Has anyone got any photos of the 1970 recovery of DP872 from Blackheath Moss, Enagh Lough near Derry/Londonderry N’Ireland.
I was 12 years old at the time and as I lived nearby went over to the site to watch the recovery in progress. I believe the remains of the three man crew were still with the wreck. I remember seeing police present and items including a wrist watch being placed in a plastic bag.
I always wondered why the remains of the crew were not recovered at the time of the accident-1944 I think. The area where this aircraft crashed was a very small lake from memory around 50 meters across-if that, surrounded by soft ground but very close to a road.
Maydown airfield where the A/C took off would be only a mile or so away which would have made it easy to get recovery equipment to the site quickly. I was told that for a number of years after the crash part of the aircraft was visible above the water which leads to believe the wreck was in very shallow water. I Would love to see any related photos or hear from anyone who was involved with the recovery or who was present at the time.
By: Lynx815 - 12th April 2019 at 18:51
Its been a while since we’ve posted here so this is a bump. We’re making good progress but it will still take quite a few years given our limited resources, but the quality of the restoration is excellent. We’re always after anything Barracuda related, be it tangible in the form of parts, or memories and memorabilia and would love to hear from descendants and relatives of former barracuda aircrew and maintainers. See our Facebook Page for the latest progress linked below.
By: Oxcart - 21st January 2017 at 16:49
Thanks so much for the updates! I really wish u could talk to the Lufthansa Super Connie team about their lack of them!
By: Lee Howard - 21st January 2017 at 14:05
Another weekly update uploaded last night at https://www.facebook.com/FaireyBarracudaRestoration/
By: jeep1943 - 15th January 2017 at 00:47
Re Barry Coran’s Spit: I knew Barry back when I was at Point Cook. At the time he told me the Prop/s were located in QLD and were being used as a clothesline with holes drilled through the upper two blade with rope going to another a few meters away. The lower two blades were in the ground.
By: Lee Howard - 14th January 2017 at 14:38
Another weekly update uploaded last night at https://www.facebook.com/FaireyBarracudaRestoration/
By: Versuch - 12th January 2017 at 23:33
QldSpitty your on the money, I am sure I saw it at an early Avalon show (Early 90s)?, and it was for sale , the word was it was a “bitsa” and that it had a Barra prop.
Regards Mike
By: BG52A - 12th January 2017 at 22:42
I would like to say a big thank you to both radarsdesk and Whitley_project for there kind Donations which will help the restoration of DP872.
Cheers
Will.
By: QldSpitty - 8th January 2017 at 05:14
I was always told Lz844 blades were Barra.Maybe the guys who were down there at the time could chime in.
By: Mark12 - 7th January 2017 at 17:22
Don’t rule out that Barry Coran may have re-profiled the tips or even shortened the blades here.
I believe that they are Rotol blades with the same hub and bearing size as the Mk VIII/IX Spitfire and fit a Merlin output shaft.
The chord of the blade is visibly wider than a Spitfire blade.
So, any other candidates for this propeller assembly in Australia?
Mark
By: BG52A - 7th January 2017 at 16:57
Hi Mark
They seem close but the tips look to rounded, the Barra Merlin props were more squared off. Is there a better photo?.
Will
By: Mark12 - 7th January 2017 at 08:46
LZ844 along with the mortal remains of TE566 arrived at Kemble circa July 2011 and was displayed in September with two propeller blades apparently sawn off.
One might imagine that with haste and no tools the reason was to get the prop in to the shipping container in Australia.
The blades were definitely not Spitfire and the logical assumption was that they were Barracuda. Can anybody confirm from my image of January 1998?
Subsequently LZ844 has gone off the radar to a location unknown to me and there are murmurings of litigation.
Mark
By: JollyGreenSlugg - 7th January 2017 at 02:04
LZ844 was later seen with two blades hacked off.
By: DH82EH - 7th January 2017 at 00:01
Thanks for the link to the update.
Nice work.
On page 189 of “Spitfire Survivors” there is an image of LZ844 sporting, what is thought to be, a Barracuda propeller.
I was wondering if anyone has been aware of this.
If DP872 is still in need of a prop perhaps an arrangement could be made.
Just a thought.
Andy
By: Lee Howard - 6th January 2017 at 20:40
Latest weekly update can now be found here: https://www.facebook.com/FaireyBarracudaRestoration/
By: BG52A - 16th December 2016 at 18:48
Hi Dave – I have some spare 2BA bolts I can send you if you are interested?
Hi Whitley_project
Thank you, Dave will be in touch with you regarding 2BA bolts if he hasn’t done so already.
Cheers
Will.
By: Whitley_Project - 15th December 2016 at 14:10
Hi Dave – I have some spare 2BA bolts I can send you if you are interested?
By: bazv - 6th December 2016 at 10:18
Excellent progress thanks 🙂
By: Bruce - 6th December 2016 at 09:30
Amen to that!
By: BG52A - 5th December 2016 at 22:33
Hi Bruce
Yes you could be right but if I can get it to work what a way to finnish the rebuild and keep it authentic throughout. We will not be relying on the oil/neumatic suspension to hold the Barra up and the Oleo’s will be gagged on the outside with a bespoke item. Finger’s crossed that we have no leaks.
Cheers
Will.
By: BG52A - 5th December 2016 at 22:32
Hi Bruce
Yes you could be right but if I can get it to work what a way to finnish the rebuild and keep it authentic throughout. We will not be relying on the oil/neumatic suspension to hold the Barra up and the Oleo’s will be gagged on the outside with a bespoke item. Finger’s crossed that we have no leaks.
Cheers
Will.
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