Herman Dekker has these photos on his site (all from his collection) showing a Spitfire being unloaded at Ypenburg Airfield, near The Hague, The Netherlands.
It was used by Schreiner as a spares source to keep their four target-tug Spitfires in the air. The photos are marked as ‘SM32’ which is most likely the ex-military Belgian registration for this Spit. Does anyone know what may have happened to this airframe after its time at Ypenburg?
By: Archer - 27th September 2015 at 20:20
I later had the same thought about it being the Dutch East Indies, but I’ve asked for a larger scan and we’ll go from there. Thanks!
Edit: and here’s a gratuitous shot of MJ271 posing as ‘MH424’ in the then-Aviodome at Schiphol sometime in 1990.
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By: Mark12 - 27th September 2015 at 19:54
Looks to be one of half a dozen decoy Spitfires deployed on Dutch airfields in the 1950’s…all listed in the boo under ‘Ones that got away’.
Mark
By: ericmunk - 27th September 2015 at 19:30
(location is most likely a Dutch airfield).
The MLD Catalina does not necessarily mean it’s a Dutch airfield. Most Cat ops of the MLD were in the Dutch East Indies and Dutch New Guinea. Could even be one of the very many airfields en route there from The Netherlands. Roundel identification on the Spit would help.
By: Archer - 27th September 2015 at 13:54
That completely answers my question. Many thanks Mark12!
To keep things interesting, Herman also has this photo showing a slightly tatty looking example. Any ideas when and which one this may have been (location is most likely a Dutch airfield).
By: Mark12 - 26th September 2015 at 16:45
SM32/MH424.
It ended up with COGEA at Ostend.
The fuselage was scrapped but the wing(s) survived.
The tail unit went through a succession of owners, including myself, before being used for the construction and completion of PL344 by Dick Melton for Charles Church.
Not to be confused with MJ271 at Duxford which is painted as ‘MH424’
Mark
By: Fouga23 - 26th September 2015 at 16:36
Indeed ex-Belgian
By: CeBro - 26th September 2015 at 16:35
IIRC the tailsection survives on a flyer,
que Mk12
Cees
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September 26, 2015 at 3:59 pm