Whilst trying to rout out the Malta Hurricane recovery pic I came across this Zero – taken in Atlanta in the 1970’s.
What became of it I wonder?
In the same box was a bunch of shots of the Tempests at Poona in the long grass, all with no wings. Could these be the ones that didn’t make it back to the UK? Was there a thread on all is?
Any Zero and Tempest gurus out there?
Credit photo:- Vintage Car Store.
Mark
By: Mark12 - 29th August 2003 at 10:09
Many thanks Flood. That seems to have pinned down the Zero.
In 1977 the Indian Government put 11 Tempests up for disposal according to their tender documentation. Of the 16 photos I have to hand, a close study shows four aircraft from various forward angles revealing little of Indian or RAF serials. They are assumed to have been taken at Poona in the 1980’s but Halwarra (sounds like) is a possibility.
Step forward Tempest guru.
Mark
By: Yak 11 Fan - 28th August 2003 at 22:43
Would this possibly be the one that the Whittington Brothers had which in turn went to FHC?
By: Flood - 28th August 2003 at 22:32
My 1992 copy of Warbirds Directory (but there is a new and very much updated version out now, I believe) has:-
Mitsubishi A6M2-21, no serial number, US War Bond tour c.44, sold for scrap 45, derelict open storage Atlanta Museum Antique Store, Atlanta GA 45/91.
If your picture is from the 70s then I doubt much had changed by 91 and I don’t suppose much has changed since then (hope I am wrong though).
But a quick look on Google brings up a similar request on the Warbirds forum –
http://pub142.ezboard.com/fwarbirdsforumfrm6.showMessage?topicID=1.topic
so from this we can deduce that it might be in Florida, possibly being rebuilt to flying condition in Russia, maybe really owned by the US Navy and only on loan to the museum for all thise years, stored with the other Warbirds of GB goodies who knows where, or abducted by aliens. (The last two I have added just for fun – everyone seems to believe it was Janey that was abducted by aliens, tee hee.) The Zero Fighter World site also has it in Florida, maybe with Kermit Weeks (so that’s that for a couple of decades then…).
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugout/3539/atlanta.html
And here we are arguing over a derelict Hawker Fury, in Iraq, when a real, historic warbird is/was/could still be sitting out in the open in an apparently caring civilised country!
Anyway, hope this helps.
Flood.
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August 28, 2003 at 9:25 am