Seafire FR47 VP 441

Stuart, it would be earlier than that. VP441 left Booker bound for the US on or around 11 April 1975.

It looks to be one of “deals on wheels” finest banded weld-ups which may date the photo to ’78-’79.

That looks like one of the ultra-Rare Lotus-Cortina estate cars next to the Seafire?

Blimey – well spotted! Certainly doesn’t look like an ordinary wheel, and the green stripe is right…

Adrian

It turned up at Booker sometime in the ’70’s.

Photo from this illuminating thread.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?23796-Seafire-VP441/page3

That looks like one of the ultra-Rare Lotus-Cortina estate cars next to the Seafire?

This worked! Thanks, Christer! (And also thanks to the others for their suggestions.)
Regards
Dave

You’re welcome … :eagerness: … !

Flanker_man;

Nice photo! Thanks for sharing. I was just as interested in the Karrier K6 in the background. A rare truck that you don’t see very often. I used to own one myself back in the late 90’s. I was often told that there were only about three or four known examples in the country…and we had two at Earls Colne at the time.

Nice Seafire by the way!

Regards;
Steve

Go to Forum Actions > General Settings > scroll down to Thread Display Options and verify that “Show Images” is checked.

This worked! Thanks, Christer! (And also thanks to the others for their suggestions.)
Regards
Dave

Can someone please share how to open attachments on here?
I click on the attached images and the paperclip and nothing happens!

Go to Forum Actions > General Settings > scroll down to Thread Display Options and verify that “Show Images” is checked.

I think that the confusion between Devon and Cornwall with 335 Squadron ATC is that it used to be in Ernesettle, but is now based in halls close to the Tamar Bridge in Saltash. Perhaps the writers looked up their current location as opposed to the Seafire’s original home in Devon. Where 335 are now based, there is no room for anything, let alone an aeroplane!

Cheers,

Martin

Martin, the references to VP441 being seen in Saltash were made long before 335 Sqn moved to that location.

As I mentioned earlier, I was not able to find out how/why the Saltash report came about in the first place. The aircraft was never there.

Sorry Oxcart, they all displayed for me too. Don’t know what to suggest as I’m not a computer whizz, but hopefully someone will be able to help.

Guess not…

All the images are displayed for me Oxcart so I’m not too sure of your problem ?
Perhaps others can help by referring to Oxcart’s query in Post#14 , hopefully !

Guess not…

I think that the confusion between Devon and Cornwall with 335 Squadron ATC is that it used to be in Ernesettle, but is now based in halls close to the Tamar Bridge in Saltash. Perhaps the writers looked up their current location as opposed to the Seafire’s original home in Devon. Where 335 are now based, there is no room for anything, let alone an aeroplane!

Cheers,

Martin

In my post above, I forgot to add the dates that VP441 was at Blackpool. It arrived on 26 June 1970. No definite date for its departure is recorded but thought likely to be around mid-/late-72.

Thanks for all the info in your post above Lauriebe. I returned to Plymouth to live in the summer of 1963, so that’s when I must have seen the Seafire in poor shape. (I worked for a short while at the Bush TV plant at that time)

Lee:
There you have a double confirmation for 335 Sqn, Ernesettle.
Regards
Bill

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/selected-originals-navy-speeds-air-take-offs/query/CATAPULT+NAVY+PLANES+

Some scrap FR47’s going off the deck.

Nice FR-47 video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YioXYhbVPA

DAI

By coincidence this eBay sale has just popped up on the Air Britain forum ;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-amateur-8mm-film-STRANGE-AIRFIELD-AEROPLANE-GRAVEYARD-planes-aeronautic-/371263180018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5671028cf2

It turned up at Booker sometime in the ’70’s.

Photo from this illuminating thread.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?23796-Seafire-VP441/page3

In my post above, I forgot to add the dates that VP441 was at Blackpool. It arrived on 26 June 1970. No definite date for its departure is recorded but thought likely to be around mid-/late-72.

Lee, I can confirm Ernesettle as the location for VP441 after it left RNEC Manadon. Have never been able to find out where the Saltash reference came from. The aircraft was never there. I did a full, or as full as I could get at the time, rundown on 441’s history which appeared in the July 2004 edition of FlyPast. If you would like a copy of the narrative PM me.

The reference to Biggin Hill also confuses quite a few. Biggin Hill was the name of the main road into Ernesettle and, like the majority of other road names in the estate, it was named after well known RAF stations. The huts that housed 335 Sqn’s HQ were just off Biggin Hill.

Roborough, I joined 335 in May 1960. The airframe remained pretty much intact until around early 1963. At that time there was an arson attack on the training hut nearest the Transit School. After that, it was pretty much ‘open house’ for the local numptys that had not been able to get at it before.

We were more than happy to hear that it was to be moved to Culdrose. That happened mid-January 1964.

Shown below is the last photo that I took of it at Ernesettle as it was being dismantled by MARTSU for road transport to Culdrose. I was also lucky enough to be able to view it at its new home in Montana in May 2005. What a difference!! To see and hear it in the air was experience that I will never forget.

Flanker_man, thanks for posting your photo. One of the better ones that I have seen from VP441’s time at Blackpool.