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Re: Indian Spitfires - Redux.....

Posted by PeterA on Mon Aug 26, 2002 08:47:44 AM

In reply top Indian Spitfires - Redux..... posted by Tony on Mon Aug 26, 2002 07:43:54 AM

: So which Spitfire came from Kharagpur?
:
: Tony

The Spitfire that was at Kharagpur is HS669. Indeed every detachable part is hand painted HS669 including the tail fin fillet. The trim control access panel on the tail fin had the stencil '367'on the reverse. This was indicative of TP367 but tail units can change round as we now know from TP285(Prov). When the Spitfire finally arrived at Skysport for temporary storage a deeper examination of the airframe revealed the top tank fuel cover, not only liberally sprinkled with HS669, but also hand painted '367'. So TP367 beyond reasonable doubt.
Incidently during the time I removed the tail unit from the fuselage and the final exportation of the aircraft from India, the tail unit was stolen, despite being placed in the safe keeping of the professor in charge of the wind tunnel facility! There is a reward should anybody know of its location.

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