Scrapyard Photos; Any More?

Vampire, White Waltham

The 1968 photograph from mollusc of the derelict Chipmunk and Vampire at White Waltham brought back happy memories of my RAF days there from 1964to 1967.
I arrived as a seventeen year old Leading Aircraftsman when RAF Chipmunk, Pembroke and Anson aircraft were still active there. With regard to the Vampire, although I have no specific details of its arrival other than information suggesting it was 25 June 1966, I do remember the first time I came across it, which was probably within a few days of that date.
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon whilst jogging around the perimeter track at the remote south western edge of the airfield. I stopped to examine the unusual sight of an RAF jet aircraft parked on a grass airfield. It was in an upright position, in fair condition (I think), but with at least one wingtip resting on the ground. I stepped up onto the wing and walked along it to the cockpit area to look inside. Within a few minutes, from my position on the aircraft, I saw a very distinctive car approaching along the peri-track. It stopped adjacent to the Vampire and the sole male occupant got out and came forward. He then performed the same exercise as myself by getting onto the wing and walking along to the cockpit. After exchanging pleasantries we got into conversation about the aircraft and he explained the various flight control systems and many other interesting facts about that type of aeroplane. After some ten minutes or so, we retraced our steps along the wing and said our goodbyes. He returned to his car and I continued with my run.
Forty years on, I still remember the occasion as the person who joined me on the Vampire that afternoon was Group Captain Douglas Bader and I still feel privileged to have had this brief encounter with him.
Thank you for showing the photograph.

Look at this, look at all of the aircraft, these all scrap
this is Tuscon, my grandad visited it when went to America, they have got everything there like 20 b52s in a line, blackbird and loads of phantoms

dont tell me, its now a tescos carpark

Memories aroused by this thread caused me to ponder on where exactly the scrap yard was. Unusually for me, it didn’t get marked on my “all things aeronautical O.S. map of the Greater Manchester area”, and I was unable to pinpoint its location.

I was in Manchester the other week, with an hour to spare, so I stabbed its general location on my satnav unit and Joanna Lumley guided me there. I hoped that something would spark a memory, allowing me to find the precise spot, but I needn’t have worried. By a co-incidence, I had stabbed the actual location of the yard and I pulled up alongside the public footpath that marked one boundary of it.

There is now a large detached house on the site and nothing which would give a clue to its former use. No outbuildings, no ponds and definitely no scrap.

From a group of 50+ original negatives I recently obtained. Kind regards, Malcolm.

Strewth that’s Blackburn B.2 G-ACBH in it’s early day’s at Dixon’s yard in Essex. I photographed it there for Wrecks & Relics later. The fuselage amazingly still exists I think it’s now at Redhill). My contribution to an earlier thread about this example was as follows:
Consul
13th October 2005, 22:59
I well recall the B2 fuselage from G-ACBH which laguished in the Essex yard. At the time I obtained permission to access it and in order to photograph it for an early edition of Wrecks & Relics I had to climb an adjacent tree to get a good angle on it and also use a flash unit to illuminate it. The things one has to do to record history – none of these digital gizmos in those days – it was b&w film , home processing and printing etc. So far as the B.2 cockpit section goes, I also recall that from when it was on show at East Kirkby. All happy days! Is there a suggestion that the latest post indicates a “new” find i.e. that the item is genuine and is not connected with either of the ones we know about? I’ve never personally seen mention before of any “spare” fuselage /components existing as held in support of G-AEBJ but if someone knows different then do please share?

Regards,
Tim

balliols

What ever became of the balliols in the pictures, surely they were not all crushed and scrapped, i mean here bloody rare are’nt they ??

Crikey, is that some Merlins as well i see still atached to the fusalges ???:eek:

surely some of this was saved, dont tell me, its now a tescos carpark 🙁

20 years of researching and searching ,aviation archaeology and still NO merlin,
its no wonder i am getting into cockpit restoration as i think if i havent found a V12 aircraft engine by now then i never will:( , yet some aviation archaeologists pull them out the ground like there “two a penny”:mad:

I know I know , your all saying “Jelousy, is a horrid thing ” har har,

when WH887 is finished thats my next project , but that wont be for another years at least,
but the way youve all been so kind in finding me parts, i am sure i will get it done in a year:D , as long as i hurry up and get a building up to take her Home too, until then shes in storage , 🙁

From a group of 50+ original negatives I recently obtained. Kind regards, Malcolm.

I’ve found a few more photos from Clayton Vale taken in late 1980.The first is of the ”other” Swift WK214 which was hidden around the back of the old mill.
The second is a shot of the famous pond with Balliol WG229 emerging from the depths.

What ever became of the balliols in the pictures, surely they were not all crushed and scrapped, i mean here bloody rare are’nt they ??

canberra nose wh887

Whats the scoop on the Canberra Cockpit? Surely someone could take it and give it a good home?

Yep have done so pete,

am chuffed to bits ,cant wait to start work on her, and for me she is extra important as she served with 542 Sqn, at the start of her working life
and 542 was at WestonZoyland
allready told the 542 Sqn Assoc, there chuffed she will be saved,
just hope she is reasonably intact 😮

Great news chaps thanks!

Whats the scoop on the Canberra Cockpit? Surely someone could take it and give it a good home?

they have 😀
________
BUY VAPORMATIC
________
Harmed by avandia

Peter – Been for sale for a couple of years – now sold to an enthusiast.

Whats the scoop on the Canberra Cockpit? Surely someone could take it and give it a good home?

Sorry, but I couldn’t resist playing with Photoshop…

…enjoy…

As an aside they now have lots of pictures from the Soloman islands on their site…:eek:

I’ve seen Gary’s video of the visit to the Soloman’s, very eye opening, certainly some very rare machines.

GJD are in the process of splitting the companies website up, one for the professional engineering services and one for the scrap/reclaim services.

Canberra WH887 could still yield some parts.

The SHAR is cockpitless as you say, so ZH807 seems very likely.

Oh yes, the SHAR is still there, but difficult to obtain a decent photo of it though, could not tell you what the serial number is but will check next time I am down there.

Unless they have acquired another one, it should be the remains of ZH807, the Cockpit of which is with a collector on the Isle of White.

The Canberra is WH887, although the chances of selling it on given it present condition is somewhat ‘limited’ I’d think. Although the New website for GJD no longer lists it for sale so maybe it destined for the bin.

As an aside they now have lots of pictures from the Soloman islands on their site…:eek:

Nigel Spur

Nigel’s old yard has long since been cleared of any aircraft, and bits of.

I was one of many who scrambled around the yard in the 80’s and 90’s , treasure troves included lorry bodies full of instruments and fittings, as well as flying kit and fatigues etc. on top of many larger aircraft parts, Lightnings, Phantoms, and later Jetstreams and many many smaller bits of other types.

In later years these stocks dwindled, and now nothing at all is left, and nobody is sadder than Nigel himself, who i have always found to be a great guy, if you can deal with the swearing!

Testament to an interest in historic aviation which has sadly always been bludgeoned into oblivion by his business needs (he admits his living displays an all too visible and depressing contradiction of his interest).
A Hunter (can’t remember the serial , anyone ?) proudly sits on a plinth in the once busy yard and is Nigel’s pride and joy, so power to him for at last putting something preservable in the once infamous yard of destruction.

Thanks to Cranswick for the excellent pictures. Sorry to keep this thread on a Lightning theme! I still think the F1 fuselage was probably an XG perhaps XG328??. The FMk3 XP757 was the mount of Murdo Mc Loed on 29 Sqn, he later flew F4s with 892 Navy and 92 in RAFG . The dump at Leconfield was well recorded photographically, i know the author Roger Lindsay ( whom ive lost touch ) visited. Ive still to see the Lightnings with the white upper wings!. so in short it could be XM137, but it looks a bit weatherd to me. Also i stand corrected on the Leconfield badge, im sure a bell featured somewher, perhaps in Stewart scotts book?
Many thanks to all

I wish i had taken pictures of nigel spurr,s yard at north scarle in ithe late 80,s when he was full of stuff.
Can remember the countless items from Raf Binbrook that was there plus several pieces of wreckage of red arrows.
Can also remember seeing a vulcan wing lying on the floor.
If only i knew then what i know now i would have bought loads of items.
Not been there now in several years .Last i heard it was mainly ground equipment equipment and tools .
Can anyone confirm this ??

Incidentally, I don’t think Leconfield’s badge was a bell – I believe it was a sheaf of arrows splayed, as marked on the tail of the 60 MU Lightning XM144.

RAF Leconfield Station Crest can be seen here. I spent many a day there as a spacie, and a good number as a young Squaddie after it became part of the Army training empire.

29 Sqn Lightnings dumped

Reference Salad Fingers’ posts. Attached are two photos of the 60 MU dump at Leconfield taken on 2 December 1975. They are all ex 29 Sqn Lightnings (A XP762, B XP743, E XP755, J XP735, M XP757, S XP758) with the exception of the F.1 XM137 (could that be the donor of the cockpit that accompanied XP757?). Alas wings are not too visible but I see no sign of white (nor made any note at the time – and I would have if I’d spotted it).

Some of the 29 Sqn aircraft had some ‘zaps’ on their fins – E had a French stork, J had a goose, as did B, which also had a red fox’s ‘mask’.

Incidentally, I don’t think Leconfield’s badge was a bell – I believe it was a sheaf of arrows splayed, as marked on the tail of the 60 MU Lightning XM144.