Forgive me if I have the serial wrong but I was wondering if anything other than the fron turret and engines was restored on the Halifax bomber in Hendon? Seems a shame to see her lying there on the floor considering her condition upon recovery.
By: Halibag - 31st October 2001 at 22:24
RE: Anything done to the Hallibag W1048 in Hendon…???
Hi guys,
Some very interesting and valid points here.
My own views are that it would be very fitting inded to see W1048 back on her “feet” again, restored to as near as possible the way she looked when she left the UK under her own steam for the last time. Not pristine brand new just off the production line, but looking slightly weathered, with a few paint chips etc. Also with her interior bits re-fitted in the right places.
NA337 in Canada is being put back together with painstaking attention to detail by a bunch of dedicated volunteers, costing the taxpayers nothing. I cannot see why W1048 cannot be afforded the same privilage!
As for her missing bits, I am given to believe that these are secreted in one of the many stores the RAF museum have access to.
As for looking at photo’s of PN323 etc, you might like to take a look at the gallery showing the recovery etc of W1048 at 57 RESCUE’s website at www.57rescue.org Some pretty interesting and rare photo’s there.
By: Peter - 31st October 2001 at 03:47
RE: Anything done to the Hallibag W1048 in Hendon…???
Steve:
You make some good points there but I am sure that none of us want to see a Halifax restoration project that would turn back the clock so to speak so she was as left the factory condition. But I fear that along with other treasures from ww2 that are left outdoors even today, that she will not be around for future generations to appreciate un less action is taken soon.
By: David J Burke - 30th October 2001 at 21:35
RE: Anything done to the Hallibag W1048 in Hendon…???
Steve – Whatever is done with her I think now is the time to start thinking about her long term future. I would like to think that the people who recovered her in the first place did so in the hope that she would be restored – having recently looked at the photographs of PN323 as a ‘walk – through’ exhibit at South Lambeth I think it’s about time effort was put in to actualy seriously preserving these machines – is the really any need to use the Halifax nose for this when a replica could suffice?
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th October 2001 at 19:48
RE: Anything done to the Hallibag W1048 in Hendon…???
I’m probably one of the few dissenting voices on this subject, but I can’t help feeling somewhat humbled when I see W1048 in her current condition, and I really don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. While it would be impressive to see a complete and original Halifax standing on it’s undercarriage at Hendon, I don’t think she would make such a thought provoking exhibit.
Presumably I am like most people on this forum in that I was born many years after the war ended, and so was spared the experiences that many went through. To me, while Lancaster R5868 is an impressive and historic aircraft, I feel that W1048 in an unrestored state serves to remind us that many aircraft and their crews failed to return. We should never forget that. Yes, every effort should be made to conserve and preserve her, but I don’t feel that a pristine, shining, as-new Halifax would have the same ability to make people stop and think.
Sorry if that flies in the face of the majority opinion. Just my view…
By: Peter - 30th October 2001 at 15:19
RE: Anything done to the Hallibag W1048 in Hendon…???
That would be fantastic to see that w1048 will hopefully be restored. She looks very forlorn lying on a bed of gravel. One is to wonder what happened to the rest of her after she was raised??? Eg the blisters from the nose rest of the lower nose and the large skin panel from the stbd nose/turret area!
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October 16, 2001 at 2:13 am