Battle of Britain Bf109E found in India a few years ago?

[Andy Saunders]

Just to add some detail to the history of this aeroplane.

The aeroplane was removed by Air Ministry Contractor, Arthur V Nicholls Haulauge of Brighton, on 14 November 1940 and delivered to 49 MU Faygate later that same day. Items had already been removed by the Royal Artillery and RAF (from Hawkinge) and this included the gunsight and clock taken by the RA's and the compass taken by an officer from Hawkinge. Messrs A V Nicholls was authorised to retrieve these items from Lt Rowan and Capt Sturge of the RA's and the compass from Flt Lt Wallford at Hawkinge. Mr A V Nicholls viewed and surveyed the aircraft on 10 November and the Collection Order for the aircraft was No 266.

To the best of my knowledge this aeroplane was not one that went "on tour" around the UK for fund raising for the Spitfire Fund, War Weapons Weeks etc etc but seems, instead, to have been allocated for shipment overseas.