I can’t help thinking that the IWM’s two Zeroes could be combined to make a much more impressive (if composite) static exhibit. Save the engine and cowlings, it looks like they have pretty much a complete aircraft there between the Lambeth centre section, and the wreckage already at DX.
Of course, there’s also something to be said for not mixing the two identities and keeping these two exhibits in “as found” condition. Such arguments, those in favour of maintaining the maximum possible percentage of original material are very powerful ones.
However, to me these disparate, tatty chunks of aeroplane are never going to have the sheer presence of a complete Zeke on display at Lambeth. The heroics of the Commonwealth forces in the Pacific are still criminally under-represented; does the IWM even posess have any other large exhibits from that campaign? A Zeke would go towards completing the set of “iconic” WW2 fighters from the main fighting powers on display at Lambeth, and could act as the centrepiece to a new exhibition dedicated to the British forces fighting the Japanese from WW1 onwards.
Sign In
