Hi Guys since we are going Spitfire crazy at the moment (well not really but there have been numerous posts about the lovely lady Spitfire) I will post some of the collection of photos that I have of the Museum at Overloon in Holland which has a Spit that was restored by an RAF team. Here is the first five photos of PL965 as she was outside as a gate guard.
I would appreciate it if anyone knows where it is nowif they could give details or any recent pictures so I can add them to the archive.
I have 47 photos and a small file about the restoration including letters to and from the team. I was lucky enough to come in contact with a man who had it and was willing for me to copy them.
The first 5 are of how she was pre restoration on the exterior.
By: Merlin3945 - 18th January 2004 at 00:14
And for number 5 we have a side on enigine shot.
More pictures tommorrow night.
Number 5.
By: Merlin3945 - 18th January 2004 at 00:12
Another post restoration shot.
Number 4.
By: Merlin3945 - 18th January 2004 at 00:09
And after the restoration and hard work has been done.
Number 3.
By: Merlin3945 - 18th January 2004 at 00:07
Another pre-restoration shot.
Number 2.
By: Merlin3945 - 18th January 2004 at 00:03
Sorry this post is a day late but I wasnt on the comp last night.
Anyway here is a couple of cockpit before and afters.
Number 1.
Pre-restoration.
By: DazDaMan - 17th January 2004 at 15:51
Hell yes! 😉
By: LAHARVE - 16th January 2004 at 23:35
And RAF/Norwegian scheme.
By: LAHARVE - 16th January 2004 at 23:33
Not a good image, but USAAF markings.
By: dhfan - 16th January 2004 at 13:22
Merlin3945
Hucknall is near Nottingham.
It was the Rolls-Royce flight test centre and is now one of their engine testbed sites.
By: DazDaMan - 16th January 2004 at 11:32
There’s a good book about PL965 if you can get hold of it: “Spitfire in Blue” by Hugh Smallwood. It covers ‘965’s wartime service and pilots, her time in Holland and her subsequent recovery and restoration.
Great stuff! Pity they’re gonna repaint her in blue – I rather liked the pink!
By: davski - 16th January 2004 at 11:20
The Spit’ is still at Leeward but should soon be dismantled prior to shipment back to Breighton in time for the airshows.
Yes, it’s the same machine that you saw at East Fortune. We were also due to display there the following year but Tony Smith and Brian Brown found themselves weathered in at Breighton. I tried to attend every booking that year (the final season with ‘Black and Pink’), braved it to Scotland… a dire week of clag – sought sanctuary in the Flypast enclosure (thanks Ken) – had a tree right in front of us! Drove back to Yorkshire, somewhat cheesed off, to find the most horrendous storm at Scotch Corner… brilliant sunshine after that!
By: DazDaMan - 16th January 2004 at 09:20
PL965 in another paint scheme – for the TV series “Over Here”
And yes, that was the Spitfire at East Fortune that year. I wish I had known sooner, for these aircraft were sitting on the ground on the Friday before the airshow (I think that was 2001) and I would have skived the day off and gone over! 🙁
By: Merlin3945 - 15th January 2004 at 23:23
bugger bugger bugger and double bugger.
If I had know that this was the same aircraft as I had pictures of I would have approached the pilot at East Fortune when I had a chance and could have got some great piccies. unfortunately this is the only one I have.
Does anyone that was at East Fortune on the year that the Pink was at the airshow have any better pictures than this one.
If so could you Private message me or email me so I can get a couple of copies.
And also does everyone agree that this was the actual aircraft at East Fortune.
Not often you miss an chance like that.
Oh well bugger once again.
By: Septic - 15th January 2004 at 23:09
PL965 seen here @ Duxford in the mid 90’s in yet another film scheme.
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2004 at 22:31
Merlin,
It was dismantled and shipped back to Rochester for restoration to flight on 16 March 1987.
That is Nick Grace by the engine.
It was replaced by an Indian Mk XVIII HS649 converted to highback to represent a Mk XIV and given the spurious serail ‘NH649’, as the RAF serial could not be found.
When the original Indian wings finally escaped from the ‘US prison’ and made their way back to the UK it was clear from the undersides that the RAF serial was TP263.
Mark
Photo credit:- Harry Van Der Meer
By: Merlin3945 - 15th January 2004 at 22:15
Hi Mark 12,
any idea when it left Overloon and what happened to it.
A history if anyone knows please. I can update my details that way.
Also where abouts is Hucknall.
thanks for the picture.
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2004 at 21:57
Merlin 3495,
I deleted it before I got down to your post.
Here she is at Hucknall on 29 August 2000 – the 16 Sqd. renunion bash.
Currently operating out of the Leeward Air Ranch in Florida but possibly due back in the UK in the foreseeable future.
Some of the members with the ‘big boys toys’ digitals might want to post here on this one. 😉
Mark
By: Merlin3945 - 15th January 2004 at 21:45
I will post more tommorrow but for those of you who cant wait to see the restored article here she is in all her glory apart from the poor scan quality.
next photos will be the strip down and cockpit before and after.
By: Merlin3945 - 15th January 2004 at 21:40
Sorry aj,
Only the Spit I am afraid.
Fifth.
By: Merlin3945 - 15th January 2004 at 21:36
Originally posted by Mark12
Very quietly.It is Holland and PL965.
I will delete this post in 10 mins.
Hi Mark 12,
Thanks for that. I need a big boot up the Ar*se for that. I should have checked first before posting from my scribblings.
Please leave your post as it shows how big a mistake in records can be at times.
I will edit previous posts.
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January 15, 2004 at 9:21 pm