Significant deletions but more additions

Well-travelled Supermarine Spitfire becomes VH-XWE

A good cross-section of types is included in the New Allocations this issue with undoubtedly the most interesting being Bishop Aviation’s Supermarine Spitfire VH-XWE. The provenance of this aircraft is a little unclear however going by the records of the most knowledgeable warbird historian in Australia, Geoff Goodall, the following is a summary of its history.

Built in 1942 it spent the remaining war years with the RAF with military serial number TE392 and coded ZX-Z before becoming a ‘gate guard’ at RAF Wellesborne Mountford painted with fake markings VZ477 code JF-O. Between 1961 and 1984 it guarded three more RAF station gates at Waterbeach, Kemble and Creden Hill with more fictitious codes of YD-Q and YT-O. Well known warbird restorer Doug Arnold (Warbirds of Great Britain) obtained the aircraft during 1984 and began to restore the Spitfire to its original condition, firstly at Blackbushe and later Biggin Hill.