Lashenden Super Sabre

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-32309520

Nothing has changed since my last post! They will not be going to the US the only option offered by the NMUSAF is scraping despite several offers to take them to other museums across europe

The Telegraph reports that the F100 and the Mystere are due to go to the States. In any case Lashenden definitely appears to have succeeded in getting rid of them.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11531006/Tiny-Kent-museum-wins-battle-with-US-Military-over-rusty-war-planes.html

Wethersfield Museum exists purely on the good will of the current Management at MDP HQ, and is primarily there for good community relations and an act of friendship to the Americans that served here.

I have asked the question, would they allow the Gate Guard to be replaced, and if so can i have permission to carry out a feasibility study. keeping it under cover as an exhibit might also not be out with the bounds of possibility. The first decision lies with those responsible for the site, and I will understand if they said no.

Its not all negative -however if U.K museums think that F-100’s survive indefinately outside -they are not grasping reality.

Have to agree with this. The Fuselage is made of aluminium so will last a while but the wings are made of mag alloy and the F100 at Headcorn is very visibly suffering in this area, especially underneath. Not sure if this was made worse when it was hit by the Beaver but I know others that haven’t been hit by anything significant are also suffering.

The Mystere has also taken on a distinct lean. Haven’t been underneath it to look but the starboard undercarriage leg clearly has problems, looks like the mounting has broken.

Destroying or taking away an item (let alone an aircraft) without the owner (let alone USAFM) being aware? I am sure there’s one or two legal issues there to bite you in your backside…

Yes of course I realize that, but I wonder when was the last time that anyone from the USAFM actually checked to see if the
F-100 was still there, or what condition it was in ?

The USAFM in the U.S has a good record regards relocating airframes in the U.S . The Pate Museum and the recent aircraft to have become available at Ogden spring immediately to mind as examples where loan airframes have moved to other locations. In the U.K -the destruction of the Convair at Duxford very much pointed to a lack of willingness at this end to secure a future for it -other examples that spring to mind are the Mystere that left Duxford for Pima and the F-100 which moved to Germany .

Its not all negative -however if U.K museums think that F-100’s survive indefinately outside -they are not grasping reality.

Its pretty irrelevant what we might want for it. USAFM don’t have a very good record for moving exhibits on, whether here or in their native country.

It will almost certainly be scrapped. There has been an opportunity to do something about it for many, many years, but only when its fate is sealed do people seem interested. Shame that. Be proactive if you want to preserve something; don’t wait until the bulldozers are already at the gate.

To be fair Bruce I was only aware of it’s (current) existence from this thread, and suggested to Ross at the relatively new Wethersfields museum, that it might be a good exhibit for them, (given the airfields association with the type) and hopefully with his connections, they may be able to aquire it.

It’s likely that if nobody had contacted them, it could be scrapped or moved without any paperwork.

Destroying or taking away an item (let alone an aircraft) without the owner (let alone USAFM) being aware? I am sure there’s one or two legal issues there to bite you in your backside…

Its still on USAFM charge -its just as likely to head to the U.S .

It’s likely that if nobody had contacted them, it could be scrapped or moved without any paperwork.
I suspect that the people at Headcorn would like to see the back of it.

Its pretty irrelevant what we might want for it. USAFM don’t have a very good record for moving exhibits on, whether here or in their native country.

It will almost certainly be scrapped. There has been an opportunity to do something about it for many, many years, but only when its fate is sealed do people seem interested. Shame that. Be proactive if you want to preserve something; don’t wait until the bulldozers are already at the gate.

Its still on USAFM charge -its just as likely to head to the U.S .

Hope there is a successful outcome to the F-100 and Mystere. All thoughts are to preservation within the UK, but what is the state of affairs in France ? Are Mystere and F-100 well represented across aviation collections in France ?

Maybe a bit of thread drift but think we should also be concerned about the long term future of Duxford’s F-100. IIRC current plans for the AAM refit do not include for the F-100. If it is not returned to the hangar expect it to be on the ‘for sale’ list and I expect a low loader journey to Eastern Europe.

As has been said the ‘F’ model is pretty scarce over here, and I can think of no better place for this one than Wethersfield – seeing as they operated from there for many years.

And it’s clear that feelings for the type amongst ex airmen and ground crew alike still runs deep, as it does for the airfield itself.

Rob

Graham thanks for the info on the numbers if you ever visit Wethersfield can you bring all that info with you 🙂

999 with Col Toliver at Wethersfield, the Super Sabres had damaged windows at Spain’s Hall and frightened cattle, a search in Hansard will see it was discussed in parliament. As part of a community Liasion all the local farmers were invited to the base. I have the names of them all with the photo, one or two are still alive, and thier families still farm the same land. Spain’s Hall !!! The Lord Lt summoned the Col sent his Rolls Royce to pick him up and when he returned the take off westward was changed.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]236380[/ATTACH]

The Col Kelly crash F100f was 56-3991, in the photo I have with Col Toliver and all the local farmers is 999 but someone pointed out it was a single seater, though rumour is and I intend to get this confirmed that some of the farmers were given a flight in an F100F.

999 would be a great number to put on a Gate Guard a The MOD Police HQ.
( I haven’t run this past the powers that be yet, there that part of me that doubts I can make it happen, fighting the part that’s says nothing ventured nothing gained)

Some info on 56-3991. It was delivered to the 20thTFW at Wethersfield in March’60 having previously served with the 18thTFW at Kadena.

Interesting about 999. The only F-100 operated by the 20th ending in 999 was F-100D 56-2999 assigned to the 79thTFS at Woodbridge – doesn’t mean it didn’t visit Wethersfield though!

Great idea trying to get an F-100 for the gate – best of luck with that.

Has it gone or is it still hanging on in the undergrowth?

Rob

These were from September 2013

When we visited last year, the nasty angle at which one of the Mystere’s undercarriage legs was sat suggested that the wing structure was disintegrating (unless it was damaged when last moved). Neither looked in a happy state – there was a bramble growing out of an access panel on the F100. I guess if the USAFM would let someone do something useful with it… but I have a nasty feeling that anyone who does might find themselves with an endless supply of Daz.

Adrian

When the F100 was delivered to Lashenden it arrived on 3 RAF Queen Mary’s fuselage on one, wings on another tail feathers etc. & a compressor on the third!