Gnashing of teeth at WWII fighter makeover
AVIATION historians are fuming that a Second World War RAF fighter plane found in an African desert has been given a “hideous” makeover, complete with lurid paint and shark’s teeth.
The P40 Kittyhawk was discovered in 2012 in “time capsule condition” in the Sahara, where it had lain untouched for 70 years after crashing.
There was evidence that Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping, its pilot, survived the crash but died from exposure in the inhospitable conditions. His body was never found.
In 2015, the RAF Museum tried to recover it, donating a Spitfire from its own collection to encourage its return.
But the Kittyhawk has instead gone on display at El Alamein Military Museum, south-west of Alexandria, after undergoing a “truly awful and unsympathetic” restoration. The aircraft has been sprayed in garish yellow with a set of shark’s teeth painted at the front.
Experts agree the P40 should have been salvaged but argue it should have been left untouched, acting as a memorial to Flt Sgt Copping. Its emergence as a museum exhibit 1,500 miles away at least solves a three-year mystery over its whereabouts.
It also brings to an end a sorry episode involving the RAF Museum at Hendon, north London, which gave away a rare Spitfire from its collection in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the P40 back to Britain.
Andy Saunders, editor of Britain at War Magazine, said: “They have ruined it. The plane was a time capsule and it should have been left how it was found. It is a truly awful and unsympathetic restoration. There is no mention of Dennis Copping. A lot of the P40s had shark’s teeth on the front but we know this one didn’t. The paintwork and teeth just do not look right. Anyone in aircraft preservation and restoration is horrified by what they have done.” But his complaints would fall on deaf ears, he lamented. “You can’t expect the Egyptians to be sympathetic. It was a war fought on their territory but nothing to do with them. Anyway, I am sure there are a few artefacts in the British Museum that they would like back.
“Had the RAF Museum had it, they would never have restored it. They would have replicated the scenario in which it was found.”
El Alamein Military Museum confirmed the P40 was the one found in 2012. Ajay Srivastava, of the RAF Museum, defended its role in the recovery of the historic plane, which cost them the Spitfire. He said: “The Kittyhawk is a unique example and needed to be secured from the attention of looters.
“The choice back in 2012 was either to let the aircraft be destroyed or ensure this important piece of RAF heritage was safe. Our priority was to ensure the Kittyhawk was recovered. This was achieved. The process to achieve delivery to the UK was complicated by the political situation in Egypt. The government there said they intended to display it at the El Alamein Museum.
“The RAF Museum would have preferred the Kittyhawk to be brought back but it is legally the property of Egypt. We welcome the fact it is safe and on display.” The whereabouts of the Spitfire are currently unknown after the firm that brokered the deal to bring back the P40 was dissolved.