These replicas helped struture my childhood, the one at Turnhouse and the other at Leuchars. I do not think the Leuchars one is there anymore. Anybody know what happened to it. Is the Turnhouse spit still there ?
By: Clio - 6th July 2011 at 08:38
Thanks for all this information. It is heartening to see that this thread seems to have struck a chord with so many others
By: Mark12 - 6th July 2011 at 07:07
There seems to be some confusion. Both LA189 and LA198 are referred to above, sometimes in the same thread. I think the Glasgow one is LA198. So it is not surprising that Dr John Smith finds a different history for LA189.
Where am I Nancy? 🙂
LA189 was a ‘trials’ aircraft and unlikely to have carried a unit code.
Mark
By: l.garey - 6th July 2011 at 07:03
There seems to be some confusion. Both LA189 and LA198 are referred to above, sometimes in the same thread:
…and what follows is the official history of Spitfire LA189:
Spitfire LA198 History
21 September 1944
Aircraft built at South Marston, Wiltshire, test flight by Flight Lieutenant Johnson, duration 25 minutes.
I think the Glasgow one is LA198. So it is not surprising that Dr John Smith finds a different history for LA189.
By: Loose-Head - 6th July 2011 at 02:17
Mk XIX PS915, (original member of the RAF Memorial flight as was, and now back with the BBMF) did a stint at Leuchars in the 70’s as well, I think.
By: Al - 6th July 2011 at 01:48
The Leuchars Spit I remember from the early 1970s was a LFXVI, serial TB252 ‘Lucky Nine’…
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1237280/
Last I heard she is stored in Ardmore Airport, Aukland – some pics here…
http://www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html#tb252
By: Dr. John Smith - 6th July 2011 at 00:40
Spitfire LA189
As posted above, the history of this particular Spitfire I’ve given is the “official” one. However, an alternative source gives a completely different history!
Quote: “LA189 F21 SMAF4334
CRD A&AEE 23-7-44 (carbon monoxide cockpit contamination tests plus flying trials trials of Fin and Rudder mods). 16-9-44 dived to 525mph ASI: 39MU 15-10-45 33MU 9-3-50 sold scrap MoS 25-8-54″
source: http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p053.htm
No mention of any squadron service at all! So, two questions to the Spitfire experts out there:
1 – Which history is the correct one (or is the truth a combination of the two)?
2 – What was LA189’s code when with No. 1 Squadron during May-October 1945? (Presumably coded “JX-?” – but what was the individual code letter? Also, I presume that ‘RAI-G’ is what she wore when with 602 Squadron in 1947-49)
By: WV-903. - 5th July 2011 at 23:03
Well Fancy that.!!!!”
I always wondered what happened to this Spitfire. As a youngster, I used to cycle from Birmingham regularly to Worcester, mainly to call in to the ATC Unit and gaze in wonder at her. This would be around those years.
Brilliant that she is still around and well cared for. Thanks guys for info.
Bill T.
By: AdlerTag - 5th July 2011 at 22:14
“6 June 1986
Dedication ceremony at Leuchars for refurbished aircraft now on display as a gate guardian.”
(It’ll all be in Volume II :))
What was the purpose of the ‘dish’ in the tip of the spinner? Was it intentional or a ding of some kind?
By: DazDaMan - 5th July 2011 at 21:58
I remember seeing LA198 at both the Museum of Flight while under rebuild, and at the Museum of Transport afterwards. Stunning aircraft.
I also have the vaguest of memories of seeing it on the gate at Leuchars, maybe around 1987-88. It was from a distance, though.
By: G-ORDY - 5th July 2011 at 20:31
“6 June 1986
Dedication ceremony at Leuchars for refurbished aircraft now on display as a gate guardian.”
(It’ll all be in Volume II :))
By: Dr. John Smith - 5th July 2011 at 20:16
Edinburgh and Leuchars Spitfires
…and what follows is the official history of Spitfire LA189:
Spitfire LA198 History
21 September 1944
Aircraft built at South Marston, Wiltshire, test flight by Flight Lieutenant Johnson, duration 25 minutes.
2 October 1944
Taken on charge at 33 MU (Maintenance Unit), Lyneham, delivered by Captain Hughes, ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary).
3 May 1945
Allocated to No 1 Squadron, Manston.
4 October 1945
Placed in storage at No 9 (Maintenance Unit), Cosford.
12 May 1947
Allocated to 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force
25 October 1947
Damaged in a Category ‘A’ flying accident.
11 May 1948
Repairs completed by No 63 MU (Maintenance Unit), Carluke.
22 July 1949
Emergency landing Horsham St. Faith due to engine failure, pilot Jim Johnston intentionally ground-looped aircraft, category ‘B’ damage sustained.
9 August 1949
Dispatched to Vickers Armstrong, South Marston for repair.
21 July 1950
Work completed.
27 July 1950
Aircraft collected by No 33 MU (Maintenance Unit), and placed in storage at Lyneham.
19 September 1951
Allocated to No 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, Exeter.
19 November 1953
Returned to Vickers Armstrong for possible resale.
19 February 1954
Presented to No 187 Squadron ATC at Worcester, given serial number 7118M.
1968
Use in Battle of Britain film.
1970
Restored and on display as gate guardian RAF Locking, Avon.
1973
Rolls Royce Griffon 61 engine removed for BBMF PR 19.
March 1986
Moved to RAF Leuchars, Fife.
6 June 1986
Dedication ceremony at Leuchars for refurbished aircraft now on display as a gate guardian.
12 April 1989
Moved from RAF Leuchars to RAF St Athan for storage.
1996
Moved to RAF Museum Store, Cardington.
1997
Gifted to the City of Glasgow
4 March 1998
Delivered to the Museum of Flight, East Fortune, for restoration.
July 2003
Aircraft arrives and is assembled at Museum of Transport, Glasgow.
October 2005
The Spitfire is unveiled at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, suspended from the ceiling in the West Court.
(same source as before)
By: Dr. John Smith - 5th July 2011 at 20:12
Edinburgh and Leuchars Spitfires
Well, THIS should be relevant to the discussion…
“Spitfire LA 198 602 City of Glasgow Squadron hangs dramatically from the ceiling of the West Court in Kelvingrove. The plane is recognised as the best-restored Spitfire in the United Kingdom.
Spitfire LA198 served with the 602 City of Glasgow Squadron – based at Abbotsinch – between 1947 and 1949. The squadron was the first United Kingdom auxiliary squadron to receive Spitfires, receiving its first Spitfire on 8 May 1939, and the aircraft remained with the 602 for exactly 12 years.
On 22 July 1949, LA198 crashed, an event entered in the log book as: ‘Engine trouble, pranged on runway – did not fly again’.
The fact that LA198 ‘pranged’ turned out to be a blessing in disguise as most of the Spitfires in good condition were sold off as they were taken out of service. There are less than 150 flightworthy Spitfires now in existence.
Parliamentary approval was given in 1996 for LA198 to be returned to the City of Glasgow – this approval is necessary as all military equipment is property of the Ministry of Defence.
The restoration of Spitfire LA198 began in 1998 at the Museum of Flight in East Fortune and was completed in 2002. The restoration project was a joint venture between Glasgow City Council, the National Museums of Scotland and the Scottish Executive. In addition to core funding, support to re-display Spitfire LA198 has been provided through a contribution of £100,000 to the KRA from BAA Glasgow.
and here’s a picture of LA189 as she looks now: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/758481A0-8302-4843-8725-21E70BFFE9E0/0/SpitfireatKelvingroveGlasgowCityCouncilMuseumsjpgsmall.jpg
By: cityflyer - 5th July 2011 at 19:39
I believe the replica standing outside Edinburgh Airport is the Turnhouse one, but I could be wrong. It’s painted as an aircraft of 603 Squadron.
I Can confirm that the Turnhouse Replica is now standing Guard at the entrance to the main terminal in Edinburgh marked as L1067 “Blue Peter”.
THe Spitfire @ Leuchars was an original one. LA189 is now in the Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery in GLASGOW.
I can post some images of LA189 once I find them
By: DazDaMan - 5th July 2011 at 18:16
I believe the replica standing outside Edinburgh Airport is the Turnhouse one, but I could be wrong. It’s painted as an aircraft of 603 Squadron.
Sign In
July 5, 2011 at 11:14 am