Has anyone been to Wattisham recently..

Messerschmitt 109E-3 wk.nr.1342 , possibly Yellow 5 of 6./JG51
Crashed onto the beach near Cape Blanc Nez , France on 29.07.40 after combat near Dover with F/L Johnny Webster of 41 Sqn. Pilot Fw.Eduard Hemmerling , 3 victories , is classed as MIA … with no known grave .
The wreck remains , consisting of one and a half wings , mainspar, undercarriage legs and some other small parts were recovered in 1988, after being uncovered by a severe storm. 1342 was found stamped on an undercariage leg.

Dave

Well it is there still – a what a superb restoration, I dread to think of the time and cost thats gone into it. The metal work looks to of been completed to a good standard (mind you Im no engineer) and the colour scheme made it look just fabulously evil. Its got fly me written all over it.
Unfortunetly there was no one around at the time to ask as I believe the owner/engineers only come in at the weekends.
Dont know abouts its history – can someone update me? All I can see is that its an E model with the Werk No 1342
If this aircraft is going out to the States then its a true loss to the UK, the thought of seeing it with the BBMF Mk2 and maybee Peter Vachers Hurrricane would be very thought provoking.

Here are a couple of shots taken in September 1997.

When an aircraft project is at this stage you can reckon that it is about 40% done, through the time, the workload and the money.

Perhaps these will sustain until something better turns up.

Mark

On site at Wattisham next week – have to survey all the hangers and several other buildings, ATC, HAS’s etc, god what a bind! I’ll see whats about but there wont be any pics due to MOD rules and it seems, respecting the owners wishes.

Patience.

Mark 🙂

Damien – we managed to do ground runs with Harriers under camouflage netting so maybe it’s not impossible ! I think as long as trespassing isn’t involved it’s fair game –
in this day and age it’s possibly naieve for a billionaire to believe that his activities
wouldn’t receive a degree of attention.

it been restored and hangered at our expense only

I think you’ll find its been restored and hangared at Mr Allens expense, I cant believe that hes getting the hangarage for free, not nowadays.

If you go to the FHC website I think you’ll find that its an important part of his collection, I doubt it’ll be sold in a hurry.

That said if someone caught it outside at the right time and gets a shot then so be it. Just dont break the law to get it.

Must agree with some of the last comments why as it been restored and hangered at our expense only for his financial gains when sold to the usa. Why its been kept quiet i guess has its not suppose to be there getting a freebie at our expense.

you wont get anywhere near her now that they have AH-64’s on base,plus its nowhere near the Wattisham museum.

Apache AH Mk 1’s if you please! 😀 WAH1 if you must but not AH-64!!

Damien – I feel really sad that one of the creators of the tools used to exploit the internet is now a victim of his own success in that he prize posessions are now on view for all to see! Maybe being an Army base they could have a camouflage net
handy ? Certainly we had no problems in the RAF in keeping aircraft away from prying eyes when we wanted.

If im standing outside the base and i see it i will consider it fair game for a few pics dispite what the owner may or may not approve of :diablo:

Getting back on track I have heard the 109 has had taxi trials as N342FH but will not fly in the uk. Not sure if this is 100% correct but we will have to wait and see. Shame it can’t spend the summer on the uk circuit first?

No it’s within a military base that we the tax payer fund

Sense at last, thank you David! In which I might add the Army was doing the owner a favour. Thus, a bit rich not allowing the guys at the base to take a piccie!? See the light yet Damien?

No it’s within a military base that we the tax payer fund

Yes indeed everyone is entitled, but there is no need to get angry about it. It’s just a fact of life. Have you spoken to the owner?

Thats your opinion……..

HP57……….That has nothing to do with it. Just because I own a car, doesn’t mean that I have a right to ban anybody taking photographs of it on a public road?

Can we get back to the thread now? 😡

Yes indeed everyone is entitled, but there is no need to get angry about it. It’s just a fact of life. Have you spoken to the owner?

When did I say that he wasn’t? Doesn’t mean to say that I have to be happy with his decision? Surely everyone is entitled to his/her opinion?

Yes, that’s true but then again he is paying the bills.

Cees

No that is not what I said.

However surely everybody is entitled to do what they want with their property??

When did I say that he wasn’t? Doesn’t mean to say that I have to be happy with his decision? Surely everyone is entitled to his/her opinion?

No that is not what I said.

However surely everybody is entitled to do what they want with their property??

Interesting pic, but why the angry face, surely it’s up to the owner to decide whether he wants pictures or not?

Just strikes me as being a rather selfish attitude which is unfitting of the general aviation community. Also you must be rather stupid if you think that you can ban an entire airfield from taking photographs? Maybe if he lost a wheel on take-off, we should leave him be, since it is none of our business?

Quick to ask ATC or refuellers etc. for favours and then………

Yak if that is how you operate then good luck to you…….