The "Walsall I" & "Walsall II" Spitfires ...
Sun Dec 07, 2025 8:20 pm
Mk. 1 Spitfires R7143 & R7139 .... Walsall in the West Midlands of England.
Spitfire R7143 "Walsall I"
"Close up of Spitfire R7143's cockpit when leaving the factory as an Mk. 1 Spitfire. It was a presentation Spitfire paid for by the residents of Walsall, England's Spitfire Fund. They raised enough money to pay to 2 Spitfires. It was quickly to be modified as a PRU Spitfire and was painted blue while flying with the RAF PRU. It came to Canada in February 1943 and was transferred to the RCN in September 1947 at used at HMCS Stadacona as an instructional aircraft, then cut up for scrap. Legend has it parts survive today somewhere". Walsall City Archives
Her sister-ship Spitfire R7139 "Walsall II"
Start of the Walshall Spitfire fund
September 21,1940 “The Walsall Observer”. The Walsall Observer was a weekly newspaper, published in Walsall in the West Midlands of England from 1868 to 2009
March 1943 “The Walshall Observer” mentions a follow-up on the actions of these aircraft and fails to mention it was converted to a PR Spitfire and was about to be shipped to Canada.
Spitfire R7143 "Walsall I"
"Close up of Spitfire R7143's cockpit when leaving the factory as an Mk. 1 Spitfire. It was a presentation Spitfire paid for by the residents of Walsall, England's Spitfire Fund. They raised enough money to pay to 2 Spitfires. It was quickly to be modified as a PRU Spitfire and was painted blue while flying with the RAF PRU. It came to Canada in February 1943 and was transferred to the RCN in September 1947 at used at HMCS Stadacona as an instructional aircraft, then cut up for scrap. Legend has it parts survive today somewhere". Walsall City Archives
Her sister-ship Spitfire R7139 "Walsall II"
Start of the Walshall Spitfire fund
September 21,1940 “The Walsall Observer”. The Walsall Observer was a weekly newspaper, published in Walsall in the West Midlands of England from 1868 to 2009
March 1943 “The Walshall Observer” mentions a follow-up on the actions of these aircraft and fails to mention it was converted to a PR Spitfire and was about to be shipped to Canada.
Re: The "Walsall I" & "Walsall II" Spitfires ...
Mon Dec 08, 2025 2:30 am
Lovely shots and background info as ever Mark. The censor sure has been busy with the first photo. Makes it look like it was photographed on the Somme!