FOLLOWING Alan Carlaw's letter (April 4) you may be interested to know there is another ex-602 Squadron genuine Spitfire extant and on display at the Imperial War Museum. This aeroplane, serial number R6915, is a Spitfire Mark IA and was delivered to 609 Squadron in July 1940; several pilots flew it with 609 Squadron with distinguised results. It is a genuine Battle of Britain Spitfire.
After operational damage it was repaired and delivered to 602 Squadron at Prestwick in January, 1941. It was moved from 602 in July, 1941, to No 61 Operational Training Unit at Heston (West London) for a short while before being moved for other duties.
For the record I was at Heston with 61 OTU in July 1941. This Spitfire finally reached the Imperial War Museum in August, 1946.
I saw the Spitfire LF mark XVI on exhibition with the RAF Town Show at Ayr in July, 1994. The original serial number of this aeroplane was TB382, which was changed, as is the custom, to 7244M when it became non-operational and in use for display purposes.
There is a mystery, however, as when I photographed it in July, 1994, it had the serial number X4277. This number relates to a Spitfire mark I which was shot down in flames in the English Channel in 1940. The pilot who baled out injured was Richard Hilary, author of The Last Enemy. This Spitfire had done 7!s flying hours when shot down.
Kenneth Wyvill,
7 Windward Park,
Ayr.
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