Watching the film it would appear to be 3 Spitfires used not just the two identified.

See what you mean as the Hunter and Meteor (TE189) had one each with the third one being for the Sabre, Sea Hawk and Swift (PK369).

I think the unidentified one is the one demolished by the Hunter

John was a true gent

I new John during his time at Filton when he brought the VC-10’s back from Abingdon after their limited rebuild before tanker conversion.

Another old school professional passes on.

Not a risk taker but a commensurate professional with a true understanding of flight

Sodo I receive a Spitfire in exchange for a Hornet then? 😀

I would think that a Hornet must be worth two Spitfires

Was this airframe too far gone for reuse?
Were they robbed for the in service a/c at Brize?

The aircraft were used for spares for the active VC-10 Fleet.

Only 5 aircraft were part of ASR415 to be rebuilt as tanker aircraft, so the remainder were scrapped as they were no longer required

There is a P-61A on display at the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Engineering in Beijing, China. I am unaware of its serial number. The story of how it got there is sort of interesting. It seems that the 427th Night Fighter Squadron based in China during the war was in preparation for the return home after the end of hostilities. Just as they were were about to leave, some Communist troops came onto the field and ordered the Americans to get out immediately, but to leave their aircraft behind. The Beijing Institute Black Widow may be one of the three P-61Cs seized at that time. The plane has a plaque on it indicating that the construction number is N1234, which would make it 42-39715. It is reported that the Chinese will sell the plane for 2 million dollars, but the wing spar is reportedly so corroded that the aircraft would collapse if moved. There may be other Black Widows in other locations in China.

From http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p61_10.html

XL472 on the way from the museum at Gatwick to St Athan

pictures in thread below

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?124508-eek-Cull-at-Gatwick-Museum!/page2&highlight=gatwick

Perhaps someone might like to post a list detailing the appalling record of the RAF Museum in scrapping, or causing to be scapped, the nation’s aviation heritage while in its “care” ……

I think this would be unfair.

The RAF Museum has taken a lot of flack for aircraft that have been scrapped that were quite often beyond their control.

Many aircraft were scrapped long before the RAF Museum was established. The Beverley at Hendon was delivered to the former RAF Hendon and not the RAF Museum and was “gifted” to the RAF museum so that the MOD did not have to look after it.

I think it is easy to overlook what was involved in moving aircraft such as the Vulcan and Valiant to Hendon or the Nimrod, Victor and Valiant to Cosford.

The two sites at Hendon and Cosford are limited by the lack of runway facilities at Hendon and the relatively short length at Cosford. The use of Henlow for storage prior to the opening of Hendon was not ideal for large aircraft such as the Shackleton but did result in a significant number of other airframes being preserved.

Rather than be-moaning what has been scrapped we such be grateful for what has been preserved.