Originally Posted by
whistling turtle
The Irish Government purchased 12 Supermarine Seafires which the Air Corps operated from Gormanston from 1947 until 1955. Incidentally these were the last true fighter aircraft the Irish Air Corps operated.
One of the IAC Seafire L.III's survived as a data plate and a large box of bits and was one of the purchases of the late Charles Church back in the late 80's with a view to rebuild to airworthy.
It was ex-RX168, flown as 157 in the IAC until WFU in 1953 where it was then in use as an instructional airframe at Baldonnel until 1961, after which it was used by College of Dubin for another year before being broken up.
It's been passed around a few owners since the early 90's and was possible in store at Booker for a while, but what state its in and where its now I'm not clued up on. I'm sure Spitfire expert Peter Arnold would know though.