A web site about RAF Bridgnorth contains photos of a couple of the entrance gate display aircraft - Spitfire BM597 and Hurricane LF 686. last heard BM597 was with the HAC at Duxford and LF686 is in static display in Washington DC. I grew up in Bridgnorth and managed to get a sit in the cockpits of both of these aircraft when I was about 12 - my grandfather was a civilian worker at the camp and " knew people ". This is a long winded way of asking if anyone knows if any more of the " Gate Guardians " at other RAF stations are still either on static display or have been returned to flying condition.
Ollie in OZ
Hi Ollie, nothing about specific aircraft.
However, according to unsubstantiated information and generally accepted answers to questions, is that in the 80's deals were done with private companies to have the historic aircraft on gate guardian to be replaced with plastic / fiberglass replica's.
The original aircraft would be removed and a replica would replace it, whilst, the cost of the replica was offset by the private company keeping the original aircraft. Therefore, there RAF got a load of low cost gate guardian replacements for nothing.
There seams to have been several companies over years doing replica aircraft, not sure if all of them got originals.
However, one consortium that I am aware of was involved in this deal in the 80's was Specialised Moldings in Huntingdon (long since wound up) and Historic Flying Limited, then at Audley End.
Thus a lot of the more recent additions to the Spitfire and Hurricane flying and static stock have been made through this 'swap' arrangement.
HTH-IM
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