to tell, that us mere mortals are completely unaware of.

Mervyn Aldridge – isn’t he the owner of that ex-Turkish Spitfire, ML411.
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detail&dataindex=1&owner=aldridge&pageindex=2
That’s an ex-302 Sqn (and possible also ex-317) machine. Apparently recovered years ago but no image seems to have surfaced, yet. Or is it just another F5 case?

VoyTech – Out of curiosity I did a search based on your information and a trail led to here:

http://www.spitflight.com/

Intriguing! Presumably, any investors in the project will have seen photographs and so might be in a position to come up with images for you?

Must say that “Spitflight Ltd” were new to me.

Tangmere,

…and for Junk collector – can you see it now. 🙂

Mark

Just make something out, is it a Me109 !

I shall have a look in the boot of my old Vauxhall see whats Spitfire related in there you never know ??

Mark – Did the aircraft movement card (AM Form 78) for TB885 survive the theft of all such cards for known surviving Spitfires. I understand these were thieved from Air Historical Branch many years ago. Perhaps this pre-dated the known existence of TB885 as a survivor?

Tangmere,

The identity of TB885 was known since my photographs at Kenley in 1958. This was one of the cards that were stolen in the early seventies.

One’s mind can only boggle at the magnitude of such loss of history. The perpetrator later boasted of his trawl to a foreign correspondent even sending him a copy of the Movement card of what some consider to be the world’s most famous Spitfire. 😡

Although this was pre-photocopy times, thankfully both Graham Trant and myself, independently, had spent several days at the Air Historical Branch faithfully transcribing and deciphering the then known survivors.

…and for Junk collector – can you see it now. 🙂

Mark

10/10 excellent thread. I think many of us know a woman or two who fail to appreciate the historic significance 😀 and nag about Spitfires, cars and buses in the garden awaiting restoration……
I would also like to see pix any extant material from ML411 & MJ147 that Mervyn would care to share with us, and put an end once and for all to the speculations of the doubters. I think it is stretching the point way too far when folks suggest even in jest that buying a set of Turkish made saucepans is the basis for a Spitfire restoration project!

What do you mean SMS88??! My patented Attaturk Tefal Turkish Delight Pan and Kebab Skewers are clearly marked, through and through, ML411 and MJ147 respectively. Pah….who needs F5. 😀

Mark – Did the aircraft movement card (AM Form 78) for TB885 survive the theft of all such cards for known surviving Spitfires. I understand these were thieved from Air Historical Branch many years ago. Perhaps this pre-dated the known existence of TB885 as a survivor?

10/10 excellent thread. I think many of us know a woman or two who fail to appreciate the historic significance 😀 and nag about Spitfires, cars and buses in the garden awaiting restoration……
I would also like to see pix any extant material from ML411 & MJ147 that Mervyn would care to share with us, and put an end once and for all to the speculations of the doubters. I think it is stretching the point way too far when folks suggest even in jest that buying a set of Turkish made saucepans is the basis for a Spitfire restoration project!

It is Mk 22 fuselage PK665.

It was recovered to a domestic back garden but a complaining wife forced its demise.

The tail fin was found latterly and traded for a JU88 pilots seat in 1973. Care of British Aerospace it is now embedded in to the tail unit of Seafire 46 LA564.

Mark

I think what you are taking for a wing tip is a tail of Cees’ 22, Tim.

Now I know my eyesight is detriorating as I get older, perhaps I should have believed what everybody said when I was younger !!

cant make b****r all else out beyond that let alone a MK22

Ah after a period of staring aimlessly I see what you mean more, its like one of those puzzle pictures ! still, full marks for id of a Mark 22 I can’t figure that is it to do with the shape of the tail etc

Mark will probably know

Cees

I think what you are taking for a wing tip is a tail of Cees’ 22, Tim.

[/QUOTE]

You can see the rear fuselage and tail behind the complete TB885:)

Cheers

Cees

Anything remaining of the Mk 22 in the background om Mark’s pic?

Cheers

Cees

How did you make that out !, have you got magnifying glasses fixed to your head ! I can make out a shape of an outer wing ??

Anything remaining of the Mk 22 in the background om Mark’s pic?

Cheers

Cees

Mervyn Aldridge – isn’t he the owner of that ex-Turkish Spitfire, ML411.
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detail&dataindex=1&owner=aldridge&pageindex=2
That’s an ex-302 Sqn (and possible also ex-317) machine. Apparently recovered years ago but no image seems to have surfaced, yet. Or is it just another F5 case?

I think there are a good few forum members who are, perhaps, of the view that it might well be an over optimistic F5 case. That said, I am sure all are equally curious about the status regarding ML411 and MJ147 and now would be an ideal opportunity, surely, for Mervyn Aldridge (‘D-Day’) to share with us some more information and photographs? So….come on ‘D-Day’. It would be fantastic to see some images at last of your recovered Spitfires! Unless, of course, a Spitfire historian already managed to find the F5’s and sell them on!!!!

Mervyn Aldridge – isn’t he the owner of that ex-Turkish Spitfire, ML411.
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detail&dataindex=1&owner=aldridge&pageindex=2
That’s an ex-302 Sqn (and possible also ex-317) machine. Apparently recovered years ago but no image seems to have surfaced, yet. Or is it just another F5 case?

Hmm, ML411 along with MJ147 were apparently recovered from Turkey , date unknown, and not one photograph has surfaced of them since.

Curious….

Post a photograph of them on here Mr Aldridge to prove that they actually exist.

Mervyn Aldridge – isn’t he the owner of that ex-Turkish Spitfire, ML411.
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detail&dataindex=1&owner=aldridge&pageindex=2
That’s an ex-302 Sqn (and possible also ex-317) machine. Apparently recovered years ago but no image seems to have surfaced, yet. Or is it just another F5 case?