Unique survivor

Air Classics, Jun 2000 by O'Leary, Michael

Basically stock, the Spitfire had been stripped and the metal polished. Some red trim had been added along with Race 80 and the logo of Imperial Oil, who was the sponsor. James McArthur qualified the Spitfire at 370.110 mph and went on to come in third in the Tinnerman Trophy Race at 359.565 mph. After the excitement of the races, Ken and his crew slept-in late the following day. Upon awaking, they found that McArthur had taken off in the Spitfire, along with the prize money, at 6 am - destination unknown!

What McArthur did was to fly the Spitfire to Miami where he sold the plane to well-known aerobatic pilot Jessie Bristow for $1000 on 7

September. The aircraft was registered to Bristow as N20E on 26 October 1949, receiving its airworthiness certificate the same day. It is not known what McArthur's reception was like when he returned to his unit sometime later, but one imagines it was not good.

From this point on, the career of Spitfire TZ1 38 becomes a bit unclear. However, it appears that Bristow was able to flip N20E (does any reader have a photo of the plane in these markings?) for a profit and in 1952 the aircraft was in the hands of IBA Trading Corp., Alvin R. Iba, President. Located in Miami, Iba was in the business of buying and selling aircraft and military equipment. In a letter dated 9 November 1957, Iba wrote to the Civil Aeronautics Administration: "This is to certify that the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, serial number TZ1 38, formerly assigned registration number N20E is still the property of Iba Trading Corporation. In 1952, we were on the point of completing a sale of this aircraft to Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, Cuidad, Trujillo, Dominican Republic. We were within one day of delivering this airplane, had prepared the bill of sale and had written you advising cancellation of the registration.

"The negotiations for the sale of this airplane collapsed when a truck ran into its propellor (sic), rendering the aircraft unflyable. We were unable to put the airplane into flying condition within the time limit of our contract, and the negotiations collapsed. In support of this statement I am attaching the unused export license for this airplane.

"The Spitfire was never exported and was never placed under foreign registration. It still remains in our possession at International Airport, Miami, Florida."

From this point, the aircraft started going through many owners and its condition started going downhill. Robert Geoffrey, Orlando, Florida, obtained the aircraft on 6 January 1958 and registered the plane as N5505A. It then went to Lee Fairbrother, Rosemount, Minnesota, on 22 February 1960. An application for registration N5505A was applied for on 5 December 1964. Charles Leidel of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, became registered owner on 4 November 1968.

On 2 March 1970, the aircraft crash-landed at Edcouch, Texas, while on a ferry flight from Weslaco, Texas, to Harlingen. The 37-year-old pilot had a total time of 1500 hours with none in type. Apparently, the coolant for the engine was not monitored and the Griffon failed. The aircraft was heavily damaged with the prop destroyed and one wing mangled. Further information on this accident from readers would be appreciated.