The project is being led by former British Royal Marine Scott Booth, who immersed himself in the history of the heroic Polish airmen after buying a Spitfire engine on eBay a few years ago.
The Rolls Royce Merlin engine turned out to have belonged to a 303rd Squadron plane manned by Polish pilot Piotr Łaguna.
The only available information was that the Supermarine Spitfire P8331 "Sumatra" had been flown by Łaguna and was shot down over France in 1941, Booth told the Polish state news agency.
He said he wanted to know more so he started searching for explanations about the history of the aircraft and its pilot.
Fast forward to 2021 and the ex-marine has painstakingly reconstructed the Spitfire's each day and flight, identifying every pilot who participated in the missions and the number of enemy aircraft which were shot down or damaged.
He has even found Łaguna’s relatives, who are based in Australia, he told PAP.
Booth now showcases parts of the plane and assorted memorabilia during air shows, Polish Heritage Days in Britain and similar events.
Yet he says he wants to reach new audiences with the story of the remarkable Polish pilots and so he has decided to rebuild the plane.
Last year, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the reconstruction and re-registration of the aircraft.
All that remains is for sponsors to finance the project, believed to be worth GBP 3 million (EUR 3.5 million), PAP reported.
Booth has already found a UK partner and is in talks with a potential Polish sponsor, in line with his plan to secure both British and Polish backing.
The reconstructed Spitfire is expected to take to the skies in 2025, 85 years after the Battle of Britain and 80 years after the end of World War II, PAP also reported.
It said the project undertaken by Booth and his team aimed to honour the sacrifice of the Polish airmen during WWII.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, defence24.pl