Pembrokeshire Aviation Foundation Trust hopes that touring events with this exciting piece of wartime history and supplying it for use in film sets will help raise the funds needed to restore the Spitfire JG 668 to its former glory.

Aviation enthusiasts in Pembrokeshire are on a high as an eagerly awaited Spitfire fuselage hasmade the journey to its new home in Haverfordwest.

Pembrokeshire Spitfire Aeroplane Company began campaigning last September to save a Spitfire from disappearing to South Africa for restoration.

A huge fundraising effort, in which £150,000 was generated to purchase Spitfire JG 668 from its Oxford owner, took campaigners one step closer to their ultimate goal of setting up an aviation museum in Haverfordwest.

The fuselage was given a warm reception at Swansea Airport on Saturday and made its tour of Pembrokeshire on Sunday.

It is now at Withbybush Airfield where it wil be stripped and lovingly restored over the next four years.

The Spitfire JG 668 is one of the last of the few iconic WWII fighters remaining and when restored to flying condition will be one of only five airworthy MKVIIIs in the world.

Campaigner Peter Kraus commented: "We are trying to grab hold of a bit of history before it goes away.

"It's only 65 years old so we've had lots of interest from people who used to fly Spitfires in the war."

Having a Spitfire operating from Haverfordwest will not be unusual. During WWII Photo Recognisance Spitfires were just some of the types based there.

The Spitfire will be rebuilt over a four year period by Tangiers Aviation. During this process a second seat will be fitted.

Ray Burgess, who co-founded Pembrokeshire Aviation Foundation Trust alongside Peter, said: "The fuselage is one of the final components of the Spitfire, the other parts are already in Pembrokeshire waiting to be assembled.

"Although it has taken a long time, JG 668 will finally be gracing the skies of Wales and balmy Sunday afternoons will be disturbed by the roar of the famous Merlin engine."

11:00am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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