Q Norman Parker, official archivist for the QinetiQ historical material at Boscombe Down, is also the archivist for the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, now situated at Old Sarum. He has been researching Spitfire production at Salisbury, and in fact worked on a number of these aircraft. About 40 were converted from Spitfire Ma to Va standard by the installation of a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 and fitting of a three-bladed propeller. Spitfires were built by several companies in Salisbury, working on different parts. One of these aircraft was modified to appear in the film 'Reach for the Sky' to represent the prototype K5054, and the accompanying photograph shows it being wheeled out of the hangar at High Post airfield near Salisbury. It can be seen that the finish is one colour all over, as was the prototype.
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