[caldrail]

Built to last? I think not. Spitfires came off the construction line with a predicted service life of twenty hours. I doubt it was much different for other types. The Russians had no qualms about cobbling salvaged parts together again to make serviceable aeroplanes, and at one point in his diary, Heinz Knocke tells of having no choice but to take off in a 109G that had suffered previous landing accidents, which seriously affected performance and handling qualities.