Long story, but basically someone in a letter to my local newspaper claimed, (and is still claiming) that the attached photo of 434 was “from active service” (meaning WWII), but it is clearly taken at an airshow/event in the mid 1980s!
(The only known wartime shots of 434 that have surfaced to date were taken on the ground at Hornchurch by it’s then pilot, Bill Burge during March 1944).
I’ve seen the attached picture before, but despite a long search on the web, I cannot find it, and was wondering if anyone knew were it was taken? The picture in the paper is too small and low res to take a proper look.
Cheers
Paul
By: Trolley Aux - 17th March 2021 at 08:02
Could it be Halfpenny Green Airport, look at this is the background, will try and find a better angle
By: Bradburger - 16th March 2021 at 21:48
Thanks for the replies.
This is a for sure mid 80s picture of MH434 (as pointed out to the letter writer), just would be nice to pin down the location!
It does indeed have the cannon fairings that were fitted after OFMC acquired it (albeit they were the incorrect and shorter ‘e’ type wing length, which where corrected during the 1993-95 overhaul), and is painted it in it’s first 222 Sqn scheme, complete with invasion stripes.
It wore this scheme until it was repainted in 222 Sqn colours again in 1987 (this time without invasion stripes) but this scheme was rather short lived because of its use in A Piece of Cake the following year.
I’ve attached a reduced size jpg of the scan as the original 800 dpi was probably not a good choice!
Cheers
Paul
By: Trolley Aux - 16th March 2021 at 20:40
Will date it by no cannons, I remember the wings were rebuilt and they decided to fit the shrouds
By: Sopwith - 16th March 2021 at 19:39
By the look of the newspaper photo there doesn’t seem to be any canons fitted, so wouldn’t be a war time photo in my opinion.
By: dhfan - 16th March 2021 at 17:00
It’s classic Ray Hanna, but actually proving it is a different matter.
By: bazv - 16th March 2021 at 13:46
Hi Brad
Almost identical Ray Hanna pose/angle/low pass turning slightly towards my camera – Biggin Hill 1979.
Ray Hanna had done a steeper/closer pass the day before when it was dry and sunny,but toned it down a little for the overcast Sunday display.
By: bazv - 16th March 2021 at 11:19
Definitely looks like a Ray Hanna low pass,I have seen him do similar displays over the years,you did not even need a big lens to get a good shot 🙂
By: Trolley Aux - 16th March 2021 at 10:29
That looks like the back of Duxford where there used to be a big Straw Stack with a cover over it
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March 16, 2021 at 12:33 am