WIX Archives

Re: Some Spitfire Questions

Posted by Peter A on Mon Feb 04, 2002 07:42:26 PM

In reply top Re: Some Spitfire Questions posted by Mick on Mon Feb 04, 2002 06:15:56 PM

Indian Air Force HS649. Always a difficult one this.
The tail unit carried an inspection plate marked TP285 - I have it to hand. An inspection of the original wings from this machine in 1999, which are still currently in the UK but were in the US, shows very clearly that the RAF serial is TP263. The under wing serails show evidence of HS649 once and TP263 twice. That is as good as it is going to get on this one.
JK808 Who do want to believe? The Yugos originally said JK448, then changed this to JK808 on the strength that their museum register of 1961 listed the aircraft as '9489' of the Airforce. My photographs taken in 1959 before they stripped all the original military paint clearly shows the machine painted on both sides of the fin as '9486'. This is non negotiable with the museum, loss of face etc but I'll settle for MH592. A simple 'typo' and we can all press the wrong button as.... enough said.

Follow Ups: