Written on Saturday 9th February 2013
A Spitfire is back in the airfor the new Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) display season ? 58 yearsafter it last flew.
The rebuilding of Spitfire TE311, a Mk XVI with clipped wingtips, began in2001 by a small team of RAF BBMF technicians.
Squadron Leader Duncan Mason,who commands the memorial flight, said: "We will be proud to displaySpitfire TE311 alongside the RAF BBMF's Lancaster as a flying memorial to thebravery of our RAF forefathers. Theirlegacy of precision and tenacity shows today in our team who achieved the goalof getting TE311 back into the air. She is just brilliant to fly and I can'twait to display her at some of the events we have planned for this specialseason ? people are very keen to see her in flight after they have followed therebuild so closely."
The aircraft was chiefly used for training after the war, beforebecoming the gate guardian at Tangmere and then a static display at air shows.
TE311 is painted as Spitfire XVI TB675 '4D-V', the aircraft of SquadronLeader Tony Reeves DFC, who was the commanding officer of 74 Squadron in 1945.The restoration was backed Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association.
ito=email_newsletter_thisislincolnshire#ixzz2KR821bMD
This post has 0 comments.
