Spitfire Mk VIII in Auckland???

[Dave Homewood]

Last night I had a browse through an old book i haven't looked at in many years, called The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft in Australia and New Zealand, by David Eyre. (Pacific Publishers, 1988)

Sadly it is, like all book covering Aust and NZ, very heavy on the Aussie scene and light on the NZ, treating this country as an afterthought paragraph to most entries.

The thing is it lists Spitfires that were then known to be in NZ. It includes Wigram's TE288, Auckland Musuem's TE456, and the Subritzky family's then-project Mk V A58-178 which was later restored in the UK and flies at Duxford under the ownership of American Tom Blair.

It also mentioned the imminent arrival of TB863, but the fifth Spitfire it mentions is new to me. The book states "and LF VIII A58-149, being restored in Auckland for static display".

What? Was there an ex-RAAF Mk VIII in NZ? Where is it now? Was it incorporated into the Mk V project (I heard they combined three wrecks into the project).

Any clues?

[Brett]

A58-149 is EF 545, (sometimes recorded as EF 525) recovered by Monty Armstrong from the Solomons in 1974. Acquired by Don Subritzky in 1986 it was used for parts in the restoration of JG 891.

Remaining bits and pieces evidently in the possession of Chris Warrilow in the UK.

May also have been the first to carry the registration ZK-MKV.

Seems to be a Mk Vc, rather than a VIII.

Cheers,

Brett

[Brett]

EF 545 was registered as G-CDGY on 19/1/2005 to Aero Vintage Ltd. This is Guy Black's restoration company now known as Retrotec (www.retrotec-ltd.co.uk/). It doesn't appear on their list of projects.

I understand the remains consisted of a forward fuselage only. Basically it is an identity and starter kit for a new-build Spitfire.

Cheers,

Brett

[petera]

Brett has 'nailed it' but I can fill in a bit more.

The Monty Armstrong Spitfire recovery from Kiriwina circa 1977 yielded three barely recognisable Spitfires, all in a very very poor state by the standards of the day. The most complete and still on its gear was EF545 albeit the worst for corrosion due in part to a fire. The tail unit was in better condition. Two further disintegrating fuselages of unknown serial lay nearby. The strategic decision was made to cut EF545 up in to manageable sections to speed recovery.

Don Subriztky acquired, purchased, traded, inherited, fostered, and or sheltered the recoveries in NZ. retaining the best of the fuselages and most of the remains of EF545. The second fuselage went to Barry Coran in Melbourne.

Don started restoration on his project but with no ID for the front end fuselage and incorporating the rear end of EF545 opted to ID the whole project as EF545 and put it on the NZ civil register as such.

With a little prompting from a UK Spitfire Historian, the front end finally revealed its stencilled serial under the 'crud' on the carry through spar cover - JG891.

Any chance of finding an ID on Barry Coran's Spitfire was lost to the bead blaster in early times but an extensive study of the 79 RAAF operational record book indicates beyond reasonable doubt that the aircraft is LZ844/UP-X and this is further confirmed by photographs at Canberra of the aircraft being dismantled on Kiriwina by the 12 RSU at the place on the day.

Parts of EF545 were absorbed and scattered to several projects with the firewall and data plate finally going to the UK. To this Guy Black has added original wing structure, inherited from an Australian restoration, which incidentally further confirmed the serial as EF545.

PeterA

[vs]

Any news on the M16 Spitfire that the Subriztkys are restoring, also saw that the Alpine Fighter Collections Spitfire M14 is for sale on Provenance fighter sales...would be great to see her fly again

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much Brett and Peter, and welcome to the forum Brett and vs

[jb]

LZ844 (A58-213) can now be seen on display at the QAM.

www.qam.com.au/aircraft/spitfire-v/LZ844.htm