I was going through some boxes of stored stuff I have today and found an old copy of Aero Modeller from September 1968. I don’t even recall where or when I acquired it, but I know why. It has the following article inside which is most interesting, and on lookign at it again today I realised a) it is a very early article in terms of the preservation movement, and b) it is written by Leslie Hunt who was the Intelligence Officer on No. 488 (NZ) Sqn during the war.
I thought many people here would find it of interest so I scanned it. However, webmaster and/or moderators, if this is deemed against the rules posting an article from another magazine (even though it is nearly 30 years old) please let me know and I’ll delete the thread.
Due to size of the file I have broken it into four bits that hopefully you’ll be able to piece together.
By: JDK - 19th January 2005 at 01:44
IIRC the Stuka is a N Africa survivor, though the right model for the BoB period.
By: Dave Homewood - 18th January 2005 at 22:24
Well in that case I guess it is ok. I thought it would have been a postwar-applied scheme done by the museum. I stand corrected
By: Mark12 - 18th January 2005 at 12:50
The paint
I agree with Leslie Hunt’s article too, it should be in the BofB scheme and not the later war one.
Dave,
I would leave the paint just as it is.
It is a very fine and well preserved example of the 1944 period, just as our R6915 at the IWM Lambeth. Every stencil is still in place.
Mark
By: Dave Homewood - 18th January 2005 at 12:29
It is an appaulling way to treat two Battle of Britain veteran aircraft. I agree with Leslie Hunt’s article too, it should be in the BofB scheme and not the later war one.
That photo looks as if the curators have as little regard for displaying the Spitfire as they would a ceiling fan (which I thought at first was behind it, but what is that behind??)
By: Mark12 - 18th January 2005 at 12:21
Spitfire P9306 Chicago
I have yet to see a half reasonable shot of this aircraft.
No gallery.
It is out of flash range with very poor lighting.
Now somebody with a tripod and one of those new fangled digi cameras…..
Even with a bit of enhancement this shot taken in August 1985 is still well below par.
They have lowered both the Spitfire and the Stuka for cleaning and I suspect that the Stuka did not fall the full height from its elevated position. 🙁
Mark
By: Dave Homewood - 18th January 2005 at 11:58
Well I don’t know how the places you mention Jeepman are displaying aircraft, except Lambeth which I’ve visaited and their hanging displays were very good for the visitor – but I wasn’t referring to hanging planes in general. I mean in terms of that photo where it hangs high and ‘faces’ straight at the skirting of the wall. There is no mezzanine floor for viewing it, so all visitors can see is its underside. A stupid way to display such a rare aircraft. It would be better on ground level like the Hendon one, at least it wouldn’t have fallen down if it had been on the ground.
I guess if it was repaired it has lost much of its originality too. Grrrr
By: jeepman - 17th January 2005 at 18:18
Are the Stuka and Spitfire at Chicago still hung from the ceiling like that? It doesn’t seem to be a very practical way to display them.
Anybody mentioned this to those responsible for the AAM,Airspace, Lambeth and Milestones of Flight/new Cosford development???? 😉
By: Chipmunk Carol - 17th January 2005 at 18:15
In the distance the scream of Banzai! was heard as it fell.
By: HP57 - 17th January 2005 at 18:10
No, must be the final diving attack!
Cees
By: DazDaMan - 17th January 2005 at 18:09
And the Stuka (IIRC) was dropped from the ceiling a number of years ago which obviously caused some damage!
Jeez! Survived the war, only to be dropped from the ceiling?! 😮
By: paulmcmillan - 17th January 2005 at 17:05
And the Stuka (IIRC) was dropped from the ceiling a number of years ago which obviously caused some damage!
Like a very heavy landing ??????
By: D. Bergstrom - 17th January 2005 at 16:16
Are the Stuka and Spitfire at Chicago still hung from the ceiling like that? It doesn’t seem to be a very practical way to display them.
And the Stuka (IIRC) was dropped from the ceiling a number of years ago which obviously caused some damage!
By: Robert Whitton - 17th January 2005 at 15:23
Leslie Hunt was a great Guy. His booklets and articles inspired many people and he raised money for a Charity “Truloves School” for handicapped boysI still have his “Veteran and Vintage Aircraft of the World” about 1965 and a later hard back edition.
By: DazDaMan - 17th January 2005 at 15:22
I would guess so, Dave.
By: Dave Homewood - 17th January 2005 at 14:53
Are the Stuka and Spitfire at Chicago still hung from the ceiling like that? It doesn’t seem to be a very practical way to display them.
By: DazDaMan - 17th January 2005 at 10:33
Great article, Dave.
Wonder how that little lot compares to what we know is out there these days??
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January 17, 2005 at 10:01 am