Sorry – I’m in the realms of the wierd and the wonderful again!
Whilst spending a few spare hours browsing the British Pathe website, I came across a short newsreel concerning Scheldemusch PH-AMA and its crash at Gravesend in 1937. That jogged my memory concerning the other Scheldemusch in the UK, PH-AMG. I mentioned this aeroplane briefly, some 15 months ago, in a post concerning BAC Drones. There I sought information about it and its fate, but without response.
PH-AMG came to the UK at some time during the last war. After trials with the RAF, for aerial observation purposes, it was sold to Joe Wood of Solihull in 1946. It is said that he gave it to a Squadron Leader D.Langford and, after an accident during taxiing trials, it was sold to a scrap dealer. Apparently this was c. 1960. Does anyone know anything more about this aeroplane, in particular the identity and location of the scrap dealer? I am aware of the photographs of PH-AMG on the Don Burgoyne website.
By: avion ancien - 14th November 2022 at 21:09
Thank you MM.Every little helps!
By: Mothminor - 14th November 2022 at 20:00
Hello AA, I have found a couple of references to Sqn Ldr D. Langford but searching that name and rank leads to nothing as you’ve found yourself. However, one old Air Britain publication refers to Flt Lt David Langford and that makes a difference. I think this may be the right man though so far I have not managed to find much information other than his service number (57735) and the fact he was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1953 both via entries in the Gazette.
Flt Lt Langford is said in the AB article to have lived in Lincolnshire when he was given the Scheldemusch but another article states that he was “probably in Honiley” and was afterwards posted to Lincolnshire.
Hope this helps.
By: avion ancien - 14th November 2022 at 11:33
All these years later I am still trying to identify the Sqn/Ldr D. Langford who was apparently the penultimate owner of PH-AMG (before the scrapman). He is said to have resided in the Solihull area c.1960. Online searches reveal nothing regarding a man of that name and rank.
By: Newforest - 31st March 2018 at 07:35
That’s what you call a photo album! Now for my translator!
By: wieesso - 30th March 2018 at 21:38
🙂 A Mr. Wim Mesu started in 1979! to build a replica of a Scheldemusch!
Here is an interesting newspaper article…
https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/pzc/1979-01-11/edition/0/page/9?query=
Martin
By: ericmunk - 30th March 2018 at 20:26
That was quick!
The replica of a Scheldemusch (Texel museum, photo by Eric Munk, 12 augustus 2017)
– scroll down to the middle of the site
http://www.airnieuws.nl/phregister/497/luchtvaartnieuws.htmlMartin
By: wieesso - 30th March 2018 at 19:58
The replica of a Scheldemusch (Texel museum, photo by Eric Munk, 12 augustus 2017)
– scroll down to the middle of the site
http://www.airnieuws.nl/phregister/497/luchtvaartnieuws.html
Martin
By: Sonderman - 30th March 2018 at 19:23
At this moment there is a non-flying replica under constructuion on the Island Texel, on the airfield on that Island there is a small museum that is involved in this project. I’ll see if I can find more info.
According the owner, he owns the engine of the PH-AMG. I’ll asked him if I can show photos.
Regards,
Mathieu.
By: avion ancien - 30th March 2018 at 15:33
In 1946 Scheldemusch PH-AMG was offered for sale by Joe Wood of Solihull. Attached is the ‘small ad’ which appeared in Flight of 1 August 1946.
By: avion ancien - 30th March 2018 at 15:29
I’ve now located, in ‘my messages’, a PM which I received from Andy Wilson in 2012, in which he said:
I have access to the wartime logbooks of Bob Handasyde, “Shorty” Longbottom and “Tommy” Lucke, all test-pilots at Vickers/Weybridge during WW2. It seems they “acquired ownership” of this aircraft after it had been tested at Old Sarum. From their logbooks, it seems they kept and flew the aircraft at Smiths Lawn (probably to keep it out of prying eyes at Weybridge), certainly during November of 1943. After Shorty was killed in the Warwick in January 1945, his good friend Bob handasyde acted on behalf of Shorty’s widow and sold the aircraft to WS Shackleton.
By: avion ancien - 30th March 2018 at 15:14
In the interest of completeness, I should add to this thread that back in 2011 Andy Wilson told me that he had been able to look at the log books of Bob Handasyde which record that on 13 November 1943 Handasyde flew Scheldemusch PH-AMG from VAX1, which Andy said was the Vickers outstation at Smith’s Lawn (in Windsor Great Park, now the home to the Guards’ Polo Club). Andy went on to say that he’d discussed this with the experts at Brooklands, who expressed the view that Handasyde and Longbottom probably kept and flew the Scheldemusch from here, as opposed to keeping the aeroplane under the noses of their bosses at Weybridge. It appears that there may have been a prior exchange of PMs between Andy and me on this subject but, if so, those are not retained in ‘my messages’. As Andy does not seem to have been active hereof late, I may not be able to ascertain if he can add to this. But I’ll try!
By: avion ancien - 8th August 2009 at 19:16
Thank you, Mathieu, I’ll do so but it may not be before the weekend.
PM sent.
By: avion ancien - 6th August 2009 at 22:18
If you are serious interested, just send me a pm and I’ll bring you in contact with people who knowmuch more details.
Thank you, Mathieu, I’ll do so but it may not be before the weekend.
By: Sonderman - 5th August 2009 at 21:25
Is this just an expression of hope or well informed speculation!
Well informed:) Of the original 50 drawings needed to build a Scheldemusch 20 survived and the other 30 missing have been made new with profesional help.
The owner of the engine has now all the drawings needed to build a new one, if the genuine engine can be used is unknown to me. If you are serious interested, just send me a pm and I’ll bring you in contact with people who knowmuch more details.
regards,
Mathieu.
By: avion ancien - 4th August 2009 at 15:58
…this guy?
http://www.fitzmaurice.info/jmcf.html
It might be, but I don’t think so. The Col. FitzMaurice referred to on that biographical website appears to be the same man as I mentioned in post no. 36 and you’ll see there the reasons why I have reservations about him being the pilot of the Scheldemusche at Eastbourne in 1938. Now if only I could trace the records of the Eastbourne Flying Club I could see if a Col. FitzMaurice was a member of that.
By: wieesso - 4th August 2009 at 15:17
But who was Col. FitzMaurice?
…this guy?
http://www.fitzmaurice.info/jmcf.html
By: avion ancien - 4th August 2009 at 15:07
Hei,
Theo Slot ( 1895-1949) became famous in The Netherlands with the Pander Postjager, which unfortunately crashed during the Londen Melbourne race in 1934. Someone in the Netherlands has enough drawings and a genuine engine to build a Scheldemusch, so perhaps one day we can see one in the air again!
Regards,
Mathieu.
Is this just an expression of hope or well informed speculation!
By: Sonderman - 25th July 2009 at 21:59
Hei,
Theo Slot ( 1895-1949) became famous in The Netherlands with the Pander Postjager, which unfortunately crashed during the Londen Melbourne race in 1934. Someone in the Netherlands has enough drawings and a genuine engine to build a Scheldemusch, so perhaps one day we can see one in the air again!
Regards,
Mathieu.
By: avion ancien - 25th July 2009 at 20:01
In the querkiness league, that must rank higher than the Scheldemusch. Maybe if it, like the Scheldemusch, had been intended for licence production in the UK, it might have been offered under a name such as the Soaring Sprat. Remember,the Scheldemusch was being promoted as the Dutch Flying Flea – so an aquatic version would have needed a name along similar lines!
By: wieesso - 20th July 2009 at 23:43
There was of course a flying boat version of the Scheldemusch. Called the Scheldemeeuw. T.E. Slot was the Chief engineer and came to them from Pander
John
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June 28, 2009 at 4:34 pm