Rare spitfire restored after 70 years

A rare Spitfire which lay buried on Calais beach for 40 years is on display in London to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, before being auctioned off for charity.

The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1A P9374 is one of only two in the world restored to their original specifications and still airworthy.

Both are being donated by Thomas Kaplan, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, with each estimated at between £1.5m and £2.5.

The model outside the Churchill War Rooms will be there until July 9 and will then be auctioned off at The Exceptional Sale for the RAF Benevolent Fund and Panthera, a wildlife conservation charity. The other model will go to IWM Duxford, part of the Imperial War Museum.

Kaplan said: “This is an act of love for Britain that began with my and Simon’s mutual passion for aircraft and desire to enshrine a British legacy.

“The sale of P9374 for charity is likewise an opportunity to share that passion with others and to benefit causes that have moved me since boyhood.”

Visitors to the War Rooms will be able to see the aircraft up close.

“It is certainly drawing a lot of attention,” said Hannah Bennett of auctioneer Christie’s.

“It’s great fun having it outside and it’s not just for a small percentage of the people, it’s for everyone.”

Robert Copley, deputy chairman Christie’s UK, said: “Christie’s is proud to be entrusted with the sale of this Spitfire, a truly iconic aircraft which is a symbol of the bravery of ‘the few’ in the Battle of Britain.

“It will be a unique moment in auction house history.”

The fighter has a captivating history having been shot down over Calais in the Second World War. Flying Officer Peter Cazenove was forced to land on the beach after being hit by shots from a bomber on May 24, 1940, and spent the rest of the war as a POW. The plane remained on the beach, gradually consumed by the shifting sands, until re-emerging in 1980. Cazenove always wondered about the fate of his plane but did not live to see it recovered.