New Spitfire in Canada

Bill Walker · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:01 pm

From an on-line article at Canada's Wings magazine: http://www.wingsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1813

Spitfire SL542, which was a gate guardian at Duxford from 1966 to 1988, is now in Quebec, undergoing restoration.

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:35 pm

Bill Walker wrote:

From an on-line article at Canada's Wings magazine: http://www.wingsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1813

Spitfire SL542, which was a gate guardian at Duxford from 1966 to 1988, is now in Quebec, undergoing restoration.

Anthony Gurak just kept his Spitfire quietly tucked away in the Quebec area having terminated his restoration arrangement with Harry Stenger in Bartow, Florida. I would estimate that it has been in Canada for at least the past 8 years.

Don't you just love the shot of the chain wrapped around the fuselage to hoist it up and supend it from the rafters. :cry:

PeterA

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:13 pm

Don't you just love the shot of the chain wrapped around the fuselage to hoist it up and supend it from the rafters. :cry:

They probably learned that AND their meticuous labelling from the CAF!

(And I can say that as a CAF Col.! :roll:

)

SPANNERmkV

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:59 am

Oh my God, it really was chained to the rafters. :shock:

Ollie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:08 am

The aircraft had been in Beloeil for the past 8 years as stated by Peter.

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:59 am

HAHA, the cat is out of the bag.

Olivier, do you know if it will head out to St-Hyacinthe ?

Ciao

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Bill Walker wrote:

Spitfire SL542, which was a gate guardian at Duxford from 1966 to 1988........

Coltishall, not Duxford.

Ollie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:28 pm

Maybe going back to Beloeil for rebuild and then I guess it will spend time between Saint-Hyacinthe and Lachute with the two owners.

Consul · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:22 pm

Mike wrote:

Bill Walker wrote:

Spitfire SL542, which was a gate guardian at Duxford from 1966 to 1988........

Coltishall, not Duxford.

Actually both locations are right - though not the span of dates. After a flying accident in 1957 SL542 was displayed at Duxford then moved to Horsham St Faith in about 1962 and then when HSF closed to Coltishall till '88 finally into store at St Athan before being involved in the part ex for the Hampden remains (now at Cosford) in the early 90s.

I was horrified to see that suspension by chain, it beggars belief! I was on holiday in Quebec last week and within 5 miles of St-Hyacinthe without knowing she was there ....being over in Canada from the UK and having last seen '542 on a pole at Coltishall I would have loved to catch up with her again - how frustrating, but nice to know she'll get some tlc.

Tim

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