Hi All,
Ive been doing some research on Beaufighter NV246, a Mrk X used by the Centuarus Flt based at Filton during late WW2 .
I Believe this Flight was formed to test the new engine on a Variety of aircraft ,tempest, etc, I am unsure if this perticular Beaufighter was fitted with Centaurus engines and was used for trials, but however she was involved in a misshap not far from where I live, NV246 was coming in to land at Filton when the throttle linkage broke and she crash landed at Queen Charlton Somerset in July 1945.
She made a wheels up landing ,but overturned and was destroyed, the Pilot ,Sqn Ldr Payne luckily survived ,but with injuries,(Burns).
Sqn Ldr Payne had served with 609 Sqn, and had previously been involved
in a accident also sustaining burns.
However he recovered and flew with the RAF again in 1946, and had a colourful carreer,even working for the Nigerian airforce, From what I have read,he went on to run a pub in Oldbury on Severn, and later retired to Bournmouth..
Any more info on Beaufighter mrk X, NV246 or the Paint scheme of this perticular aircraft or the centarus flight in general, or any photos would be really greatfully recieved,
Many thanks in advance
Chris 😀
By: merkle - 2nd November 2010 at 12:39
Any Luck with the Scans yet.. Please PM Me if Poss 🙂
By: merkle - 8th June 2010 at 00:56
Hi Mike,
I was there last year, ive been there a few times, asking, i have a good rough idea where she came down.. found the story fascinating.. and will follow it up, I also met a man in a local flying club, who used to walk past the crash site regularly in the 1960s whilst dog walking with his father, he remembers seeing bits and pieces of the aircraft allways underfoot, at the time, in the ploughed field.
Would be pleased to chat more on the subject , if you wish, it would be nice to find her exact crash location ..
I feel quite chuffed after starting this thread, that the son of the actual pilot , found this thread on this forum,
PM Sent 😀
By: Wellington285 - 8th June 2010 at 00:36
Mike that is very kind of you, many thanks.
G.
By: Marcosdriver - 7th June 2010 at 22:25
give me a few days, and I will scan them for you..
Mike
By: Wellington285 - 7th June 2010 at 21:31
Hi Mike
I would be very interested in the photos you have, as I live in Bristol and it is local to me. The photos would go into the files i have on wartime and postwar crashes in and around Bristol. Can you PM me.
G.
By: Marcosdriver - 7th June 2010 at 21:03
Beaufighter from Centaurus Flight, Filton
Just spotted this thread…. my father was S/Ldr Roy Payne, and was the pilot of the Beaufighter. I have a set of original Official photographs of the wreckage if anyone is interested.
Mike Payne
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September 26, 2009 at 12:39 pm