There used to be a Spitfire at the entrance to RAF Hospital Ely - an aircraft that would never fly again, and was therefore pressed into service as a Gate Guard.

The plane was loaned to Harry Saltzman for the making of the film "Battle of Britain" (rather dodgy acting but some good flying sequences IMHO).

Without asking or telling anyone ahead of time, Harry had that aircraft. and many others, blown to pieces during the sequences that showed the Luftwaffe bombing British airfields.

The RAF brass were right royally pissed-off, but could very little about it.   The loaned aircraft were lost forever.

Which is why there are so few Spitfires now acting as Gate Guards for military bases in the U.K.