An article appeared in the September issue of Flypast, reporting on the dismantling of a two-seat IAF Fury from Shaibah. An accompanying picture showed it in bits in a hangar, with an 18 Sqn (RAF) zap just below the front left windscreen.
If this aircraft has been dismantled for safe-keeping for the Iraqis, well done British Forces – good advance thinking to help preserve a national treasure. But if it is going to be stolen and bought back to England as a ‘trophy’ I will be very dissapointed. If this is the case, and it’s done in the name of helping to preserve British aviation heritage – I disagree with the method.
By: Mark V - 27th August 2003 at 22:34
The Iraqui Furies would be far better off and more likely to continue their charmed existance over here as far as I am concerned. Politically correct or not, ship em over!
By: Seafuryfan - 27th August 2003 at 22:28
If anyone is going to get on their high horse about such practices, how about putting your energies into repatriating all the captured German, Italian and Japanese aircraft in our National collections?
I’m not on a ‘high horse’ Mike J, I’m just expressing an opinion. And the reason I don’t think we should go down that path is that past events and practices are just that, things that have happened in the PAST. But it does not, in my opinion, neccesarily justify their continued practice (war trophies) in the present day.
Correct Bob, the Iraqi people are, for now, more interested in food, water, and air-conditioning. So does that mean that enthusiasts and the general public in Iraq should be short-changed in the long-term? No. Would you express your opinion to the director of the Iraq National Air Museum? I doubt it. And does it mean that basic survival means are ALL that the people are interested in? No. It would be a shabby way to treat (modern) heritage from one of the world oldest civilisations.
By: Bob - 27th August 2003 at 22:01
I think the Iraqi people would rather have decent drinking water, proper power supplies and decent medical facilities than a beat up old fighter.
I somehow don’t think there are many Iraqis who would even know what it is/was. You could replace it with a GRP Spitfire and they’d be happy!
I know it is not the fault of the average citizen of Iraq but one only has to see what was done to the British War Cemetry in Basra to see how a lot of Iraqi people view us westerners.
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August 27, 2003 at 9:31 pm