Art News

Bonhams to Sell Replica Spitfire for the Royal British Legion

LONDON.- Bonhams are to auction a replica Supermarine Spitfire for The Royal British Legion during The Goodwood Revival on September 17th 2010. The full sized aluminium replica of a MKVb Supermarine Spitfire was built in 2008 by members of the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion in order to publicise their work. It took 10 months and 11,000 man hours to construct and represents aircraft number W3850 which was flown by Pilot Officer Atkinson, now Sir Joe Atkinson, over France on 13th October 1941 in an attempt to protect Blenheim bombers attacking port installations. Atkinson, in formation with other aircraft from 609 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Airforce (West Riding of Yorkshire), engaged and damaged a number of German Messerschmitt 109s during this flight. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The replica, weighing 1.75 tons was built using original Supermarine blueprints with the airframe being constructed of