Spitfires that almost survived….

Well it was at Coningsby in the early 1990’s and isn’t now so it’e either been ‘recycled’-‘scrapped’ or ‘lost’ and I know from experience that is pretty difficult with Mod property!

Are you fishing David? What happened to TB382 is (reasonably) well known (and much still survives), however regrettable. My own view is it would have been a better historical choice for Kelvingrove than LA198.

There was an article in the Southend local paper, Evening Echo or perhaps it’s predecessor the Standard in the late 60’s early 70’s. The accompanying photo showed a Spitfire being hoisted into a local garden, definitely not a GRP replica.

We acknowledge that the garden Spitfire is Mk XVI TB863, it is the “orchard next to the house” that is the problem.

Mark

There was an article in the Southend local paper, Evening Echo or perhaps it’s predecessor the Standard in the late 60’s early 70’s. The accompanying photo showed a Spitfire being hoisted into a local garden, definitely not a GRP replica.

Bill Francis Spitfire certainly seems the most likely candidate. Bills house was on the corner of Oaken Grange Drive and Hampton Gardens but as far as I remember there was barely enough room for a dismantled Spitfire and definitely no room for an orchard.
If the aircraft your friend remembers was standing on its wheels then it couldn’t have been Bill Francis Spitfire and I was never aware of anything else even remotely Spitfire like in any other local garden at that time.
The only other aircraft that I can think of which comes close to the description is the prototype Taylor Titch G-ATYO whch was built in the Southend area and was camofllauged but it crashed in 1967 killing pilot/builder John Taylor. It is just possible that the Titch looked like a Spitfire to a young child but the dates are a bit out.

Thanks Mark, where did it go from Southend museum? I would think that is more likely than a GRP replica, as my source was adamant that it was a real A/C.

Garden to Southend Museum June 1972.

Southend Museum to Duxford July 1974.

Duxford to Southam ,Warwickshire September 1976.

Mark

Possibly the Bill Francis Mk XVI. He lived in Southend and it was in his back garden for a while before going in to the Southend museum. Timing is right, orchard conflicts.

Failing that I would look to a BoB film GRP replica.

Mark

Thanks Mark, where did it go from Southend museum? I would think that is more likely than a GRP replica, as my source was adamant that it was a real A/C.

A friend of mine “recalls” seing and or playing on a “Spitfire” located in the Rochford/Hockley (Essex) area in th ’70’s, apparently it was in an orchard next to a house; any bells?

Possibly the Bill Francis Mk XVI. He lived in Southend and it was in his back garden for a while before going in to the Southend museum. Timing is right, orchard conflicts.

Failing that I would look to a BoB film GRP replica.

Mark

A friend of mine “recalls” seing and or playing on a “Spitfire” located in the Rochford/Hockley (Essex) area in th ’70’s, apparently it was in an orchard next to a house; any bells?

re afghan spits

The british government almost sold mk VIII spits to Afghanistan in 1947. They got as far as sending one from india as a demonstrator in the hands of a sqdn leader King. He must have scared the sweet b’jesus out of them cos they proptly bought eight Anson MK XIX’s. Otherwise there would have been a nice neat row of spitfires next to the Hinds!

Our very own Bruce posted on a thread years ago regarding a roumor that the remains had surfaced somewhere, any further gossip on this one Bruce?

Its now a pretty old rumour.

The gossip had come from Tony Bianchi, and was pre 1997, whilst Tim R was still at HFL.

Never say never, but I am guessing it will stay as nothing more than a rumour!

Bruce

Thanks Baz – I’ve seen a lot of debate on colour schemes on here, but that suits the airframe IMO, maybe because its a clean and simple scheme on a cleaner earlier mark of Spitfire.

thanks again,

Jon

Those colours? Black and, beige/cream ? They seem to suit…. any colour pictures at all ? (and apologies, didn’t look at the other thread, am at work and logging in and out):diablo:

Jon

Trouble is, it’s B&W, a colour version still makes it B&W…..anyway, here’s my colour doodle of it. Apparently the tip of the spinner was red.

Baz

I think it was owned by an L. Branson and flown by a Mavis Branson. Crashed at Kastrup on April 15, 1947 if my info is correct. Our very own Bruce posted on a thread years ago regarding a roumor that the remains had surfaced somewhere, any further gossip on this one Bruce?

Those colours? Black and, beige/cream ? They seem to suit…. any colour pictures at all ? (and apologies, didn’t look at the other thread, am at work and logging in and out):diablo:

G-AHZI was the the Allan Wheeler Spit that crashed at Kastrup in 1946?

Cees

I think it was owned by an L. Branson and flown by a Mavis Branson. Crashed at Kastrup on April 15, 1947 if my info is correct. Our very own Bruce posted on a thread years ago regarding a roumor that the remains had surfaced somewhere, any further gossip on this one Bruce?
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=72202

And here is a photo Mark12 added to another post on the subject matter. Photo from the Peter Green collection.

T J

I recall two fuselages in a small scrapyard near Clatford/ Anna Valley within a mile or two of Andover, Hants. Date was 1969 or 1970.I recall the thick armour plated front windscreen panel on each but little other detail (not even sure they were Spitfires, in truth). Have idly wondered about them occasionally. Do they ring a bell with anyone?

That sounds more like Ted Sinclair’s pair of Tempest cockpit sections.

Mark

Does that mean I have to throw back what I have already?:D:D

😀 I wouldn’t! what have you got?, please can you pm me some pics of what you have?:D would be interested to see what you have

I recall two fuselages in a small scrapyard near Clatford/ Anna Valley within a mile or two of Andover, Hants. Date was 1969 or 1970.I recall the thick armour plated front windscreen panel on each but little other detail (not even sure they were Spitfires, in truth). Have idly wondered about them occasionally. Do they ring a bell with anyone?

G-AHZI was the the Allan Wheeler Spit that crashed at Kastrup in 1946?

Cees

Gene Pitney heard that Seafire II MB190 was going to be scrapped the “very next day”, unfortunately he was “24 Hours from Tulsa” so could not stop it

I blame the scrapping on country singer Don Williams who is “living on Tulsa time”.

T J

Gene Pitney heard that Seafire II MB190 was going to be scrapped the “very next day”, unfortunately he was “24 Hours from Tulsa” so could not stop it

😀