Well, no matter how long you’ve been in aviation archaeology – sometimes you are surprised by what is LITERALLY on your doorstep!
Work is currently ongoing to install the new hard runway at Sywell, part of this work involves digging footings for the hardcore and as such earth moving equipment has been working away for the past few months.
Imagine our surprise yesterday then when the digger driver came across a trench, filled with all sorts of items- but lying on top was this!
It is, in fact, in better condition than it looks –two blades retaining their paint and even the stencilling, though the dome is very corroded, the internal spider etc are mint!
Its clearly a paddle blade, American VP type – could be Twin Wasp which would make sense as many Dakotas were refurbished at Sywell around the time of the Berlin Airlift. It could be earlier and be from a Wellington B.IV which also had Twin Wasps – over 1800 Wellingtons were refurbished and maintained by Brooklands during and after the War.
I would be grateful of any help to identify it!
There may be more items to come…
Please let me know what you think!
All the best
TT
By: philip turland - 22nd September 2008 at 10:07
maybe a memorial to the Berlin Airlift at Sywell would be appropriate
AOB for meeting Thursday?
By: GliderSpit - 19th September 2008 at 19:30
have you spoken to mbb about looking for other stuff before he buries it under tons of concrete
Yes, why not dig a little longer and find the rest of the aircraft as well?
By: rossi1 - 19th September 2008 at 17:14
have you spoken to mbb about looking for other stuff before he buries it under tons of concrete
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 19th September 2008 at 16:58
Whats rather nice is that its probably from one of the Berlin Airlift machines and this year marks the 60th anniversary – further we have a complete display on the 315th Troop Carrier Group based at Spanhoe, which flew C-47s at Arnhem and D-Day -couldnt be better really!
ATB
TT
By: Arm Waver - 19th September 2008 at 16:30
Cracking find for you all there.
I wonder what other treasures await.
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 19th September 2008 at 16:29
Yep – but no eventually about it – its in there now- we dont hang about y’know… 😀
By: Mark V - 19th September 2008 at 16:21
Thats a fantastic find there Ben – presume its eventually going in to the museum 🙂
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 19th September 2008 at 15:08
After all the years we’ve been doing it Elliott – that wish is always there mate!
Just sorry they’re not Whitley – they built a Hangar to construct them at Sywell but they went over to Lanc IIs instead!
ATB
TT
By: Whitley_Project - 19th September 2008 at 14:13
If only it could speak eh Ben?
By: Peter - 19th September 2008 at 13:53
And yet again, more proof of buried planes and or parts! Well done!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 19th September 2008 at 11:41
Yep – B-17, C-47 or B-24
From Wix
The prop that you have un-earthed was used on three different aircraft in WWII. It was manufactured by Hamilton Standard in Winsor Locks, CT. It was used on the C-47, B-17 and B-24. There is no way of telling which aircraft it was actually flown.
Jay
RESULT! 🙂
By: philip turland - 19th September 2008 at 11:39
convinced B-17
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1460118132_b1439481a4.jpg?v=0
By: philip turland - 19th September 2008 at 11:33
B-17 i think ben
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1020070832021366276rmKXavypid
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September 19, 2008 at 11:10 am