Big black thing on a beach

😀

You never know what will be exposed in this stormy weather. I wonder how the Maid of Harlech is coping?

Anon.

Anon

You just wait until somebody starts the thread about Wellington tyres buried in crates somewhere!

Having skipped past this thread lately I’m astounded that we’re up to the fourth page – and it’s only an old tyre! Far more important topics have died by post number ten:)

Anyway, this metal lump: could it be the corroded steel remains of the core of a British incendiary bomb? I seem to recall said core was about six inches long with a wider hexagonal-shaped nose – the hex nose having, in this particular case, mostly corroded away in the last 70-odd years it has been lying in the sand.

Anon.

I believe that a detonation ‘horn’ from a sea mine has been suggested.

I was just looking at the photo and thinking the same! – They contained a lead capsule full of acid IIRC which split when they were hit, depositing said acid into the fuse mechanism leading to a very big bang! 😮

I believe that a detonation ‘horn’ from a sea mine has been suggested.

Is it going to go bang?

Richard

Time to get out the treacle bath and clean it up!

Having found a couple of things that go “BANG!” on beaches in my time, I tend to be slightly nervous of anything I don’t recognise these days. I do wonder, with the lead in the fat end, whether it might be a “Priest” for dispatching fish? Given the accuracy of my last guess here, on balance this one should be way off, so treat with caution!

Adrian

No idea what it is, Richard. But that is definitely a medium sized dog basket in the background.

WV-903… The Stirling main wheel tyres are AH 2233 ,26.5″x 21″.

Rrrrr !! many thanks Hindenberg,updating lists now. 🙂

Bill T.

News just in from Chris:

I spoke to Lou again and he remembers seeing the Wellington come down. He mentioned that another local old boy has a Players Weights cigarette packet with the names of the crew on it. I will have to investigate further.

I was down on the beach at low tide again today and found another mystery object. It may be nothing. It’s a chunk of corroded metal about 15cm long x 3cm at its widest. There seems to be a plug of lead in the end. Also, about 40mm from the thickest end it could have a hexagonal nut as there are some definite flats.

It could well be something maritime but I wondered if anyone had any idea what it might be.

Richard

WV-903… The Stirling main wheel tyres are AH 2233 ,26.5″x 21″.

Well the tyre is in the display now, so all that stands is the label! I think I am going with Andy and saying it is 99% Welli. Brooklands is not far away so next time I am there I will see if I can have a look at R for Roberts.

I would say the evidence is rather more than very compelling, though!

Mmmmm, always that element of doubt 🙂

All I can say is;

It is exactly and precisely on the very spot that a Wellington was broken up during November 1940.
It is pretty much Wellington main-wheel size.
The possibility that another similarly sized aircraft main wheel tyre was washed up there at exactly that spot perhaps can’t be absolutely excluded. However, if I were a betting man….

So I take it that this tyre has been positively identified as being from the aircraft in question ?
With no doubts whatsoever, cross your heart and hope to die, last one in the bar buys the drinks 🙂 ?

Very likely it has shrunk with time and immersion. Aircraft tyres do dry out and get brittle. The ECTA type (electrically conducting) have lots of lovely carbon dust in them – many a time I have ended up covered in the stuff.
My Hampden tailwheel needs constant turning to stop it drooping (oooh errr missus!)
Nice outcome for it to be saved.
My Ju88 wheel came off a Norfolk beach. The wheel fork ‘sacrificed’ (anode) itself for the benefit of the hub which is in remarkably good condition

Be my guest! Hope it is of interest.

Andy, I hope you don’t mind, I’ve copied that report onto the NGRM forum as it illustrates the story of the tyre

Richard

I can say with a fair degree of certainty that the tyre was exactly at the point where said Wellington was later brought ashore on the next tide. I have now dug out the Police Report.

The map reference on the Police Report is pretty much slap bang on the spot where the tyre was discovered. Having looked at my wartime OS maps and plotted the grid reference I am 100% positive.

The Police Report says:

“I beg to report that this aircraft made a forced landing on the waters edge 500 yards from the shore. In the course of the landing the aircraft ran into deep water. The shore patrol of “A” Coy 4th Royal Sussex Regiment heard the crew shouting for assistance and with the coast guards they went to their assistance. All were rescued. One of the pilots left the ‘plane from the front and fell into deep water. There was some difficulty in rescuing him. The aircraft was washed ashore by the next tide. It is now on the foreshore at Cliff End in the military area. The Officer in charge was Flying Officer Belbin. The crew were all taken to the 4th Royal Sussex Regts billets. One of the pilots was later taken to Military Hospital (probably Brickwall, Northiam) suffering from shock and the effects of immersion in water.”