WIX Archives
Presentation Spitfires P8332 and R7143
Posted by Lee Walsh on Mon Sep 23, 2002 04:28:40 PM
In reply top Presentation Spitfires posted by dumaresqc on Mon Sep 23, 2002 11:40:19 AM
Charles;
I have a list of the Mk II?s that the NEI had sponsored during WWII. If I recall it was something in the range of 10 aircraft in all...
Canada did for a while have 2 presentation Spitfires in the country until around 1949. The RCAF was flying three PR marks at Rockcliffe with No. 13 Photo Sqd. until 1947. They were in rather rough shape and simply awaiting their fate until the RCN came along and picked them up. Records show that BoB veteran X4555 was sent to the RCN Air Electrical School in Halifax in the spring or fall of 1947. Though sqd records indicate it couldn?t fly due to lack of spares and damage to the props. RCN accounts recall that the aircraft they eventually got was all silver with RAF markings and therefore R7143 made the trip {barely!}.
This Spitfire was a Mk VII Type G and was ordered as a Mk I going through endless conversions. R1743 along with R7193 were stenciled with the names of Walsall I [7143] and Walsall II [7193]. Haven?t been able to find out what Walsall means but might be a "spot" somewhere in the UK.
When the RCN was finished with R7143 it was simply cut up and put out in the trash on the street sometime in 1949. What happened to the other 2 Rockcliffe Spitfires {X4555 and X4492} is still a much sought after mystery.
Lee
Toronto