Blake Hall Airscene Museum, Essex

I know they had parts of this including an engine which is part of a private collection now I believe.

B-26 Marauder. Stansted 

Just come across this post and realise it’s many years old.
I’m researching aB26 Martin Marauder of the 391st BG based at Matching.  Serial Number 92-95853 “Miss Laid” it crashed at Hatfield Heath on 29 Sept 1944.
I have come across papers that suggest a part (or parts) of the plane may have been on display at Blake Hall Airscene Museum at some point.
I just wondered if anyone could confirm if this was the case and if so what may have happened to the part(s)…

Thanks in advance

Mark Ratcliff

Thanks Tony

Hi Trolley Aux

Many thanks for your kind words, my brothers and i spent many hours with dad and uncle rod out digging up ww2 planes and artifacts to put on show in the museum, we have many stories and some great memories… My favourite dig was a hurricane that was shot down in a dog fight with a me 109 meserschmitt over brentwood essex . we got the detectors out and found the engine and other components, dad traced the pilot of the hurricane and found out he was alive and well,( this was in the late 1980s) i wont mention his name but the pilot came to brentwood and watched us dig up his plane telling us how he got shot up and had to bail out, was quite a moving experience for all…

All The best

Tony

Hi Jim C

If You wish to call my father derek regarding the blake hall museum his phone # is 01277 841098

Many Thanks

Tony A

Hi Jim C.

If you want to contact my father Derek, his phone # is 01277 841098

All The Best Tony

PM sent Tony.

Welcome Tony.
A great museum in a perfect room setting due to the use by the RAF in WWII and hats off to your father and uncle who put so much effort into it.

Hi Tony. I had a lot of fun with Your dad and Rod in the 80s. I was at Uni in London and would go and see them and that wonderful museum. Some of the adventures resulted in a canopy for my hurricane, and gunsights for my projects. Please say hi to them for me!

HI

Im Derek Aspinells son tony, dad and my uncle rod are well and live in chelmsford essex, when dad and rodney closed the museum some of the artifacts were returned to the original owners, some artifacts were sold but many are now on permanent loan to other museums. the main reason for the closure of the museum was that the owner of blake hall, Mr capel cure sadly passed away leaving the estate to his son. unfortunately the son wanted to turn blake hall into a wedding venue so the museum had to go. as it was dad and rod were finding it hard to have the time to keep the museum open, plus they wernt getting any younger!, dad still displays some of his artifacts at shows and village hall functions. if you want to get in touch with my dad derek or my uncle rod message me and i will give you some phone numbers, i actually reside in calgary canada but am in touch with dad frequently, many thanks Tony Aspinell

If anyone has contact details for Rod or Derek Aspinall, who used to be curators there, please PM me. Thanks.

I recall some P-51 Mustang parts on display but no idea what would have happened to these, after the closure.

To name but one, there was a lading gear oleo from P-51 D Little zippie, on loan from East essex Aviation Museum.

bang me a pm to remind me and i will post a few!

[QUOTE=greshams;2161010]

Hi Rocketeer

Just came across this post as i have acquired a few relic boards from the Blake Hall Museum, and would be very interested to see some photos if you still have them.

Also does anyone know if the Debach Museum is still open

Debach Museum is definitely open and thriving as I was there last week. They have a strong team, led by Richard Taylor, who meet weekly on a Wednesday. The team have achieved a great deal in the last 10 years and is well worth a visit. Check out their website.

Thanks for the info i will try to get there before the years
out.

[QUOTE=hawker1966;2160964]Hi Rocketeer

Just came across this post as i have acquired a few relic boards from the Blake Hall Museum, and would be very interested to see some photos if you still have them.

Also does anyone know if the Debach Museum is still open

Debach Museum is definitely open and thriving as I was there last week. They have a strong team, led by Richard Taylor, who meet weekly on a Wednesday. The team have achieved a great deal in the last 10 years and is well worth a visit. Check out their website.

The dug Merlin was sent back to its owner. The delightful Museum at Debach got some stuff….I acquired some….it was a beautiful little museum….I have photos somewhere if anyone is interested.

Hi Rocketeer

Just came across this post as i have acquired a few relic boards from the Blake Hall Museum, and would be very interested to see some photos if you still have them.

Also does anyone know if the Debach Museum is still open

brad

Do I recall that Blake Hall had a V1 replica hanging up, and you could put 20p in a slot to play a recording of one in flight? I’ve never forgotten – put my 20p in and an old lady gasped as the recording finished and simply said “Oh God, I was all right until I heard it stop!”.

I have to say that I recall nothing else about the place…

Adrian

The dug Merlin was sent back to its owner. The delightful Museum at Debach got some stuff….I acquired some….it was a beautiful little museum….I have photos somewhere if anyone is interested.

I seem to remember that some of the displayed items were on loan, from an old friend of mine who now runs the Combined Services museum over at Maldon.

Went there a few years ago, very good museum indeed. Must make a return visit soon.

Janie,
Some parts relating to the B-26 Marauders from Chipping Ongar went to the Coalhouse Fort museum, no idea about the rest of the exhibits.

I think the items returned had been out on loan to Airscene Museum along with a lot of other items of Hurricane ETC if I remember correctly. I think someone from the museum visits here on occasions so may spread more light.
TA