Hurricane 303 Squadron, flown by Joseph Frantisek

Here is mine

V7289 Hurricane crashed Blundel lane Stoke D’abernon 27-9-1940.
I watched it being dug up in 1977.

F/O W. Zak baled out at 30,000 ft.
Aircraft was flown on a few sorties during the BOB by Joseph Frantisek.
This was recently on display/loaned to the 303 sqdn exhibition in the RAFM.

If things can be special, this is a special thing.
Guy

14Jan13
Hangar 5:Conservation in Action

Brian

Keep that ‘Sandpapering maniac’ away from that Spitfire!

I can see the wet and dry sitting on the front wing!
NO NO NO!

Guy

There is one clear contradiction with your premise Biggles ! It has had holes drilled in it to allow it to hang from the ceiling! If it was on the ground it’s very unlikely that it would need the holes drilling in it! Hangar rash to my mind is far easier to rectify than holes. As for remaining out of reach of painters – that’s an assumption that it would be repainted if it was ground bound.

David,
My point is that it is now the paint scheme, that makes this aeroplane unique to three in the world! The ‘special conditions’ that have produced its longevity is clear.

It is now a very special survivor.

The holes are already in it, and can never be undone.

But hanging from the ceiling means that it is preserved in this condition for the long term, and has not at the wim of transitory civil servants, (through the sixties/seventies/eighties) who may have thought that a quick spruce up seemed like a good idea, with no understanding of what it represents.

The same applies now, for as far as I am concerned, it is currently AT RISK, for exactly that reason. It sits in a restoration envioronment, and I pray that it’s uniqueness is appreciated, in the face of pressure to produce ‘Shiny’ for the new building, and million pound spend.

That is why I asked for some comment or acknowledgement from somebody in the know.

I believe what it needs is a clean, do what it needs from a maintenance and necessity point of view, and have a little careful paint REPAIR, by somebody prctised in the art of detail paintwork….Like the guys who work in th film industry. I am sure its current light damage could be carefully and invisibly mended, with a little care and effort.

I also believe that threads such as this are good, as I am sure that some involved may read them, and it at least gives a guide on the current strength of feeling.
I for one feel very strongly that it should have minimal work done, as to me it is a joy to behold.

Have a great Christmas all.
Guy

In my view the place for the RAFM would be Bicester.
How glorious would it be to have the Museum located on the best preserved pre war RAF Station, (According National Heritage) With the ability to roll them all out, run engines and woah, maybe fly something?
It could be like East Kirkby, and the Goodwood Revival on acid!

Back from the world of dreams!

I guess that running museums is a bit like politics. All very easy to moan from the sidelines, but in reality, nobody has any clout, and it is impossible to get anything done with any vision. I think perhaps we should all be grateful for what has been acheived, warts and all. It has saved some very precious airframes, and continues to give them a future.
Guy

There are two more in this series:

Spitfire R6915 Please don’t Repaint!

I hope that people are not actually suggesting that the aircraft will be refurbished by the IWM before going back on display, or that that is the planned intention of the IWM.
To suggest that the curatoral staff do not know the significance of the airframe is doing them a great dis-service.

I admire your certainty Robert.
This is one occasion that I desperately hope you are quite correct, and my gut feeling is very very wrong.

Unfortunately, given the money being spent, and the high profile nature of the refurb, I feel the pressure to spruce up this airframe for the grand opening of the new museum, will far outpace the curatorial niceties. Add to this the argument that it is in later wartime colours, and it is at real risk!

Only by making a noise now, and I emplore anybody who has the ear of the right people to try, can we try to get those responsible reminded of their obligation to preserve our heritage, and not pander to fashionable headlines.

I re iterate that this is one of two airframes in the world that retain their ‘Original’ wartime service paint scheme, and give us an opportunity to see a Spitfire as it really looked in WW2, and not somebody’s later enterpretation. This aircraft is the real deal, warts and all, and in my view, priceless and of World Heritage importance.
A repaint would be a tradgedy.
Guy

I’m quite happy with that suggestion 😉

I don’t care where it ends up, I am just concernd that it does not get ‘refurbished’ with Nitromoors in order to satisfy a perception that the new Lambeth upgrade needs to have equivalently shiny new exhibits.

We would lose something of true national significance and for what?
It would become, just another Spitfire like many others!
Guy