Yes, it did have lots of ‘donor’ bits, but I don’t believe the canopy was ever replaced during its subsequent flying life as DG200 after the canopy was lost on 27 November 1940. I think they just never bothered to replace it. In fact, despite the number of Me 109s brought down there was a surprising shortage of canopies to be had.

I have at least one photo of it as DG200 with a canopy fitted, (in ‘The Captive Luftwaffe’ amongst other) – taken at Hucknall after re-build but before it was painted in RAF colours.

In the back of my mind, I do recall reading that the story of the canopy being removed because the RR test pilot was too tall, and then being mislaid, was a bit of a myth, but at one point it certainly had a canopy.

Andy – I don’t know of any pics of it pre-recovery at manston – any that you know of?

What I am puzzled by is the statement that the archtectural consultants are apparently still committed to working with the RAFM to see this project through to fruition. Is that just wishful thinking on their part, or are the RAFM really still pushing this forward? If so, it conflicts with what a trusted informant was recently told by a reliable RAFM source who apparently stated that the project was dead.

So, is it dead? Or still a live project?

Without funding, I’d say it’s as dead as a Norwegian Blue Parrot, so unless thgey are working to identify alternate funding streams or re-submit the Heritage application it must be dead. Mind you, both could be correct – the press release is from May, so they could have killed it since then.

I had to laugh at:

Jim Eyre, co-founder of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, said: ‘We are incredibly disappointed with the decision but are committed to working with the RAF Museum to help them realise this great project.’

And no doubt realise their big cheque.

Personally, I have nothing against landmark or modern buildings, I just don’t think they make very good aircraft museums!!

For an HU5, it would be overall BS381C 298 OIlive Drab

Has been reported for LIghting before.

Intruiging

VC10s are still in service until next year as tankers – only transport ops stopped last week.

The only full code I have is TE 250 – J. Others were D, L & N.

= Tim

I’d imagine TE250 is the aircraft serial number, the aircraft code letter would be ‘J’, Squadron codes would have been RAJ. So full aircraft ID would have been Spitfire XVI TE250 coded RAJ-J

TE250 was with 603 from 10/4/46 until 2/5/48 when it went to 609 Squadron.

Anyone got a good head on shot of the Snipe? I’m interested to see how well they captured the asymmetric forward fuselage ‘hump’.