This particular topic speaking about a Spitfire sitting in the corner of a hangar with about 1cm of dust over it remind me an interresting story.
I hesitate a long time before posting this, may be they didn´t wanted it to much publicised. Anyway, here it is:
In mid 90´s one of my best buddy was flying Casa 212 for “Aéro Service” in Congo Brazza. He told me this incredible story about the owner of the company having a…..Spitfire.
Guess what…..Sitting in a corner of a hangar, under blankets & about 1cm of dust on it. The main purpose of this warbird was to play a role of “bank account” for the owner´s old days. Unfortunatelly this man die 2 or 3 years ago (his son is now in the head of the company).
I have not a single clue of what this African Warbird became (my friend left for Gabon before the event). Where it came from !? (does South Africa had some at one point!?). Is this A/C already listed as a survivor Spit !? etc, etc…
I also don´t remember exactly if it was stored in Pointe Noire or in Brazzaville.
The fate of this Spitfire is even unsure due to it´s location in an unstable West African country.
Well, this may only look like a nice little rumour with a lot of questions but if not true I would have and hate to call my friend a liar that he is certainly not in my opinion. So if any of you have any ideas or just want to speak about it.
Feel free….
Forgot to tell that he is able to make the difference between a Spitfire and an Angola Mig-21. 😉
Sorry for my funny grammar & spelling. English is not my native language
By: Mark12 - 12th February 2004 at 11:04
Who is?
By: Old Git - 12th February 2004 at 10:09
TGA
Not good news I am afraid. My Bro in laws colleague sent the following e mail from Point Noire
QUOTE
Here finally some news
The plane is not a Spitfire but a Spit.
The plane was based in FIH and evacuated to BZV during the events in the late 90’s
Plane was stored at Aero Service in BZV. Owner never showed up in BZV.
The plane was damaged in BZV during the war in the late 90’s
After the war ??? the plane was moved to South Africa.
The Spit was a Bi Plane (double wings), metal frame covered with canvas.
I hope this will help you…. bad luck….
UNQUOTE
I had never heard of a Spit???
Anyway it is not what we thought.
Sorry
O.G. 😡
By: Old Git - 27th January 2004 at 18:41
Originally posted by Shorty01
Don’t suppose he could get us lot some photos of what ever is there ? Personnal safety allowing of course.
I will ask him – the problem there is not so much the issue of security but Security being used as an excuse to hassle you for money.
By: Shorty01 - 26th January 2004 at 19:57
Don’t suppose he could get us lot some photos of what ever is there ? Personnal safety allowing of course.
By: Old Git - 26th January 2004 at 18:50
A quick update – My brother in Law got back to Kinshasa on Friday and he asked his colleague in Pointe Noire to check around. He is going up to the airport in a couple of days and is going to have a look. He did say the only thing he saw last time he was there were “The shells of old Migs”.
By: TGA - 22nd January 2004 at 01:55
Thanks very much Mark & Old Git !
Anyone knows if South Africa had some Spitfire in the SAAF !?
By: Mark12 - 20th January 2004 at 09:55
There have been several instances since the end of WWII of ‘film’ or ‘preservation’ aircaft suddenly disappearing, later to surface in some local ‘hotspot’.
In middle term memory, and I stand to be corrected, aircraft or people associated with the original Southend museum, circa 1970, were involved with Ansons or similar ending up in central Africa. I would have to dig to get the cuttings out.
Spitfire TZ138 spent a long time in the open at Perry Airfield in Florida having had plans for action in the Cuban situation scuppered.
Now I always wondered why Spitfire MH415 spent a few years down in the open at Dinhard in Southern France. Sold by COGEA in 1961 and before acquisition by Hamish Mahaddie in1966.
Rousseau Aviation………… I wonder.
These stories tend to get embellished in the telling along the way.
MH415 is the only known Spitfire that I can think of that has a remote chance of fitting this interesting tale.
Mark
By: Old Git - 20th January 2004 at 09:03
My Brother in Law works in Kinshasa and visits both Brazzaville and Point Noire from time to time. I will pass your info on to him and see if he can find out anything.
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January 19, 2004 at 3:34 am