Albemarle undercarriage parts?

Thanks for all the replies – I might just try APPH, although I’m sure that they have better things to do with their time!

NickB – I’m afraid that photos of HN are a rarity. However the aerial shots held at Historic England in Swindon are worth a look at. Only one pass during active service, a USAAF practice recce flight in July 1943 – plenty of Wellingtons on dispersals and once your eye is in, some of the funnels of the Drem lighting system can be seen. Two passes in 1946, April and November, with the Albemarles parked up by the T2 hanger in April, and just two or three left in November and an accumulation of scrap near the other end of the hanger. Then 1955, and two dates showing all the army ammo stacked out on the runways and dispersals.

Hi Richard – thank very much – that’s really kind. I’m in London – i’ll send you the details.

All the best
Elliott

HGCU rather than GTS I suspect?

Could be a GTS. No.3 GTS at Exeter had a couple of Albermarles on strength in 1945 and from empirical evidence tugs had a similar number/letter marking scheme to the gliders.

Hi Richard

I had a look and the access panel you have (68781) was also used on the Whitley cowling. We are looking for one and I wondered if you would consider letting it go? I sent you a pm/email. The AW47 number is just an inspectors stamp and doesn’t relate to the aircraft model – it’s a bit of a red herring.

All the best
Elliott

Elliot
Your welcome to the panel, say where to and I will post it.

Richard

HGCU rather than GTS I suspect?

Thanks Richard,

Ref the scrapped aircraft I remembered this morning another unanswered question. The attached photo was taken of the aircraft parked with engines removed at HN. The query is the coding on the aircraft – not the usual squadron codes. Could they be formation codes, as was suggested by someone?

At a guess they might be glider tugs from one of the glider training schools.

Thanks Richard,

Ref the scrapped aircraft I remembered this morning another unanswered question. The attached photo was taken of the aircraft parked with engines removed at HN. The query is the coding on the aircraft – not the usual squadron codes. Could they be formation codes, as was suggested by someone?

Great pic – I’ve not seen that one before.

Hamstead Norreys is just up the road from me – you would hardly know an airfield once existed there! Would love to see some more pics of when it was operational and try and take some ‘then & now’ comparison pictures…

Hi Richard

I had a look and the access panel you have (68781) was also used on the Whitley cowling. We are looking for one and I wondered if you would consider letting it go? I sent you a pm/email. The AW47 number is just an inspectors stamp and doesn’t relate to the aircraft model – it’s a bit of a red herring.

All the best
Elliott

Sorry I cannot help with your item but I also have some parts from RAF Hampstead Norris, mine were just lying in a ploughed field and I picked them up about thirty years ago, always thought they were Albamarle.
They are a small access panel with AW47 68781 2 and inspectors stamps RC28 and RC3 and the end of a control rod p/n AW10046 and AW10044. I have always been puzzled as to why it has AW47 on it as the Albamarle was AW41 and the AW47 was never built. I didn’t know some were scrapped there.

Richard

Your best bet is to contact Automotive products precision hydraulics (APPH) – they are still going and manufactured this part. They did make undercarriage units during the war. The LH stamp could suggest it was made at their Leamington Spa factory.

Thanks Richard,

Ref the scrapped aircraft I remembered this morning another unanswered question. The attached photo was taken of the aircraft parked with engines removed at HN. The query is the coding on the aircraft – not the usual squadron codes. Could they be formation codes, as was suggested by someone?

Sorry I cannot help with your item but I also have some parts from RAF Hampstead Norris, mine were just lying in a ploughed field and I picked them up about thirty years ago, always thought they were Albamarle.
They are a small access panel with AW47 68781 2 and inspectors stamps RC28 and RC3 and the end of a control rod p/n AW10046 and AW10044. I have always been puzzled as to why it has AW47 on it as the Albamarle was AW41 and the AW47 was never built. I didn’t know some were scrapped there.

Richard