So my Mountain Biking/Climbing mad friend spent last week camping and climbing around Inverlochy and last night told me they came across a ‘Wellington Bomber’ on Ben Lui.
A quick bit of Googling this morning shows it’s actually Lockheed Hudson T9432, and turned up this:
What a pleasant surprise as RAF Hudsons are rare as hen’s teeth! Gobsmacked RAFM hasn’t snaffled it up given how much is there!
By: Roborough - 29th July 2013 at 00:26
No offence caused, Mothminor. Thanks for the post
Regards
Bill
By: Mothminor - 28th July 2013 at 21:20
Talking as we were of’Insensitivity’
As Australians, Kiwis, Canadians et.al all had a very significant part in the last ‘big event’ and as they seem to me to be singularly under-represented in the RAFM (especially when compared with the USAAF), the RAAF Hudson should be left as it is.
My thoughts anyway
Bill
Sorry if I caused any offence with that suggestion. You are, of course, absolutely right in what you say. I was suggesting it merely as a temporary measure to act as a representative until such time as funds allowed for the recovery of this genuine RAF Hudson.
By: D1566 - 28th July 2013 at 19:07
Sadly you are quite correct; it would be good if it could be left unmolested in place as a memorial to the crew, but reality is that moving it somewhere secure would ensure its longer term survival.
By: CeBro - 28th July 2013 at 18:41
Yes, it should be left as is. But not up there. If put on display in a controlled environment and
Properly documented it stands a better chance to last. Up there parts are taken away and
The occasional hillwalker has no idea what the story behind the wreck is.
Cees
By: Roborough - 28th July 2013 at 18:19
Talking as we were of’Insensitivity’
As Australians, Kiwis, Canadians et.al all had a very significant part in the last ‘big event’ and as they seem to me to be singularly under-represented in the RAFM (especially when compared with the USAAF), the RAAF Hudson should be left as it is.
My thoughts anyway
Bill
By: Mothminor - 28th July 2013 at 15:58
Well, I did use the word pleasant and I stand by it, as there are no RAF Hudsons in preservation. To find one is still around is a pleasant surprise regardless of the tragedy of the circumstances. There’s little to remember Stirling crews by, I’m glad there’s an opportunity to preserve and remember the Hudson and those who flew them.
If that sounds insensitive? *Shrug*
Yes. I do actually agree with your thoughts if not your wording 🙂 I expect it would take a lot of funding to recover/ restore/ preserve the Ben Lui Hudson and whether the funds are currently available – well, I’d be surprised. Perhaps, in the meantime,the RAFM may be convinced to do a repaint of A16-199 to represent an RAF aircraft. It was originally intended for RAF use as FH174 after all.
By: Peter - 28th July 2013 at 14:55
Not insensitive.. just that it can be taken either way no harm done.
By: Jayce - 28th July 2013 at 14:31
Well, I did use the word pleasant and I stand by it, as there are no RAF Hudsons in preservation. To find one is still around is a pleasant surprise regardless of the tragedy of the circumstances. There’s little to remember Stirling crews by, I’m glad there’s an opportunity to preserve and remember the Hudson and those who flew them.
If that sounds insensitive? *Shrug*
By: Mothminor - 28th July 2013 at 12:54
I’m sure ( or I hope) you didn’t mean that how it sounds as I certainly wouldn’t use the word pleasant in there. Lying on the mountain like that, the Hudson is a very poignant memorial not only to her own crew but to the many airmen who have been lost in similar circumstances over the years.
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July 28, 2013 at 9:15 am