Hi All
I recently brought some relic R.R Merlin parts which had been recovered from a crash site in the Gravesend I am led to understand many years ago, I was hoping to identify the aircraft they came from and in where abouts on the Merlin the piece of casing I have was located from some of the the many numbers that are stamped on them.
I am going try to attach some photographs but please bare with me if I they don’t come out as I am new to this forum and this is my first thread. The parts I have are a piston and conrod which are jammed into the dry liner from the impact, the numbers and letters are as follows…..6-1, S.LTD -D10952 (which I believe to be the Rolls Royce part number) The weight 3lb 0oz 5drm NC4 7U B-2 and RR in a circle with a number which is very fienght. The piece of engine casing has the number D7323 raised in the casting. the numbers D9087 and directly below them 19839 I was hoping the were the engine No and Air ministry No and RR 180 in a circle which I assumed was the same as the one on the piston. I would really appreciate any information anyone could give me. I am going to try and attach the photos please let me know if I am unsuccessful.
Kind Regards
Ken
By: Engineman - 15th October 2021 at 17:59
I have been given a number taken from a crankshaft, purported to be a RR Merlin, recovered by trawler from North Sea of Angus Scotland.
I will be able to view the corroded engine remains shortly, but meantime I have been given this sequence taken from the last crankshaft throw* ( *which end of crank wasn’t given).
000HAK825W0(orD)17309 The first digit( 0) is indistinct amongst corrosion, so could be spurious.
Does this marking indicate anything to do with Engine Number and/or type/mark of engine ?
Thanks
Brian
By: KB1 - 15th December 2014 at 22:35
Hi
Thanks for the information I will give your idea a go. I will let you know if I have ant success.
Cheers
Ken
By: Whitley_Project - 15th December 2014 at 10:03
Ken – you still have a shot at IDing the aircraft. The engine number was recorded on the RAF accident cards. If you make a list of losses in the Gravesend area and get copies of the RAF accident cards from the RAFM, you may be able to match up the engine number to a loss. It’s a bit hit and miss, but you may get lucky.
By: KB1 - 14th December 2014 at 17:01
Hi Pete
Thanks for the information at least I can give the parts some identity. The person I got them from told me he had got them from a retired school teacher who had said that they came from a crash site in the Gravesend area but he was not sure exactly where but at least I can narrow it down to a few excavations. It will give me a start for my next thread. Thanks again for all your help and the information hope to speak in the future
Regards
Ken
By: MerlinPete - 14th December 2014 at 14:46
Hi Ken
All the D prefixed numbers are Merlin part numbers.
Your engine is a Merlin III, built at Derby between 3/2/40 and 25/5/40, so it could have a Battle of Britain history. Most likely aircraft would be Spitfire or Hurricane.
It hasn’t been logged with them before, so I would suggest going back to the seller to see where they got it from, most excavated parts are from known aircraft, it’s a shame people lose the identity, it’s almost impossible to get it back once it’s gone.
Pete
By: KB1 - 14th December 2014 at 09:22
Hi Pete
Thank you for the welcome and information; I would really appreciate if you could get the build data and check with the Rolls Royce trust for me. The parts are being mounted and going on display in my friends workshop office as he owns a company that builds engines these parts have created a lot of interest. So any information that could be added to the display would be great. I was hoping one of the numbers on the casing was the engine number. Is the D9087 a ministry number? Thanks again and I shall look forward to your reply
Ken
By: MerlinPete - 14th December 2014 at 00:14
Hi Ken
Welcome to the forum. The part with the engine number 19839 is the lower part of the wheelcase, and it is a single speed type, so most likely a Merlin III, but could possibly be a Merlin XII.
I can get the build data for you and see if anyone else has logged it with the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust as being linked to a specific airframe.
D7323 is the fuel pump drive.
Pete
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December 13, 2014 at 9:38 pm