Chipmunk WP784 history

Chipmunk in scrapyard

I think it was a PAX by the time it was at Abingdon. Certainly I think Dave Pope had it at Benson before he went to Malta. It ended up with Lance Cork where I viewed it circa 1991 in very poor state – I have a feeling it was bought by K&L Aero beforehand for spares as I seem to remember Lance saying he had got it from a scrapyard which would have been fairly local.

Hi David,

You are correct that Lance obtained the remains of the Chipmunk from a scrapyard in Holbeach (Laddies yard, now part of EASCO I believe). I had a word with my dad today about this and K&L Aero Services (dad’s company) did buy the fuselage section from David Pope and removed virtually all that was removable from it including the steel tie-bar that was fitted. I don’t think any pictures were taken of it at the time as I was away at college, but dad did say that it was in a bit of a state when they were finished with it. It was then sent to the local scrapyard, Laddies, which was at the end of the same road in Holbeach.

Hope that helps.

Regards
Dave

Thanks RMR you have answered all the questions. We are looking at putting it in the 5 RFS markings.

Regards

Graham

It didnt use any wings from WP790; the one that was on ebay I swapped for a better one (it wasnt original to ‘790 anyway). The other one was retained.

Bruce

From my records….

C1/0675 Fuselage number DHB/F/563
WP784
awaiting collection 19/6/52
17 RFS – Hornchurch. Disbanded 31/7/53
5 RFS – Castle Bromwich. Disbanded 30/4/54
Air Attaché Paris
Queens UAS – Belfast
Manchester UAS – Woodvale
8 FTS – Swinderby
Aberdeen UAS – Dyce
Leeds UAS – (Church Fenton?)
27MU by 6/70 – Shawbury
converted to PAX at Shawbury
SOC 21/6/72 71MU – Bicester

then noted at

(6AEF?) Abingdon
(??) Benson
to Reading by /87
to Wellingborough by 25/8/98
to Holbeach by 9/89
to Lance’s Trading, Boston by 8/90>1/91
to Wycombe Air Park by ??/??
to Hemel Hempstead by 4/3/96
to Jet Aviation Preservation Group, Long Marston Aerodrome by 4/96>2/00)
to East Midlands Aeropark 10/08

Hope this is of some use. Any additions, corrections to the above welcome.

RMR

It was 8 Flying Training school

Thanks Dave.

5 RFS – Castle Bromwich until June 1954 when disbanded
8 RFS – Dalcross
6 AEF – Abingdon

I should take the EBay identity with a pinch of salt . The Chipmunk WP790 was built at London Colney from assorted parts – the wing on EBay was changed for a better one during her last overhaul .

Thanks David .
One wing i believe was off WP790 the other wing to this one was on ebay last month.

I think it was a PAX by the time it was at Abingdon. Certainly I think Dave Pope had it at Benson before he went to Malta. It ended up with Lance Cork where I viewed it circa 1991 in very poor state – I have a feeling it was bought by K&L Aero beforehand for spares as I seem to remember Lance saying he had got it from a scrapyard which would have been fairly local.