One Of Only Two Flying Examples Of The Spitfire Mk. 1

In 1980, the remains of a Spitfire Mk. 1 that had been shot down on May 24, 1940 during the battle of Dunkirk emerged from the sand on Calais Beach.

The airplane ... Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1A P9374/G-MK1A ... has since been restored to flying condition, and is part of the personal collection of American entrepreneur and art collector Thomas Kaplan, who perhaps not coincidentally owns both airworthy examples of the iconic WWII airplane.

But soon they'll both have new owners. Kaplan has donated P9374 for a charity auction to benefit the RAF Benevolent Fund and Panthera, a wildlife conservation charity. It will be auctioned by Christie's on July 9th, 2015, and is expected to bring between $2.3 million and $3.8 million.

The sale will coincide with the 75th anniversaries of the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.

Kaplan says he plans to donate the other Spitfire ... N3200 ... to the Imperial War Museum Duxford. "As history tells us all," Kaplan said, "there comes a time when one simply has to step up... to act with passion, and to remember with gratitude the few that actually do."

(Images from Christie's video)

FMI: www.christies.com/daily/