Quite interesting...
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Gulbarga, November 25: The ‘‘discovery’’ of a Messerschmitt BF-109 single-propeller fighter at the Poojya Doddappa Appa Engineering College here in June sent aviation experts into a tizzy and fetched it the title, ‘Warbird Discovery of the Year 2002’, instituted by the website www.warbirdsofindia.com.
The fighter was one of the key weapons in Hitler’s Operation Sealion, the grand plan to make London one more provincial capital of the Third Reich.
But this plane, estimated to be worth Rs 7 crore on the international market for its vintage value, has been sold off for a song by the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society (HKES) which runs the college, kicking up a controversy. According to the website, the aircraft is now on its way to the UK for restoration.
It was gifted to the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1941 by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a mark of gratitude for his funding of two RAF squadrons.
The aircraft here was in a decrepit condition. Only the distinctive Nazi Swastika on the tail fin testified it had seen better days. It was shifted to the college premises in 1961 and used as an instruction kit for the students.
The pride of the Fuehrer’s air force Luftwaffe, the Messerschmitt BF-109, flew thousands of sorties in the Battle of Britain as a bomber escort. And ‘‘Franz’’ as RAF pilots nicknamed it, was respected by the enemy for its manoeuverability, ability to take nifty turns, quick climbs, and deceptive rolls. It was matched only by the British Spitfire. Battle-tested before in the Spanish Civil war, this WW II veteran was produced as late as 1956, with total production touching 35,000.
All of which was lost on the HKES headed by Congress leader and two-time Lok Sabha member, Dr B.G. Jawali. He told The Indian Express, ‘‘The aircraft was a scrap and had no utility value. When an offer came for its exchange with four antique automotive machines, we decided to part with it.’’
The HKES claims it struck a deal with one Girish Naidu of Bangalore under which the aircraft in its scrap condition was exchanged in lieu of another ‘‘non-flying’’ aircraft of foreign make but assembled in India, an antique motor vehicle, an antique motor cycle and an antique bicycle.
At the Society’s governing council meeting held on April 27 it was ‘‘unanimously resolved’’ to accept Naidu’s proposal. It was also decided to ‘‘construct a museum’’ to display the four antiques received in exchange.
However, an HKES governing council member, Dr. Sampatkumar Loya, said that he and the Society’s vice-president B.G. Patil, joint secretary Bhimashankar Bilgundi and another member, S.S. Manthale, had objected to the exchange.
‘‘There must be some underhand deal in the offer. Otherwise there is no reason for parting with the aircraft,’’ said Dr Loya, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
Something which Dr Jawali dismissed. ‘‘There is no controversy as such. In the wake of the HKES elections a few persons are just creating some noise.’’
But the noise seems to be getting louder. Former minister and social activist S.K. Kantha has lodged a police complaint against the society and has also written to Defence Minister George Fernandes and State Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, urging them to launch a probe into the matter.
His grouse? The HKES has sold something it didn’t even own. In his complaint, Kantha called for registration of cases against the Society and the college under the provisions of the Antiques and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and IPC. But the local police have not done anything so far.
Sources said a very high ranking Indian Air Force officer posted at the Bidar Air Force Station had approached the HKES a few months ago with a request to take possession of the vintage aircraft. But the Society advised him to seek the permission of the Karnataka government as ‘‘the aircraft belonged to the state.’’
Posts: 7,536
By: KabirT - 27th November 2002 at 15:55
Quite interesting...
*********
Gulbarga, November 25: The ‘‘discovery’’ of a Messerschmitt BF-109 single-propeller fighter at the Poojya Doddappa Appa Engineering College here in June sent aviation experts into a tizzy and fetched it the title, ‘Warbird Discovery of the Year 2002’, instituted by the website www.warbirdsofindia.com.
The fighter was one of the key weapons in Hitler’s Operation Sealion, the grand plan to make London one more provincial capital of the Third Reich.
But this plane, estimated to be worth Rs 7 crore on the international market for its vintage value, has been sold off for a song by the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society (HKES) which runs the college, kicking up a controversy. According to the website, the aircraft is now on its way to the UK for restoration.
It was gifted to the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1941 by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a mark of gratitude for his funding of two RAF squadrons.
The aircraft here was in a decrepit condition. Only the distinctive Nazi Swastika on the tail fin testified it had seen better days. It was shifted to the college premises in 1961 and used as an instruction kit for the students.
The pride of the Fuehrer’s air force Luftwaffe, the Messerschmitt BF-109, flew thousands of sorties in the Battle of Britain as a bomber escort. And ‘‘Franz’’ as RAF pilots nicknamed it, was respected by the enemy for its manoeuverability, ability to take nifty turns, quick climbs, and deceptive rolls. It was matched only by the British Spitfire. Battle-tested before in the Spanish Civil war, this WW II veteran was produced as late as 1956, with total production touching 35,000.
All of which was lost on the HKES headed by Congress leader and two-time Lok Sabha member, Dr B.G. Jawali. He told The Indian Express, ‘‘The aircraft was a scrap and had no utility value. When an offer came for its exchange with four antique automotive machines, we decided to part with it.’’
The HKES claims it struck a deal with one Girish Naidu of Bangalore under which the aircraft in its scrap condition was exchanged in lieu of another ‘‘non-flying’’ aircraft of foreign make but assembled in India, an antique motor vehicle, an antique motor cycle and an antique bicycle.
At the Society’s governing council meeting held on April 27 it was ‘‘unanimously resolved’’ to accept Naidu’s proposal. It was also decided to ‘‘construct a museum’’ to display the four antiques received in exchange.
However, an HKES governing council member, Dr. Sampatkumar Loya, said that he and the Society’s vice-president B.G. Patil, joint secretary Bhimashankar Bilgundi and another member, S.S. Manthale, had objected to the exchange.
‘‘There must be some underhand deal in the offer. Otherwise there is no reason for parting with the aircraft,’’ said Dr Loya, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
Something which Dr Jawali dismissed. ‘‘There is no controversy as such. In the wake of the HKES elections a few persons are just creating some noise.’’
But the noise seems to be getting louder. Former minister and social activist S.K. Kantha has lodged a police complaint against the society and has also written to Defence Minister George Fernandes and State Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, urging them to launch a probe into the matter.
His grouse? The HKES has sold something it didn’t even own. In his complaint, Kantha called for registration of cases against the Society and the college under the provisions of the Antiques and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and IPC. But the local police have not done anything so far.
Sources said a very high ranking Indian Air Force officer posted at the Bidar Air Force Station had approached the HKES a few months ago with a request to take possession of the vintage aircraft. But the Society advised him to seek the permission of the Karnataka government as ‘‘the aircraft belonged to the state.’’