Hi All
I wonder if anyone can help clear up a question for me going back to my childhood? When I was a kid we always went on holiday to Jaywick Sands and the highlight for me was the airfield at Clacton.
During a holiday (in 1971/72?) there was an ex Battle of Britain film Buchon HA.1112 parked by the hedge at the strip, with a sack cloth covering the swastika on the tail. I have a photo somewhere, but I clearly remember it had a red spinner.
The following year it was gone but when my father treated us to a pleasure flight (my first ever), in Air Anglia’s Cessna 172 G-AVVZ , I asked the pilot what happened to “the 109” – he told us this tale of a local retired Wing Commander who purchased it from the airfield, had it taken to his back garden and filled it with shotgun pellets from an upstairs window.
Clearly a tall tale for the tourists but I often wonder what did happen to this machine so, as a long shot, I thought I would ask!
Thanks!
By: Roobarb - 23rd August 2012 at 20:21
I remember there was one “converted” to a BF109E lookalike and it was on display at H.A.M. at Southend on loan from the Battle of Britain display at Chilham Castle (?) along with a Hurricane and later a Spitfire. I suspect they ended up at Hawkinge. I think the Booker example was the one that went to Keith Fordyce at Torbay and then to Hawkinge. Long time ago the ’70’s but what a time to grow up 🙂
By: DazDaMan - 23rd August 2012 at 15:59
This one was at Booker on 26 September 1971:
That’s the one I was thinking of. The picture I had seen was in Robert Rudhall’s
Battle of Britain – The Photo Album volume.
By: hampden98 - 23rd August 2012 at 11:59
Do any of these Buchon replicas still exist?
Seen quite a few Spitfires and Hurricanes. BTW what has become of the Lancaster and Wellington Dambuster film replicas?
By: G-ORDY - 23rd August 2012 at 09:29
That’s not the one I was thinking of, but would say it’s a good bet it’s the one the poster was referring to!
The other one I saw had a slightly different spinner shape. It was parked at Booker, and in the photo there was a Mosquito behind it.
This one was at Booker on 26 September 1971:
and this one was John Berkeley’s replica in open store at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, on 24 June 1972:
By: Simes63 - 22nd August 2012 at 20:36
Many thanks chaps!
By: DazDaMan - 21st August 2012 at 22:34
That’s not the one I was thinking of, but would say it’s a good bet it’s the one the poster was referring to!
The other one I saw had a slightly different spinner shape. It was parked at Booker, and in the photo there was a Mosquito behind it.
By: Halcyon days - 21st August 2012 at 22:14
It was definately a replica and was purchased by the owner Jim Crampton-to try and draw in the crowds a bit more.
He was later offerred a good price and sold it on (but not sure who to).
I actually got hold of the tail wheel for it from Doug Bianchi at Booker!
I happened to be there (spotting!!) and was chatting to him about it and mentioned that it was minus a tail wheel and just had a “hole” where one should have been.
He promptly wandered into the back of his hangar and brought back out a complete tail wheel and assembly. I have no idea what it was originally from-but was certainly the right “vintage” and he simply said-you can have it.
Probably worth a small fortune now of course-but it was a wonderful gesture all the same!!
I took it back to the airstrip and it was duly “fitted” to the Buchon.
Attached photo of Jim Newman in front of it-Jim was the airfield manager-
not to be confused with Jim Crampton-the owner.
By: DazDaMan - 20th August 2012 at 18:05
Not necessarily. There was at least one replica kicking about after the making of the Battle of Britain film. There are photos of it online.
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August 20, 2012 at 6:03 pm