ATC Squadron instructional airframes

It appears that Connaught Junior School, Littlehampton, closed in 2011. Is it now River Beach Primary School?

I wonder if Xtangomike did speak again to the headmistress of Connaught Junior School, Littlehampton, and, if so, what she had to say about the photograph of the Hawker Hector?

Just to add to Xtangomike’s post.

The image is fascinating, but nobody at the school ever told us about the photograph during our interest – which is strange.

Then it will be interesting to learn of the response from the headmistress of the school if/when Xtangomike speaks with her. It may be that the photograph came to light after your initial investigation but before her appointment. If so, she may know the provenance of the photograph (or be able to ascertain that). If so, who knows where that might lead you and what that might produce?

Not sure if its already been listed but 424 squadron ATC in southampton had a/ the Fairey Rotodyne.

Talking of ATC Hector’s anyone have an idea on an ID for this one

http://www.sohamgrammar.org.uk/ATC-SY41-42.htm

Just to add to Xtangomike’s post.

I think it was in the late 80s that we dug bits of the Hector out of the school grounds.

The wings had been ‘planted’ in a thin beech hedgerow to strengthen the hedge and form a sort of fence. With difficulty, we dug these sections out and they were stored for a while at Tangmere Museum. I seem to recall they ended up with a well known restorer of Hawker aircraft. It would have been fantastic to have dug out the Dagger engine, but a classroom was then over the air raid shelter and as Xtangomike says it is now a playground. It would also be terrific to know the identity of the airframe.

The image is fascinating, but nobody at the school ever told us about the photograph during our interest – which is strange.

I wonder if the engine had been taken out and put undercover indoors for the cadets to tinker with?

It was buried for ‘regime change’.

Ever see the film “If”…?

This could be the start of a very long thread.

You never know….tarmac can always be replaced in the holidays

Only if it is not in the monsoon season….

Thank you, xtangomike, but I don’t feel that I deserve too much gratitude as I came across the photograph on the ‘West Sussex Past’ online photographic archive! You’ll find a copy of it at http://www.westsussexpast.org/pictures/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive2&dsqCmd=ImageView.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqImage=PP_WSL_L000843%20retouch%20copy.jpg. However on reviewing the accompanying text, on that website, I note that the photograph was loaned by Connaught Junior School. So I fear that if you show it to the school’s headmistress, you won’t be providing her with much of a surprise (unless the loan predates her tenure of the post)!

I’ve been puzzling over the picture of the Hector that I posted. Judging from the lack of much forward of the cabane struts, I assume that someone has had the Napier Dagger out of the airframe – but equally there appears to be a propellor blade in the photograph. Maybe its not a propellor blade but just a deceiving shadow on the shiplap cladding of the hut in the background of the photograph.

No, it is not the propeller. I have zoomed the pick and looked at it long and hard. What you see is in fact a shiplap join and as you say the aircraft does not appear to have the Napier Dagger in situ, so again no prop.

I am fascinated and very grateful to Avion Ancien for posting this probably ‘only’ photo of the mystery aeroplane at Connaught Road Boys School, Littlehampton, in West Sussex.

Back in 1992, myself and Andy, under our Tangmere museum hat, visited the school after hearing strong stories of a ‘vintage’ aircraft having been buried in the school air raid shelters at the end WW11.
With the eventual permission of West Sussex County Council, we were able to carry out a very early terrain (ground) radar search of the area pointed out to be where the air raid shelters used to be. Unfortunately for us, a ‘new’ post war classroom had been built slap bang over the alleged burial ground. We had metal readings on both sides the building, and came to the conclusion that whatever was left of the aircraft was under a slab of concrete with a class room on top.
A further search of a nearby hedgerow brought to light a largish piece of aileron which gave proof to the stories of the Hectors existence.
There was no way the local authorities would allow us to even probe the ground so close to their classroom building, and so another ‘find ‘ entered the annals of history….until this year….when I was prompted by a story that the school had recently closed. I drove down to Littlehampton with by now, many years of experience of (not) finding the ‘absolute certainty’ of buried treasure, but a glimmer of possibility that the long wait might bare fruit, just for once.
It was not to be….this school had been enlarged to accept pupils from a smaller local school. The headmistress was more than helpful and knew a little of our previous visit. Yes, the classroom had been removed …but in its place, is now a tar macadam volley ball/any ball play area. Strictly not for digging up !!! she said, politely.
I shall however, with your permission a.a. show her your photograph, and at least now try to find some local names and hopefully…memories.
You never know….tarmac can always be replaced in the holidays

It would be interesting to hear others experiences with finding information about atc airframes at schhols. A couple of years ago I was searching for details on a particular airframe and contacted the school concerned. To be fair I got a reply with a copy of an old photograph but they said there was no other information, they couldnt even say where the hut was located. Any other tips where information may exist?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]219720[/ATTACH] ATC 460 sdn Dunstable, Firebrand.

Dave

I’ve been puzzling over the picture of the Hector that I posted. Judging from the lack of much forward of the cabane struts, I assume that someone has had the Napier Dagger out of the airframe – but equally there appears to be a propellor blade in the photograph. Maybe its not a propellor blade but just a deceiving shadow on the shiplap cladding of the hut in the background of the photograph.

I restored the Jet Provost T3 Cockpit section XN137 in the early 90’s. This was obtained from a scrap metal dealer in ottershaw. He had obtained XN137 from 1075 Sqn ATC,Camberley. The cockpit is now with Virtual Aerospace, Northampton and is used for training.

The Lightning (XG325) cockpit from my old squadron 1476 Rayleigh, is apparently now with a private owner in Thetford.
The propeller I donated is (I’m told) at Stow Maries, for display

Does anyone have any photos of Vampire FB.9 WL505 when she was at Swansea with the ATC squadron back in the 60s/70s?

Thanks

Hawker Hector, Littlehampton, c.1942.

Whilst browsing the aviation section of the WSCC photograph collection, I came across the following. It is captioned as being a Hawker Hector in the care of 1087 Sqdn. ATC at Connaught Road Boys School, Littlehampton, West Sussex c.1942. No mention of it is made in ‘Cadet Corps Airframes’. Does anyone know anything about it – particularly its fate?

You are quite correct AA, the Airtourer I referred to was G-AWVH. A bit of further research shows it crashed at Goodwood on 15/3/81, was cancelled 12/83 and the remains went to an ATC Squadron at Laindon. It was finally scrapped in 91. Not as glamorous as the Spitfires but could be added to your list for completeness.

Well that won’t have helped you much since the consensus there is that it was a Hurricane!

I’m sorry for the lack of clarity on my part. I didn’t intend to suggest that the Kingstanding ATC Spitfire was a Hurricane. My attempt to be ironic clearly failed for my intention was to point out that it appears that the majority of the posters on the other forum could look at a Spitfire and identify it as a Hurricane! But if I’m kind, I’d put it down to the effect of the passage of time on memories.