November 14, 2008 at 2:31 pm
During the 1950s there was a prop blade fixed to a wall at Newcastle Airport said to be from a civilian Halifax (Lancs. Air Services????) which used to operate to Newcastle. Does anyone know anything about that and whether it still survives?
Jim
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th November 2008 at 17:17
That would rule out Lancashire Aircraft Corporation then. The Halifaxes operated by them in 1948 were:
G-AIHV,IHX,IHY,JZY,JZZ,KEC.
The Newcastle mentioned is the UK one by the way!
Cheers,
Jim
By: jettisoning - 15th November 2008 at 11:49
halifax in australia
this would be NR169 as described in ‘The Halifax File’ compiled by RN Roberts :-
NR169 466 To GN Wickner as G-AGXA 2.11.45 , then to Air Carriers as VH-BDT
Regd. 4.1.46 to GN Wikner . C of A Appln No 8120 9.1.46 by owner and converted by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett into 15-seater transport . C of A No 7768 issued 16.5.46 to owner and a/c departed via Hurn on 26.5.46 . Named ‘Waltzing Matilda’ . The route taken was Hurn , Marseilles , Tunis , Castel Benito , Cairo , Basra , Sharjah , Almaza , Jodhpur , Dum Dum , Pegu , Bangkok , Changi , Balikpapan and Darwin and arrived at Mascot , Sydney on 15.6.46 . Cld 17.2.47 on sale to Air Carriers Pty as VH-BDT . Made only one subsequent commercial flight in 6.47 . After a heavy landing en route it returned to Sydney with a u/s PO engine as well and languished there suffering vandal damage and being eventually scrapped in 1948 . Australian Regd cld 12.47
By: neil996 - 15th November 2008 at 09:58
ne worries
glad to help, the museum on the whole is pretty good with a excavated spit on display also.
neil
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th November 2008 at 09:53
That’s great Neil. I started going to Woolsington in 1956 (Dragon Airways, BKS, etc.!!!) and it was the “old lags” there who told me that Hallies had operated to Newcastle for a while and pointed out the blade to me.
Jim
By: neil996 - 15th November 2008 at 09:49
Well this wood prop is on dispaly at Bamburgh museum with details of crew etc.
neil
By: Lindy's Lad - 15th November 2008 at 00:15
:confused:
The wheel & tyre was / is @ NEAM, Sunderland
We have a Shackleton (I’ll need to check on that) one, and one from the Valletta (Wellington pattern) but to be honest I’ve not seen one from a Halibag. :confused:
By: StevSmar - 14th November 2008 at 23:48
Vaguely related in the most tenuous way is a book I had telling the story of an RAAF pilot who purchased a Halifax after WWII and flew it to Newcastle Australia (I think it was Newcastle). He sold passages on it to pay for the cost of the flight. Apparenty the remains of it existed for quite some time north of Newcastle.
By: JDA - 14th November 2008 at 20:05
The wheel & tyre was / is @ NEAM, Sunderland
By: JDA - 14th November 2008 at 20:03
There was / is a wheel & tyre from a Halifax/Halton which was scrapped @ Woolsington(Newcastle)
By: Cees Broere - 14th November 2008 at 19:21
Is it still there?
Cheers
Cees
By: neil996 - 14th November 2008 at 15:55
There was a wood prop blade hanging up at a farm next newcastle airport from a Halifax that overshot at RAF Woolsington.
It was discovered and taken away to Bamburgh Wreckology museum inside the castle.
Not sure if its the same, this blade was from an operating Halifax on a cross country exercise.