Aeroplane Monthly 1979-12
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W.Haydon-Baillie - Indian Spitfire Expedition
The real prize was the Spitfire Mk VIII, T17, seen here at Jaipur with Wensley Haydon-Baillie in the cockpit.
The cockpit of the Mk VIII at Jaipur.
Close-up of a Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII windscreen.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII TP280/HS654 at Kalaikunda after the undergrowth had been cut away. Note how the prop blades have been hacked off at the roots.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII HS687 as it was found in the Kalaikunda undergrowth. The rudder and elevators are devoid of fabric, ribs and trailing edges.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII TP298 again. Note how some of the paint has worn away to reveal half of the IAF serial number;
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII TP298 just after being cleared of undergrowth at Kalaikunda.
Wensley Haydon-Baillie, second from left, and Roger Gullick, extreme right, take a breather at Kalaikunda. Spitfire Mk XVIII in the background.
The Mk XVIII TP298 as it was found in the Kalaikunda undergrowth.
This Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII, TP276/HS653, was collected from Barakpor and was almost intact.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII HS653 at Barakpor;
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII TP298 well and truly buried in the Kalaikunda undergrowth.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XIV MV370/T44 at Nagpur.
The same aircraft with code letters just visible aft of the cockpit.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII TP280/HS654 as it was discovered at Kalaikunda.
Spitfire F.R.Mk XVIII HS649 at Kalaikunda was under cover but had a broken back.
Crating up the two Spitfire XVIIIs HS687 and TP298 at Kalaikunda.