B Of B Film Buchon Registrations/Identities

I see the new scheme has made it into the latest Flypast, along with some other news…;)

Well the new scheme was “based” in err….Spain, France(briefly) Jersey(even more briefly) and South Cambridgeshire. Then to Hertfordshire and Texas…;)

Just checked G-INFO

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=BWUE

change of ownership to Historic Flying from Tom Blairs spitfire Ltd

Also seen stripped of paint in the arco compound today….. now i wonder what scheme it will go into?

They did mention at the Goodwood revival that the Buchon would probably be repainted this winter. Seem to recall that they said the a/c is currently in mediterranean colors, and will be painted in the colors of a 109 based in either France or Germany. Or vice versa, can’t remember.

T J

Roobarb Just to say thanks for clarifying the Jersey incident. I was only 12/13 years old at the time of the Battle of Britain film. In those days Duxford seemed miles away from Southend and one of my regrets is that I never managed to persuade my dad that our old Austin A50 would get that far although I did manage to get him to take me to the 1968 Debden display which included some of the film aircraft. I pestered him for weeks to take me and eventually he gave in. It was a great day even though it all seems a very long time ago now.

Thanks to everyone who has come up with information and for showing an interest. Trying to nail down the correct colours has been a nightmare. They were said to have been authentic but they differ somewhat from the correct RLM wartime colours. Interpretation of 1968 photographs is “interesting” to say the least! Different film, lighting, plus 41 years of storage hasn’t assisted me in this task! The link to the Connie Edwards pictures is handy, though I had saved a lot of them from before. In fact the one of the two seat close up from the front 3/4 aspect has assisted in checking that I’ve got the right black-green. They look so much brighter on the screen and boy does that shade change colour in differing lighting conditions. Anyway it’s all pretty much sorted out but I’m sure they’ll be some people saying “That’s not right” when it sets foot in public. Short of a plane ticket to Texas you’ll just have to trust my judgement!:eek:

There seems to be a number painted in the flap well of this Buchon:
http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_photo.asp?id=16287

During the summer I was discussing with someone – the availability of Luftwaffe fuselage sections.

I was offered two Buchon underside wing panels – which still held the paint from when they were used in the B of B film. See photo

There were also He111, 109, 190 and ju52 panels.

For two reasons I declined:

1. It was too expensive.
2. I dont cut up usable pieces of aircraft.

Col

I’ve linked this thread over from WIX, you’ve may well have seen these before, but on page 3 you have a few Buchon pics at Big Springs Tx

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11006&hilit=buchon&start=30

Mart

Hi Roobard,

The Buchon identities have always proved incredibly hard to find. I have never seen any photographic proof that these numbers actually exist despite collecting BoB film photos for the last 25 years.

It seems logical for the aircraft to be marked in someway for reasons of continuity and servicing etc. But those markings/serials may have
been very small so as not to be caught by the camera.

However, in the cockpit above the main instrument panel, the aircraft construction number was hand painted in white in approx 40-45mm lettering, these numbers can still be found on Connie Edwards aircraft. I do not know whether these pre date the movie.

G-AWHK c no. ‘172’

G-AWHE c no. ’67’

Here’s a shot taken from a CAF newsletter that may be of interest.

Septic.

I may be able to check this for you, Give me a couple of weeks
Cheers
Matt

Thanks Matt that would be great.

Right here’s a time-line:

July 1966 Hamish Mahaddie buys 28 Buchons from the Spanish Air Force at the Sabasta/Auction at Tablada.

Sat 20th january 1968 Spanish Air Force pilot Don Federico Lanzos is killed when the film company Buchon he is flying crashes whilst he is carrying out aerobatics whilst operating from Tablada Air Force Base. His widow is paid 3000,000 pesetas (£18,000 in 1968 money) by the film’s insurance company.

14th May 1968 the Buchons arrive at Duxford via the White Cliffs of Dover. On the same day they are registered in the UK.

So just how were the aircraft operating whilst in Spain? They were no longer Spanish Air Force property having been sold in 1966, yet didn’t appear with the then “Air Registration Board” until May 14th 1968. We all know thet they were flying in Spain before coming to the UK and clearly they were operating as early as January 1968, if only for test purposes. Filming actually commenced in Spain on 13th March. Any ideas?

The aircraft that was damaged (by having its tailplane chewed by another Buchon) during the ferry flight and whilst at Jersey is believed to have been C.4K-144/G-AWHP. It was said to have been repaired using parts from one of the Henlow spares ships. Prior to this it had been reported as being a rogue aircraft and unpleasant to fly. When it was damaged the film pilots were quite pleased as they were not going to be flying it again. According to Connie Edwards they were less than impressed when it was repaired and turned up again at Duxford! Sadly it was later fatally destroyed on 19/12/87 whilst operating with the Confederate Air Force out of Harlingen. C.4K-61/G-AWHF was the aircraft that ground-looped at DX on 21st May 1968and did not fly again.

Finally, anyone passing Big Spring Ranch could you just stick your head into one of the Buchon wheelwells so that we get a firm answer! 🙂

I had always thought one of the Buchons was written off in a landing accident at Jersey probably during the delivery flight to the UK. The aircraft made a stream landing and one of the Buchons made a fast landing and removed the tail unit of the aircraft in front.
I believed that the aircraft written off was G-AWHF but other web sources say this was written off in May 68 at Duxford in what is variously described as a heavy landing or a ground loop.
Can anyone shed any light on the Jersey incident or os it just a myth that has been perpetuated over the years?
There were also 4 static Buchons brought to the UK for spares and at least one went to Pinewood for cockpit shots. I wonder what happened to these after filming was over. Did they go to Connie Edwards or were they disposed of elsewhere?

Spanish Buchons

These were registered G-AWHC to G-AWHT
G-AWHC being the twoseat version

amongst my archive I have a photo of G-AWHE painted in USAAF marks with the registration showing along the fuselage

dh83

Dammit, the Rudhall books are in boxes at the moment. I’m sure there’s an ID in that one.

Looked in the obvious places in “Battle of Britain” The Movie, there is mention of a two minute silence for the pilot that died in the crash, but the machine’s identity is not given (Reel 4 – Lights, Camera, Action!).

Unfortunatley there is no mention if its identity in Reel 14 (The Aircraft Fleet, Then and Now).

you sure it wasn’t the ex caf buchon stripped down?

Yes.

That one is already painted up in the hangar.

Not exactly helping with the answer required, but I think this link is interesting and ‘on topic’.

http://www.spitfiresite.com/blog/2009/09/memories-from-filming-of-battle-of.html

you sure it wasn’t the ex caf buchon stripped down?

Oh, and whilst I’m on the subject, anyone know the identity of the Buchon that crashed fatally prior to the commencement of filming in Spain?

Cheers

Roobarb

Dammit, the Rudhall books are in boxes at the moment. I’m sure there’s an ID in that one.

Does anyone have any photographic evidence of the numbers/registrations that were said to be painted in the wheelwells of the Buchons during the Battle of Britain Film? Although there are published references to this and I have spoken to someone that remembers them being there, it’s not clear as to whether it was the G-AWH- registration, the C.4k- serial number or the builders construction number. They were also said to be applied in the flaps somewhere. A font style would be nice as well…;)

Oh, and whilst I’m on the subject, anyone know the identity of the Buchon that crashed fatally prior to the commencement of filming in Spain?

Cheers

Roobarb

I may be able to check this for you, Give me a couple of weeks
Cheers
Matt

Just checked G-INFO

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=reg&fullregmark=BWUE

change of ownership to Historic Flying from Tom Blairs spitfire Ltd

Also seen stripped of paint in the arco compound today….. now i wonder what scheme it will go into?