Spitfire LA198 flew with 602 (City of Glasgow) Auxiliary
Squadron RAF between 1947 and 1949. LA198 is a mark F21 developed towards the
end of 1944. In May 1939, 602 had been the first auxiliary squadron to be
equipped with Spitfires. At the end of the Second World War the squadron was
disbanded, only to be reformed a year later. They continued to fly Spitfires
for the next 12 years.
LA198 crashed on landing at RAF Horsham St Faith in Norfolk
on 22nd July 1949. It became a ‘gate guard’ , firstly at RAF Locking
then RAF Lechars. It went into storage in 1989, being restored in 1998. After restoration
it initially went on display at The Museum of Transport, Glasgow. In July 2006
it was moved to its current location, The Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
Spitfire LA198 Kelivingrove Art Gallery & Museum |
The Kelvingrove opened in 1901, as the Palace of Fine Arts for the Glasgow International Exhibition held in that year.
Kelvingrove Glasgow International Exhibition 1901 |
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum |
Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum |
The museum contains a collection of arms and armour. It includes unique armour for man and horse made for William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, c1550.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum Armour Collection |