WIX Archives

Re: Roving ML417 and others

Posted by Graham Orphan on Tue Dec 11, 2001 10:19:46 AM

In reply top Re: Roving ML417 and others (longish) posted by Cees Broere on Tue Dec 11, 2001 08:57:41 AM

You've got the story pretty well spot-on Cees. The trial export was MV154, sent out as 'aluminium scraps and strips' by a major UK warbird collector of the 1970s. As that went well, the next attempt was the export of the Bf109, in this case smuggled out in the company of a ligitimately purchased CAC-built Mustang (i.e. it had an export permit). As I understand it, the Bf109 was painted silver and given something of a belly scoop to look like more Mustang parts. I didn't see it but stories were rife at the time. This attempt was stopped by customs and the property confiscated, the Bf109 later passing to the Australian War Memorial. Its paintwork proved not to have been too badly compromised by the silver 'overcoat' and the aircraft still has an impressive original coat of Luftwaffe camo.
Cheers,
GMO

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