howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
#2
Lovely machines, but with a sad, albeit heroic, history. The Spitfire Museum on the way to Margate is a moving tribute - I recommend a visit.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#3
Our Knight in shining armour first rescues the maiden from the lake and is reunited with his old pal Merlin?
[you couldn't make it up?]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_MerlinIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
it would be nice to see one at hawkinge and at capel.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
i think capel would be one of those in line brian especially with the planned new visitor centre there.
a replica is fine but the real thing would be even better.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#6
yes howard it would be nice,but i think hawkinge deserves one as well.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
you're right brian, in fact hawkinge should take centre stage, after all capel is purely for the battle of britain and these aircraft were never involved.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#8
yes howard hawkinge was a front line fighter station.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#9
It a brilliant find - these aircraft are like gold dust and every bit Britain's heritage as Dover castle or the Tower of London is. I understand that there are only 45 airworthy spitfires in the world so these machines, once restored, will increase the number by nearly 50%.... Even without these there are more airworthy spitfires now than there was 10 years ago....
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#10
Its great to read this very interesting story, it would ripe for a documentary and even better if they could be made airworthy.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#11
Barry - they have found wrecked Spits in a river and another in the sea and both were restored to flying condition, so hopefully these, all crated and stored carefully, will all be able to be put into flying condition after a lot of work no doubt.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#12
i doubt there will be a shortage of volunteers to do the painstaking work.
if they sent one down to capel there would be people queuing up to do their bit.
it would be exactly what the site needs to give it a boost even though it is great already.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#13
This thread gives me another chance to use forumite Humphy's great picture..
I did have that on the frontpage one time and the smaller scale here doesnt do it the full justice...but a terrific shot. Talk about hedge-hopping!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#14
That is a fantastic photo. Looks like a particularly rare Mk I or Mk II as well, a truly brilliant shot. (though it could be a MkV with an 'a' wing...unlikely)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#15
Wow indeed.
Anyone who uses that must give either Dover-Forum or Humphy the credit - eh PaulB ?
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#16
Yes a great picture and some will remember it large on the frontpage. If I get an excuse to do it on the frontpage in the summer months ahead I will. Also have other cracking spitfire pictures in the files somewhere.
Ah, nooo Roger...not exactly.. people must not use it at all..
not without permission.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
#17
Great to see them come back home and if they can be got air worthy it would be a great sight to see a squadron type fly past of spitfires..
