In a nutshell, an naughty character tried to smuggle the Bf 109 (after buying it from the RAAF) out of Australia in the late 60’s early 70’s by painting it silver and putting RAAF roundels on it. To hide its worthy significance he put on the manifest 1x P-51 Mustang (which where in ready supply at this time).
A customs dude who was into aircraft thought “I like Mustangs I might have a look…..what a minute that’s not a Mustang…..It’s a Bf 109!” He did some checking and the BF 109 was sold on the proviso that as a article of some importance historically it was not allowed to be exported under the terms of the sale by the RAAF. The aircraft was then seized and then donated to the AWM who had to strip all the silver paint off.
That’s my understanding of basically what happened. Can anyone expand or correct?
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