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633 Squadron Mosquitos (A very old thread revisited)

What was the fate of the Mosquitos used in the filming of 633 Squadron ?? , also I know the is a craftsman making new Mosquito fuselages in New Zealand , is there any plans to make new wings – how were these made up , is it just normal wooden spars and ribs covered with a veneer of wood and then covered in doped fabric ???

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By: Tempest414 - 11th March 2016 at 18:00

No, not the case, it had an accident at Skyfame, which damaged the wing and undercarriage.

The retracted on landing aircraft was destroyed on set, and was TA724

Bruce

The Mosquito at Duxford was used on 633 sqn and used for the shots in Scotland in the valleys it had new Merlins fitted for the task paid for by film company it was flown back by Dizzy on request of Peter Thomas when it failed to turn up to Skyfames opening that is what I was told by Dizzy and Ray Thomas the accident was between films Peter Thomas’s second Mosquito which is now a Dayton was used on both.

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By: Ant.H - 11th March 2016 at 12:27

Sorry Jcmacd, I’ve no idea who would own the footage now or whether any of it is available. If the un-used footage from Battle of Britain is anything go by, it would make very interesting viewing!

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By: Jcmacd - 11th March 2016 at 11:11

Hi Moggy,
I’m afraid to say that two or three real Mossies were destroyed during filming.The one that crashed into the bowser was a real one,as was the example that belly landed in the middle of the film (not sure if this scene was shot from a different angle and re used in the end sequence).The only models involved were the ones that were shot down,crashed into cliffs etc.
As for Mosquito Squadron being a poor film,that’s quite an understatement!I think it’s probably the worst British war film that’s ever been done.The storyline was pants and the dialogue and special effects were tacky.I could only stand about 10 minutes of it!
It’s a shame they made such a flop considering they had three airworthy Mossies at thier disposal and a whole load of unused footage from 633 Squadron.

In reply to Ant.H above, I am intrigued:

Who has the unused footage from 633 Squadron?
Is it being preserved?
Can it be made available to view/download?

Apologies if this issue has previously been highlighted!

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By: ErrolC - 27th May 2013 at 06:12

skyshooter, Consul is correct, TV959 was at Lambeth, more detail at http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48150

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By: Consul - 26th May 2013 at 22:58

skyskooter

That example is reportedly now owned by the US based FHC and presently in NZ for restoration.

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By: skyskooter - 26th May 2013 at 22:29

What ever happened to the Mosquito which had an outer wing panel sawn off in order to fit into a gallery at the IWM Lambeth? It was eventually removed and ended up I believe at IWM Duxford. Does anyone know if it was ever reunited with its wing.

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By: Rocketeer - 25th May 2013 at 00:11

True Bruce…..these threads show the gone but not forgotten. Good chaps….the lot of them. We need more forum get-togethers.

TJ118 was drilled for bullet holes for a starring role in 633 – OXAC had the tail, rear fuse and collected a load of stuff in the 80s, now reunited with the cockpit at Salisbury Hall

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By: Bob - 24th May 2013 at 19:13

Kermit Kam walkround was interesting…

Hope he gets it flying again…

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By: Bruce - 24th May 2013 at 17:47

TA639 – yes.

As this is a scarily old thread, its worth just correcting some other stuff further up the page.

Kermit Weeks has not had new wings made for his aircraft, RS712, and it doesn’t need them.

Also, the Mosquito Museum aircraft are not under restoration to flight, nor have they ever been. They have always been very much static restorations.

Some of us will also have spent a moment thinking about those who posted on this thread back in 2002, who are no longer with us, including the OP, ‘ageorge’ and Steve Young.

Bruce

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By: nostalgair2 - 24th May 2013 at 15:52

mossies

wasnt Cosfords Mossie used in 633 squadron?

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By: DragonRapide - 24th May 2013 at 15:24

Thanks Bruce!

Easy to see how the story – and the confusion – started! Thanks for putting it straight!

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By: Bruce - 24th May 2013 at 15:10

No, not the case, it had an accident at Skyfame, which damaged the wing and undercarriage.

The retracted on landing aircraft was destroyed on set, and was TA724

Bruce

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By: DragonRapide - 24th May 2013 at 15:03

I seem to remember that Duxford’s example, formerly of Skyfame, was at least in fast-taxyable condition for one of the films; I’m sure I was told that it was this aircraft that had the u/c retracted on “landing” and was subsequently set fire to, destroying one wing. When the aircraft was restored at Duxford many years ago, the new wing was grafted onto the existing wing and centre section.

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By: Robert Whitton - 24th May 2013 at 14:57

Its great seeing RS712 after all these years.

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By: Trolly Aux - 24th May 2013 at 13:58

Kermit Weeks, update on the Mossi
PART ONE

PART TWO

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By: Arabella-Cox - 30th September 2002 at 13:08

RE: Kermit’s mossie

Hi Neilly, yes, I did actually mean RS712, although tagging on to the end of the TW117 thread may have been a bit misleading. 🙂

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By: neilly - 30th September 2002 at 12:21

RE: Kermit’s mossie

Hi Steve,

The Oshkosh Museum Mosquito is RS 712. This is a Mosquito B.35. This Mosquito flew in both 633 Squadron & Mosquito Squadron. Her UK civil reg. was G-ASKB. It was bought from the Strathallan Collection. It’s American reg is N35MK.
TW 117 is a T.III which is in the Bodo Museum.

Cheers,
Neilly

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By: Arabella-Cox - 30th September 2002 at 12:12

RE: Kermit’s mossie

As far as I’m aware, she’s still in the main hall of the EAA museum at Oshkosh Wisconsin. I spotted her there in October 1993, which must have been very soon after she moved in as there was fresh oil in the driptrays under her engine nacelles.

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By: neilly - 29th September 2002 at 13:36

RE: 633 Squadron Mosquito’s

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-09-02 AT 01:37 PM (GMT)]
The problem with the Mosquitoes is not the condition of the wood, it’s the glue. The wood on TA 634 has been X-rayed & is in fairly good condition, well within it’s percentages. However, there is no way of telling how good the glue joints are, or at least that’s what I’ve been told.

The T.111 in the Norwegian Museum is TW 117, so she survived the film makers!!!

TTFN
Neilly

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By: alexis_lambert - 28th September 2002 at 18:41

RE: 633 Squadron Mosquito’s

Kermits mossie has not flown for the last 10 years because the glue n the wings has deteriated. He is having a brand new set made in New Zealand and he should receive them in the next 12 – 18 months.
The mossie at the mosquito museum is a high candidate to be restored to fly, i was told on my last visit that the standard of it’s original restoration was so good that it should only take about 3 years to put back in the air.

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