About 10 -15 years back, on the south coast at Chichester, take either the A286 or B2201, can’t remember which one, down into the peninsula. After a few miles, on the right hand side of the road was a farm entrance, with a sign saying Aircraft Museum or similar. When you drove into the yard there was a Spitfire on a grassed plinth and a barn full of wartime clothing and artefacts, the story was…
During the latter part of the war, the farm was taken over as an Advanced Landing Ground, runway strips laid down with the perforated metal strips etc.. A Dutch Spitfire squadron was operating from there, one of whom over ran the end of the runway and ended in the ditch, breaking the back of the Spitfire, which was simply left there. A few years after the war, the farmer & his sons, got the Spit up to the barn and repaired it for display – by shoving a girder up the fuselage to straighten it – now that is original!. Anyway when I saw it, it was painted and looked reasonable, no markings or ID anywhere and the objects in the barn were varied and many.
Now, I know, its been a long time and probably there is now at least one flying in California from this pedigree, but – does anyone live locally to Chichester and know anything of this museum, is it still there? – I know I was’nt dreaming and the pubs were shut at the time – Help!! – pic attached.
Cheers Brian. 😀
By: Brian Doherty - 30th April 2009 at 18:22
SPITFIRE MUSEUM
Gentlemen,
Thank you one and all – regardless of the result, it has at least closed off a niggling query in the back of my mind. The Czech became Dutch I think due to faulty memory, but it is a pity that the owners had to put up the war story for the Spitfire (they did say that it had to be finished off with fibreglass!), as the wartime exhibits in the museum were very comprehensive, also a shame that they all ended up in an auction.
Cheers Brian. 😀
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th April 2009 at 09:07
I think this replica was discussed on the forum recently? Certainly was at Appledram and belonged to Ken Rimmel and Barry Field. It eventually went to Shoreham D-Day Museum and was sold there at auction when the museum folded. Sorry Brian….if you were sold a story about it being original with a girder stuffed up the fuselage to “straighten it out” then I’m afraid you were sold a tall story!!
By: bazv - 30th April 2009 at 07:43
Would this not be the museum at Apuldram which later relocated to Shoreham for a while unil all the exhibits were auctioned, there was certainly a GRP Spit both locations.
Yes it is Apuldram (or Appledram…seen it spelt both ways)…some nice walks around there.
And yes all the stuff went to Shoreham and eventual disaster.
cheers baz
By: Yak 11 Fan - 30th April 2009 at 00:35
Would this not be the museum at Apuldram which later relocated to Shoreham for a while unil all the exhibits were auctioned, there was certainly a GRP Spit both locations.
By: SMS88 - 30th April 2009 at 00:02
It looks fibreglass to me! A repro like the RAF museum gateguard……….
By: Jon H - 30th April 2009 at 00:00
Hi Jon,
Thanks – I had a feeling that it might be – but then thought Dutch – Czech – who cares – its been a long time to remember!!
Cheers Brian.
Oh was more just an observation than anything 🙂 I recognised the DU code straight away given 312’s association with Speke.
Jon
By: Brian Doherty - 29th April 2009 at 23:57
Hi Jon,
Thanks – I had a feeling that it might be – but then thought Dutch – Czech – who cares – its been a long time to remember!!
Cheers Brian.
By: Jon H - 29th April 2009 at 23:48
Doubt it helps but the paint job is 312 (Czech) Squadron.
Jon
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April 29, 2009 at 11:41 pm