I can see both sides of this debate, especially having seen more than my fair share of bent Merlins in museums around the country…and also having been involved with a museum with a bent Merlin!

However, the provenance of this engine would have swung me to the preservation side of the debate. Reading Al Deere’s Nine Lives as a kid helped spark my interest in the Battle of Britain period, helped along by the fact that my grandparents lived in a house built on part of the old Hornchurch aerodrome. I don’t see Deere as a celebrity, but more for the Kiwi who gave this country great service with what was a very distinguished career. I think that a tangible relic of that career would have been well worth preserving. As Baz62 says, there would have been numerous institutions in New Zealand who would have valued this Merlin, and I can imagine that the Purfleet Heritage centre, with it’s extensive 54 Squadron and Hornchurch connections would have loved to display the engine.

I understand Moggy’s point about does it matter whose hand pushed the throttle forward, but conversely, I do think that a Merlin from one of Al Deere’s famous “Kiwis” would have been well worth preserving.

Regards;
Steve