Here’s a very mixed selection of what we now call Warbirds.
Not much background information, but I am sure the experts can add something to my captions.
Photos by Gerald Lawrance and Tony Clarke.
N5087V HV-P is a P-47D with Republic Aviation Corp. titles. After de-mob, it survived as an instructional airframe until Republic restored it for a European tour in 1963. Shortly after, it became N347D and was donated to the USAF Museum, where it survives as ‘222668’. Picture probably at Paris Airshow 1963 (it visited UK and is the last Razorback to fly here…)
N6356T P-51D Mustang. Famous as the mount of Charles Masefield from 1966 to 1970, seen here at Tollerton August 1967 for the King’s Cup air race (a popular winner at 277.5 mph). Presently flying as N72FT ‘Mustang Sally’ and recently exported to South Africa:
N58TA TB-25N Mitchell with ‘Television Associates Inc’. At Gatwick 27-4-63, it was returning from a long contract in Iran. The only subsequent info suggests it was damaged in Argentina 1965, then nothing known:
N4938V is a PBY Catalina of World Wide Helicopters taken at Toussus, date unknown. I couldn’t unearth any more info on this one. Over to you…
N94574 is a PBY-5A, also WW at Toussus, but better known as serving with the Israeli Air Force and becoming G-APZA in 1960. Not converted, it was scrapped at Southend in 1961:
44-34608 is a B-26 Invader of the French Air Force, at Paris Le Bourget. Nothing further known…
G-ASXX Lancaster B.VII, now at East Kirkby as NX611 ‘Just Jane’. At Biggin Hill, exact date unknown:
OO-ARD Spitfire HF.IXB, ex MH415, Netherlands and Belgian AF, with COGEA probably at a Paris Airshow. With COGEA 1956-1966, it became G-AVDJ for the Battle Of Britain film in 1966. To N415MH with Connie Edwards, flown but stored since:
K9942 Spitfire I during its life as a travelling exhibit with 71MU, probably at a Battle Of Britain Open Day 1965-1966. Now at the RAF Museum:
P2617 Hurricane I also with 71MU as above. Also now at Hendon:
PK624 Spitfire F.22 is now stored with TFC at Duxford. Date and location unknown:
PK664 Spitfire F.22, Now with RAF museum Collection, last known on display at Science Museum. Date and location unknown:
PS853 Spitfire PR.XIX, BBMF, now G-RRGN with Rolls Royce and on rebuild at Duxford:
SL542 Spitfire LF.XVIE Date and location unknown, believed on rebuild in Canada:
G-AWLW Hurricane XII, at Elstree circa 1968 after use in The Film. It passed to the Strathallan Collection, then to Canada as C-GCWH, where it was destroyed in a hangar fire in 1993:
LF363 Hurricane IIC, BBMF, probably early sixties:
PZ865 Hurricane II, ‘Last of the Many’ believed Biggin Hill Air Fair 1964.The SAM DC-6 also survives as N4913R with the Yankee Air Museum:
Unidentified Hurricane in silver- Someone can surely reveal all:
(EDIT LF751 Hurricane II, now at Manston)
LA607 Tempest II during its life at Cranfield. Later to Skyfame and Duxford, now on show with the Kermit Weeks Collection in Florida:
Finally, ‘Black 6′ Messerschmitt Bf109G-2/Trop when it was still RN228 ’14’.
Possibly Coltishall 1962:
By: pagen01 - 11th May 2011 at 08:15
It was a Mk1 but retained by the company for trials and remained in silver, it looked great because the silver dope finish contrasted with the highly polished ally panels up front.
It ended up looking pretty much like a latter Mk (hence my mistake) as it gained rotol 3 bladed prop and ‘fat’ spinner and the metal wings.
I don’t know what its ultimate fate was.
By: SADSACK - 11th May 2011 at 01:50
re;
I was getting mixed up with another company owned Hurri, L1606/G-AFKX:o[/QUOTE]
I’m not familiar with that one at all. What mark was she? What happened to her?
By: pagen01 - 10th May 2011 at 11:23
Thanks Mk12, I realise that but in my mind I was thinking of the other one – if that makes sense:D
By: Mark12 - 10th May 2011 at 11:20
My mistake, for some reason I thought that PZ865 was first finished in silver before getting the blue scheme.
I was getting mixed up with another company owned Hurri, L1606/G-AFKX:o
LF363 was also all silver for a period.
Mark
ps. Indeed for two periods
By: pagen01 - 10th May 2011 at 11:16
Agreed, and PZ865 was never silver.
My mistake, for some reason I thought that PZ865 was first finished in silver before getting the blue scheme.
I was getting mixed up with another company owned Hurri, L1606/G-AFKX:o
By: bravo533 - 10th May 2011 at 10:42
Recall that the Masefield Mustang once wore a fabulous red and white paint job?
By: DCW - 9th May 2011 at 08:18
I’ve just found a pic of LF751 at Waterbeach 1960 which confirms it was silver:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1027033/
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th May 2011 at 08:05
I am assuming the all silver hurricane was the example from the gate at Waterbeach 1960-61/scenery seems flat enough to be Waterbeach. I have a feeling the LF… serial mention above could well be that example.
Somebody put me out of my misery
By: SADSACK - 9th May 2011 at 03:07
re;
Just checked my albums, and LF363 now has later exhausts fitted. Maybe these were fitted during her restoration? Are the earlier type more rare?
By: Discendo Duces - 8th May 2011 at 22:29
exhausts are the early type, PZ865 had different ones. I think it must be LF751.
Agreed, and PZ865 was never silver.
It went from factory finish camouflage, to overall blue, to factory finish again whilst with Hawkers; by the time it went to the RAF- straight to the BBMF – there was no way they were going to spray it silver.
David, another fabulous thread, by the way. Thank you.
By: SADSACK - 8th May 2011 at 22:18
re;
Silver Hurricane.
I favour LF751/5466M.
Mark
exhausts are the early type, PZ865 had different ones. I think it must be LF751.
By: DazDaMan - 8th May 2011 at 15:48
I’ve only just realised it, but it looks to me as though Airfix took the inspiration for their Bf109G-6 kit paintscheme from Black 6 in her RN228 days…?
By: John Aeroclub - 8th May 2011 at 13:42
N4938V can be just seen to the left of the Canberra here at Idris in late 1960/early 1961. I was told that there had been an internal fire which had killed a mechanic but there was no external sign of damage which I recall. The Thunderbolt was at Hucknall airshow in 1963.
John
By: darrenharbar - 8th May 2011 at 08:14
Love this kind of thread. Thanks so much for posting the images, with some interesting history too.
By: Discendo Duces - 7th May 2011 at 20:41
I saw, and will never forget, Charles Masefield win the King’s Cup in his P-51 at Tollerton in 1967(?) and not just because it was the first Mustang I had seen ‘in the flesh’.
The King’s Cup always seemed, to me, more of a fight against the handicappers than a race. Whatever, all the ones I watched were thrilling – but none more so than this.
IIRC all the other entrants were on their final lap when the P-51 was waved off. Masefield just seemed to put the aircraft in a bank and decimated the rest of the field. Fantastic it was.
Roger Smith.
Charles Masefield did exactly the same at Plymouth Air Day that year; he seemed to come from nowhere and thundered underneath the rest of the field to pip them at the post. It was the first Mustang I’d ever seen too, and I have never seen one flown like that before or since.
By: DCK - 7th May 2011 at 16:03
Terrific stuff
By: PeterVerney - 7th May 2011 at 15:32
Some real aeroplanes. Many thanks
By: David Legg - 7th May 2011 at 15:04
N4938V is a PBY Catalina of World Wide Helicopters taken at Toussus, date unknown. I couldn’t unearth any more info on this one. Over to you…
Terrific photos as always. N4938V was a San Diego-built US Navy PBY-5A c/n 1843 ex-BuAer46479. It was last known at Idris, Libya c1960 and was probably scrapped there although confirmation or alternative info would be welcomed.
By: RPSmith - 7th May 2011 at 14:29
I saw, and will never forget, Charles Masefield win the King’s Cup in his P-51 at Tollerton in 1967(?) and not just because it was the first Mustang I had seen ‘in the flesh’.
The King’s Cup always seemed, to me, more of a fight against the handicappers than a race. Whatever, all the ones I watched were thrilling – but none more so than this.
IIRC all the other entrants were on their final lap when the P-51 was waved off. Masefield just seemed to put the aircraft in a bank and decimated the rest of the field. Fantastic it was.
Roger Smith.
By: Mark12 - 7th May 2011 at 11:12
The Silver Hurricane (could it be ‘Last of the Many before repint?) looks fantastic and I would love to see one in silver these days.
Silver Hurricane.
I favour LF751/5466M.
Mark
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May 7, 2011 at 10:34 am