Two Mark One Spitfires changing owners soon

“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”

There are few newspaper journalists that are deeply knowledgeable about all aspects of a particular subject. I suspect the journalists reporting on this latest sale/gift of a Spitfire or two would struggle to tell the difference between the different Marks of Spitfire or possibly tell one apart from a Hurricane or possibly even a Fairey Battle. A journalist or lay person for that matter will hang on every word spoken by someone such as an Engineer, pilot of Spit owner/operator and that will be the story. If said provider of information happens to omit that there are other airworthy examples it won’t get into print. Time constraints get in the way of thorough research and corroboration so the interviewee gets to spin the story to promote their own best interests.

Publishers have in the past added and omitted sections of articles that I have written and modified the content, so as to suit the story they believe will sell more titles. When the articles contain technical info that they subsequently rearrange and then print without allowing you sight of the changes it can be very frustrating. As the great unwashed believe there are only a handful of Spits flying in the world they’d be shocked to know just how many are on display, under restoration, in storage or active in the circuit at Duxford. Apart from perhaps a photo in a snooze paper showing a mass flyby to pay tribute to an event or anniversary the majority of non-enthusiasts will remain blissfully ignorant. In truth whether there are two or twenty Mark I’s will not affect the forthcoming election or how much take home pay people will be getting post election. For most people it is just a nice story to hear that someone who has made a great deal of money has made a charitable donation to several good causes. The details are irrelevant…

I hope the CO of the BBMF is a very persuasive man!

After quite a lot of work, and an interruption to my holiday, I am now able to reveal the end results:

http://www.christies.com/spitfire/interactive/index.html

and

http://www.christies.com/features/Last-of-its-kind-Spitfire-5969-3.aspx?PID=eng_homepage_row1_slot3

How come it says “P9374, one of only two original Mk. 1 Spitfires to still be flying”? Isn’t there 4 airworthy MkI’s?

A nice gesture and hopefully the IWM will be good custodians for future generations

The brilliance was in those who put it all together! I just gave them the material and ideas…

Fantastic Andy 🙂 you have done a brilliant job.

After quite a lot of work, and an interruption to my holiday, I am now able to reveal the end results:

http://www.christies.com/spitfire/interactive/index.html

and

http://www.christies.com/features/Last-of-its-kind-Spitfire-5969-3.aspx?PID=eng_homepage_row1_slot3

Wow. To gift a couple of Spits is very generous.

A BBC article claims there to be only two fully restored Mk I Spits flying anywhere in the world. Furthermore they are known as Ballerinas!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-32488837

Not that I know of.:apologetic: Thank you for pointing out my error Sopwith which I have corrected, I shouldn’t post so late at night!:apologetic:

I did, of course, mean P9374 the plane that is being auctioned.

But, hey, maybe it was a premonition.

An unsigned one would be rarer.

Well there’s always a market for another Spitfire book Paul1867, lets hope it was a premonition.:)

Not that I know of.:apologetic: Thank you for pointing out my error Sopwith which I have corrected, I shouldn’t post so late at night!:apologetic:

I did, of course, mean P9374 the plane that is being auctioned.

But, hey, maybe it was a premonition.

Is there a book on N3200 now?

Not that I know of.:apologetic: Thank you for pointing out my error Sopwith which I have corrected, I shouldn’t post so late at night!:apologetic:

I did, of course, mean P9374 the plane that is being auctioned.

But, hey, maybe it was a premonition.

Apologies for misreading the context of Moggy’s post. Maybe that was one of the occasions where quoting the post immediately before, and to which the comment was aimed, might be a good thing? Saves foot in mouth moment as one wakes up 😉

Is an autographed copy of THE book going to come with N3200 at the auction?

Is there a book on N3200 now?

Precisely.

Thank you Wings43.

Moggy

I think Moggy was referring to the question of originality rather than the actual donation news.

Done to death?

This is new news to me, as far as N3200 being donated to the IWM and the proceeds from the sale of P9374 being donated to the RAFBF/Panthera.

Maybe you were aware but not everyone else has your insight!…

Not this chestnut again please.

It has been done to death.

Moggy

Enjoyed the radio interview with John Romain yesterday- an unexpected treat before work!

I think P9374 is a stunning aircraft/achievement, but I do think that a little realism wouldn’t hurt- it’s not really a WW2 Mk1 at all, is it? Many of us will be running cars that are older!

Is an autographed copy of THE book going to come with P9374 at the auction?

Yes she was, and indeed IWM were actively involved in getting the Shuttleworth Sea Hurricane back into the air. However, without wishing to denigrate the current management, they were very different times and as far as the upper echelons of IWM management goes, very different people.