Spitfire replica removed from KW Surplus rooftop, donated to aviation association in Tillsonburg

A full-size model of a Second World War Spitfire fighter airplane that has sat atop the KW Surplus Store for nearly three decades was officially removed Monday and will be relocated to a new home.

The fibreglass replica has been perched on the roof of the store at 666 Victoria Street North in Kitchener, Ont. since 1997. Owner Ray Whittemore, who recently sold the business, is donating the model to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association (CHAA), where he is an active member.

“It’s emotional,” Whittemore said. “I’m older, so I’m ready to retire.”

The association, based at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport, plans to incorporate the Spitfire into a newly designed Memorial Garden on airport grounds. The display will feature the aircraft mounted on a pedestal as part of a tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

“All the rivets and all the imperfections are there as well. The only thing is, there’s no motor,” Whittemore explained.

The garden will also honour two former CHAA presidents: Second World War RCAF Flight Lieutenant Charley Fox, a decorated Spitfire pilot from Guelph, and Canadian astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason. Fox flew with the 412 Spitfire Squadron and was involved in the air support effort during D-Day and many of the following missions.

Removing the plane from the top of the Kitchener store came at no cost to the CHAA.

“Getting the trucks, getting the volunteers, getting the crane – everybody here is volunteered and the crane is being donated,” John Britton, vice president of the CHAA, said.

As the plane was lowered to the ground, several people stopped by to take some pictures and say goodbye.

“I actually feel quite sentimental,” Lance Russwurm, an artist and illustrator, said. “I actually painted the [Spitfire] twice over the years while it was on the roof.”

What’s next?

Following its arrival, the replica will be inspected, repaired and repainted to reflect the colours flown by Fox during the war.

The project will include commemorative elements recognizing the airport’s role as a wartime training base, along with benches and engraved bricks funded by donors. The association is currently fundraising to cover costs related to the aircraft’s removal, restoration and installation, as well as construction of the memorial site.

A tank built to the design of a Second World War model is also up for sale. It is displayed outside the store.