I wonder if anybody could help me here? A long shot, but here goes:
On the airfield of AAC Middle Wallop is a small wood that goes by the name of Knock wood. It was planted during WW2 on the site of a large pit that had just been filled in. This pit contained the wrecked RAF fighters that had been damaged by german bombing raids. Anything useful was stripped, the rest was dumped and covered in topsoil. My step-dad, an AAC pilot, once found a near-complete spitfire Aileron in a bowl left by a fallen tree, and donated to the Army Flying Museam (right next door). The aircraft was traced as being an early spit, but the paper work has disappearedhas since been lost. Anyway, it turns out that the museam sold it, and I would be intrested if anybody knows of its current wear-abouts? I assume it went to a private collector, in which case it will probably never be seen again, but please do drop a line if you can shed any light on it!
By the way, yes, there is plenty more ‘old metal’ under Knock wood:)
By: Airspeed Horsa - 15th January 2007 at 16:37
Thanks for the help! Just as long as it is put to good use:D We used to walk the dog down there on the odd occasion, there is a few scraps on the surface, and some undercarriage/hydraulics piping + rusting tubework down in the southwest corner. Most stuff is pretty well buried though.
By: Aeronut - 15th January 2007 at 12:26
Iterestingly the Museum staff refer to it as ‘Spitfire Wood’
I know the gentleman (as will Rocketeer) it went to and it may well be seen again as he is using it as a pattern to make a pair for the Spit he is building.
I will mention this to the new curator when they start in February as the Friends of the museum are looking for a project. Its not just Spitfires that are probably down there as there were Blenhiem 1 destroyed on the airfield as well.
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January 13, 2007 at 9:11 pm