Around about the mid to late 70’s (~76) the unmistakeable shape of a Messerschmitt 109 landed at RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, a friend of mines father next door in air traffic confirmed that it was. (It wasn’t a 108 or other of that ilk)
At that time, bathed in Airfix products, I would have known what a Messerschmitt 109 looked like and especially its distinctive undercarriage splay. We were at the Findhorn end of the runway and it landed long and off it went into the distance, so I never got a good look at the cowling profile.
Around that time, does anyone know whether there were any Buchons flying in the UK at that time? I am assuming that there were not any genuine DB powered airframes flying at that time.
By: DazDaMan - 8th January 2009 at 10:19
Had a look back through that old thread – the Sipa is a nice-looking bit of kit. Pity it’s not around any more (well, complete anyway).
By: Propstrike - 8th January 2009 at 10:12
Mystery solved, I think.
Looks as though the unmistakeable shape of a Messerschmitt was a Sipa 121;)
By: DazDaMan - 8th January 2009 at 09:14
They didn’t appear in the film, though, did they? I thought they used “normal” Mustangs (albeit P-51Ds)
By: Septic - 7th January 2009 at 23:22
They did indeed fly, they visited Manston before crossing the Channel.
Septic.
By: DazDaMan - 7th January 2009 at 23:17
Ahh, I had forgotten about those! But I had always assumed that these were in Spain (did they actually fly in the “Mustang” configuration? :confused: )
By: Septic - 7th January 2009 at 22:59
[QUOTE=DazDaMan;1345278]Fairly certain there weren’t any Messerschmitts, Buchon or otherwise, flying in the UK after filming finished for Battle of Britain.
Daz,
Three Buchons were still flying in the UK after the Battle of Britain Film, these were modified for the Patton film in 1969. Although one did suffer a landing accident in France en route to filming in Spain.
I believe Paul Jameson acquired the damaged fighter and kept this throughout the early 1970’s.
Septic.
By: DazDaMan - 7th January 2009 at 22:47
Having had a look, D-FMBB seems to be ruled out as well, as although she was acquired by her owners in 1975, she didn’t fly again until 1982, and only then sporadically until an accident in 1983.
By: Septic - 7th January 2009 at 22:47
Given the year, I believe the aircraft was the Jean Salis Sipa 121 that was operated in the UK in 1976 for the filming of ‘The Eagle has Landed’.
I believe the filming was undertaken at St Mawgan although it may have ventured up to RAF Kinloss at some point. There was also a static ex Battle of Britain film replica Buchon used in the filming. This is now on display at Hawkinge although its distinctive RR Merlin cowlings now reside in my workshop.:)
Check this old thread out.
Septic.
By: DazDaMan - 7th January 2009 at 22:42
Fairly certain there weren’t any Messerschmitts, Buchon or otherwise, flying in the UK after filming finished for Battle of Britain.
As has been said, Robs Lamplough’s G-BJZZ flew in the early ’80s, was damaged in a ground loop, but was later restored to fly by Charles Church (I think, I may have that wrong). Nick Grace had G-BOML up and flying in the late ’80s – this aircraft, of course, ended up with the OFMC until its unfortunate crash in 1999.
What about Hans Dittes’ Buchon? That was definitely kicking about in time for the filming of Piece of Cake, as were the other two, but prior to that I have no idea. I have seen photos of it dated mid-80s in a rather fetching JG54 colour scheme.
Also, didn’t MBB have the first incarnation of D-FMBB flying in the early ’80s?
By: AndyG - 7th January 2009 at 22:22
RL’s G-BJZZ did not complete that rebuild until about 1981, I remember seeing it at a show at Stapleford Tawney, and it had a mishap at Biggin shortly after.
Maybe Andy G saw some B of B filming activity, and his memory has slipped a few years (!)
I never heard of any of the HA1112’s flying the Atlantic, so it was not likely to be some ferry flight staging through. Jeff Hawke did ferry 2 108’s, but we have been told to discount them.
Noooo!!! my memory is still fine. It’s a mystery to me and has bugged me for years. Be nice to get to the bottom of it.
Recalling that era, other regular visitors to the area included Canadair Argus’s (lovely growl) the US airforce Constellation derivative with the huge radomes top and bottom (one which shot off the runway into the barrier at Lossiemouth after an engine let go), German Starfighters, Vulcans circuit bashing, Shackletons galore, Lightnings, Canberras, Jaguars and a host of other exotica. Oh what fun and a Mk 3 and Mk 1 Shackleton to play in on the Kinloss dump. (after sneaking in)
By: Propstrike - 7th January 2009 at 21:50
RL’s G-BJZZ did not complete that rebuild until about 1981, I remember seeing it at a show at Stapleford Tawney, and it had a mishap at Biggin shortly after.
Maybe Andy G saw some B of B filming activity, and his memory has slipped a few years (!)
I never heard of any of the HA1112’s flying the Atlantic, so it was not likely to be some ferry flight staging through. Jeff Hawke did ferry 2 108’s, but we have been told to discount them.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 7th January 2009 at 21:43
Cant have been Robs Lamplough’s aicraft as that didn’t fly until April 82, and then only for 6 weeks or so.
By: Wyvernfan - 7th January 2009 at 21:22
The only one i can think of was Robs Lamploughs Merlin engined Hispano version, which was around for a short time in the late seventies/early eighties.?
As i recall it ground looped and came to grief at Biggin Hill, and was not repaired by said operator.
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January 7, 2009 at 9:14 pm