By: Yak 11 Fan - 4th January 2003 at 18:15
RE: Time For A Lockheed Electra Junior ?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-01-03 AT 06:16 PM (GMT)]Here you go guys, a lovely piece of history, all yours for $425,000
By: Ant.H - 4th January 2003 at 14:55
RE: Spitfire XIX
Cheers David,thanks for clearing that up.I know a number of warbirds had D-Day stripes slapped on them around the 50th anniversary,so I thought maybe they were following the trend rather than historical accuracy.Nice to know it’s accurate.
Any ideas what made BBMF decide to sell off ‘853 and not one of the other XIX’s?If she saw wartime service then surelly she would’ve been a better candidate to stay with the flight.
By: David Burke - 4th January 2003 at 11:04
RE: Spitfire XIX
Ant – The XIX entered operational service on the 24th May 1944 with No.542 Squadron as a type. I believe the machine in question did see wartime service because I remember at the time a friend who worked on the flight wasn’t happy to see her go. I think she flew with 16 Squadron possibly operationally. Regards the PR.XI I have to admit that they are one of my favourite types – however I do prefer them with the bulbous oil tank and wrap round windscreen fitted. Maybe ugly but that’s how they were meant to be !
By: Ant.H - 3rd January 2003 at 23:51
RE: Time For A Lockheed Electra Junior ?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-01-03 AT 11:57 PM (GMT)]Agreed again there David,photo recce doesn’t get anything like the recognition it deserves.I think the asking price for the Electra was around the £200,000 mark,but it was a while back,perhaps over a year ago,so I’ll have to do a bit of digging through back-issues to find out for sure.
Whilst we’re on the subject of valuable and significant recce machines,I can’t help feeling that it was almost criminal to let the PR.XI Spit go to the States.I know,the States is not a black hole and warbirds can come back accross the pond etc etc,but I still feel it belongs over here,especially since the tragic loss of the only other airworthy PR.XI at Rouen.The work the Recce Spitfire blokes did was both crucial to the allied effort and extremely dangerous,and shouldn’t go unappreciated.
As an aside,does anyone know precisely when the PR.XIX first went into action?The Rolls Royce Spit,PS853,is adorned with D-Day stripes,which I think were applied while she was still with BBMF.I always thought the mark’s service debut was after the time of D-Day,so should a XIX really have them?
By: David Burke - 3rd January 2003 at 20:19
RE: Time For A Lockheed Electra Junior ?
Ant – I think it would probably be for sale at £250,000 or there abouts . Seems a lot of money but the history is great -got to be worth having. Photo reconnaisance history is very neglected in the U.K -it’s about time it was redressed.
By: keithmac - 3rd January 2003 at 19:40
RE: Time For A Lockheed Electra Junior ?
Would’nt it be nice if the BBMF took it over in airworthy condition and kept it flying! Ahh, but we can all dream!
KeithMac
By: Ant.H - 3rd January 2003 at 19:31
RE: Time For A Lockheed Electra Junior ?
I’d agree with you there David.His original machine,G-AFTL(?),is still in existance and is kept in airworthy condition in the US.Aeroplane reported her as being up for sale a few months ago,and the owner was looking to sell her back to a collector or museum in the UK because of the significance of it’s European history.Although a new interior and slightly different engines were fitted recently,a number of her original recce mods remain,including the mounts and apertures for the belly cameras.
The only problem is that she’s being offered at an airworthy price,so I’m guessing it would be a bit beyond RAFM’s price range.
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January 2, 2003 at 11:43 pm