Our group’s website seems to attract numerous requests for identification of accidentally recovered wreckage – often brought up by fishing boats – This one has me intrigued (& stumped! :confused: ), so I am requesting the assistance of fellow forum members.
The item was trawled up off the west Irish coast and is apparently about 4 feet long and 2 wide. It bears the markings:
AIRCRAFT MOD XM-169
MFR CODE 98453
CONT NO 72-0700-63-0005
SERIAL NO 431361
I thought ah! – British Mod plate from Lightning XM169, but apparently not! Any thoughts?
By: AndyG - 8th November 2005 at 12:49
Have you got rear/side views?
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2005 at 12:17
Yeah I did consider that but I thought allowing for drift/ocean currents etc.
A long shot I know!!
Nick
By: Papa Lima - 8th November 2005 at 11:06
Wrong side of Ireland for Aberporth – unless you mean the EAST coast! While I was there we were shooting down Meteors into Cardigan Bay with Bloodhounds – spectacular!
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th November 2005 at 10:40
Just a thought – could it be a piece of an unmanned target drone from Aberporth – they are painted red aren’t they?
Nick B
By: 682al - 7th November 2005 at 08:55
Hi Nick,
CONT NO 72-0700-63-0005
Assuming from the above that this is a U.S. item and that 72 refers to the contract year, then maybe it hasn’t been in the water all that long?
Just a thought,
Al
By: N.Wotherspoon - 7th November 2005 at 08:42
Still a mystery?
I only have the dimensions given above – will try to get some more accurate measurements – I was surprised by its condition considering it came out of the sea & from the paint traces thought tail section as well.
Anyone else any thoughts?
By: one0nine - 5th November 2005 at 13:08
A section of stabilizer or fin, perhaps? Interesting piece, but I can’t seem to make much of it at the moment… perhaps that red/white/blue bit of paint might be a clue?
And more importantly, will it form the basis of a dataplate restoration to be seen at Legends? (lights fuse, runs away :diablo: ) 😀
In all seriousness, given the size of it, I hope the fishermen noted the approximate location where it was retrieved; there’s bound to be more down there, and I think we’d all like to know what it is!
Lynn
By: Colin Wingrave - 5th November 2005 at 13:02
Hi Nick, how big is this item it looks like rear end canopy stuff to me but i cant seem to get size
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November 5, 2005 at 11:50 am