Billionaire donates for Spitfire repair

Canadian billionaire Galen Weston has donated “thousands of pounds” towards the restoration of an RAF Spitfire dug from a Co …

Canadian billionaire Galen Weston has donated “thousands of pounds” towards the restoration of an RAF Spitfire dug from a Co Donegal bog earlier this year.

The second World War fighter aircraft that crashed on the Inishowen Peninsula in 1941 was commissioned from a £100,000 donation made by Mr Weston’s father, Garfield, during the Battle of Britain. Its excavation from Glenshinney bog, Moneydarragh, Gleneely, on June 28th last is said to have delighted the wealthy businessman.

Mr Weston made contact with aviation historian and dig organiser, Jonny McNee. Mr McNee declined to say how much the billionaire had donated to Derry City Council’s museum services but said it was “thousands”.