I’m looking for some advice
My Dad died earlier this year and amongst his belongings I found a box labeled ‘Fairey Battle Altimeter, Cleeve Hill Crash, c1940’ and inside what looks like an altimeter (but I’m no expert!).
I’m not really sure what to do with it, don’t want it to just sit in storage if it’s something that would be of interest to a collector.
I’ve been trying to dig around for some information on the crash that it may be from and can find what looks like it might be reference to it in this article.
Picture attached[ATTACH=CONFIG]223309[/ATTACH]
Are you able to give me any advice on what to do next?
Thanks
Laura
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th November 2013 at 21:23
Jet Age Museum at Staverton Airport might be interested in it if you’re looking to donate it somewhere. They have a strong interest in local aviation subjects and are within spitting distance of Cleeve Hill.
I’ve gone through the list of aircraft accidents I have for Gloucestershire and the only thing close PaulMcMillian mentioned previously:
19th Sept. ’39
Fairey Battle K9448, 207 Squadron
Flew into hill near Winchcombe.
There are a handful of others in ’39 and ’40 but they are centred around Aston Down, South Cerney or Stow-on-the-Wold so no-where near Cleeve Hill.
As others have stated though – that altimeters looks way to vintage to be from a Battle.
By: Moggy C - 28th November 2013 at 18:43
Nearby Stoke Orchard was a nest of Tiger Moths from 1941 onwards.
Moggy
By: paulmcmillan - 28th November 2013 at 17:08
Battle K9448 207 Sqn Crashed 19th Sept 1939
Pilot P/O James Edward Hull (from NZ) #36206 Killed
AC2 Robert Malcolm #551644 killed
By: Bombgone - 28th November 2013 at 16:57
More RFC WW1 Vintage. Just found this on Zenith.
By: Worcs Aviation - 28th November 2013 at 16:38
There was Battle K9448 207 sqd flew into hill near Winchcombe 19.9.39 pretty close to Cleve hill, instrument looks early though as AM says.
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th November 2013 at 16:20
It is a Mk. VA Altimeter, a type that was in service with the R.F.C. by the end of the First World War.
I’d be surprised if it came from a Battle (or Whitley) crash during WW2 as this type had long been superseded by the Mk XIII and XIV Altimeters by then. That said, there would have been an altimeter in the Bomb-aimer’s compartment of the Battle and maybe (just maybe) a Mk. VA was used in there due to a shortage of later types.
More likely I feel Laura’s dad may have done a schoolyard swap for something of interest and was duped into accepting a low value, obsolete instrument by another lad.
It’s payed off in the long run though as Mk. VA altimeters now have a far higher value than WW2 types. Many hundreds of ££££s for a good one as this looks to be. Don’t part with it for chicken feed Laura!
By: paulmcmillan - 28th November 2013 at 15:41
Just a guess
Can anyone confirm this as a Battle Instrument???
Maybe
Whitley Z6639 of 24 OTU flew into Broadway Hill in poor visibility. F/Sgt H G Hagen RCAF, F/Sgt R S Phillips, F/Sgt D H Kelly RCAF, Sgt D A Marriott .and Sgt G E Ekins were all killed on 02/06/1943
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th November 2013 at 15:28
I have sent you a Private Message, Laura – but this is not from a Fairey Battle.
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November 28, 2013 at 3:10 pm