Gate guard Spitfire Question

[Jeff]

A question from my ex wife, funny she was never interested in aviation when we were married but hey ho 🙄 shes asking if this is Biggin, not much to go on I know but hopefully someone will know

[dave]

hi,
haven't a clue,only there's no buildings in the back ground, i visited Biggin for a couple of airshows one being 1965 when G-ASXX/NX611 arrived home from her travels, now the memories a bit vague, but i seem to remember being on the bus from Bromley, passing the Spitfire and Hurricane on the left by a small hangar, then queing up to get into the show near to the control tower. (Also remembering being by the tower and people were going in and out, and some climbing up onto it so i did too! oh the youth of those days).
So a bit of drift but have the Spitfire and Hurricane always been where they are now?

regards,
dave...

[davebasing]

The railings and the tree at the rear exactly match Biggin's gate guard (outside St George's Chapel) Spitfire SL674 before it was re-painted in R Aux'AF marks in 1987. It was mounted at the gate in 1954 and I first saw her there together with the Hurricane in 1961. It was replaced by the current plastic replica Spit (as K9981) in 1989 when it went to St Athan. Its moved about a bit since then via Cardington, Wyton and Cosford. Think its now stored at RAF Stafford. Also placed there from the same time in 1954 was Hurricane LF738 which left for Rochester for restoration in 1984 and thence to the RAF Museum at Cosford. It was again replaced by a plastic Hurricane replica (as P2921). Both replicas remain there now.

[Jeff]

Thx Dave 👍🏻

[michael]

Agree with Dave the fence with its suports exaxtly match Biggin Hill,as do the "wheel chalks" which of course could have been standard.Access would have been easier then as well.