This is a part I dug up at a WWII Fighter station Culmhead. I found lots of these parts and did not have a clue what they were until one day I found one with a bung/cap in it and the magic Spitfire number.
3006580
According to the parts list its an original Mk1 part i.e. 300( could be fitted to any Mk if this part was not modified). The 65 means it was petrol tank auxiliary. 80 is the part number. My guess is this is a drop tank part. This would tie in nicely with Culmhead as allot of Spitfires operated with drop tanks from this field. On D-Day Seafires fitted with drop tanks escorted Typhoons on ground attack missions. Recently I found a few of the bugs/caps on ebay. I havent been able to find any drawings of this part can any help shep more light on its application? 😀
By: QldSpitty - 23rd February 2007 at 09:21
90 gallon Slipper tank.
I,m sure a virtually brand new Slipper tank went over with Lz-842 a couple of years ago.And no it didn,t belong to the bloke who sold it..:mad:
By: Wingnut - 22nd February 2007 at 20:50
As a sidenote I can mention that a colleague of mine told me a story about OFMC at one stage (early 1990’s) wanted to equip MH434 with a drop tank.
My colleague made the tank here in Norway, but apperently the project ran aground when the UK CAA didn’t like the idea…
I don’t know where the tank is now
My colleague Lars Ruud kindly supplied me with pictures of the slipper tank he helped restore/build for OFMC. Apperantly it was not destined for MH434, but for another Spitfire OFMC was working on at the time (anyone knows which one?).
The tank originated from a small batch of tanks held by the RNoAF museum.
All these tanks was in very bad condition. They were able to pick the best one and ended up replacing all other skin panels and quite few internal spars.
It is a 90 gallon tank rebulid to the original specs. i.e. sheeted steel with copper rivets. (Steel to keep it strong enough and copper rivets probably to avoid galvanic corrosion.
The tank was pressure and leak tested, but as mention in the previous post, UK CAA didn’t like the idea.
The last Lars heard of the tank was that it would be placed on static display, but never actually heard where it ended up. Anyone know?
I can’t remember if I have seen it at Duxford.
–
E
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank1.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank2.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank3.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank4.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank5.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank6.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank7.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank8.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank9.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank10.jpg
http://www.propell.net/diverse/tank11.jpg
By: QldSpitty - 19th February 2007 at 06:03
Digging holes.
Yep we could do the same thing and dig holes everywhere but I don,t think the Army helicopter pilots would appreciate it.An elderly mate of mine has gone through the area about thirty odd years ago and gone through the base site and a lot of other restorers have gone through since.All thats left is the rubbish that is too far gone to be of any real use.Plus 60 odd years is a long time for memories to be correct in regard to small areas.Only thing to do is find good photo,s of the scrapping process and ID landmarks.
We used a metal detector once and found a good signal about the size of a large Oleo we gathered.After digging down to bedrock all we uncovered was an angry sugar ants nest…:D
By: moocher - 18th February 2007 at 20:31
As a sidenote I can mention that a colleague of mine told me a story about OFMC at one stage (early 1990’s) wanted to equip MH434 with a drop tank.
My colleague made the tank here in Norway, but apperently the project ran aground when the UK CAA didn’t like the idea…
I don’t know where the tank is now
I remember that tank, I was working for OFMCo at the time. It was very well made, Don’t know here it went though, I’ll bet some fruit cake does though !!!
mick
By: Wingnut - 18th February 2007 at 19:20
As a sidenote I can mention that a colleague of mine told me a story about OFMC at one stage (early 1990’s) wanted to equip MH434 with a drop tank.
My colleague made the tank here in Norway, but apperently the project ran aground when the UK CAA didn’t like the idea…
I don’t know where the tank is now
By: Graham Adlam - 18th February 2007 at 17:16
Ok Spits had a 30 Gallon,a 40 Gallon,a 90 gallon and a 170 Gallon jettison/slipper tank IIRC.Now are they made by the same manufacturer as the Main fuel tanks.If so then they might have an idea what it is,that,s if they are still around.;)
In regards to dumping.Here at Oakey during the big cleanup lorries were loaded up each morning and would leave the base and return back empty in the afternoon.This area is rich of stories,furfies,myths and legends of parts chucked down any number of pits/coal shafts/rivers/holes/quarries etc…Yes the armed forces did strange things sometimes and perhaps the parts you recovered might have been spares kept in stores and told to be rid of them.:)
I am sure they were from the stores as they were all in one area. These rumours of dump sites are rife, I have documented evidence of 50+ cat E burried Merlins, I know they are there as I have the paperwork and it says they were left, it does not give the location I have searched for 5 years without success, an airfield is a big area to search.Even using a deep scan metal detector you can end up digging allot of deep holes only to find rubbist or an old drain. The place i dug the fuel bits according to an eye witness, was where they were smashing up aircraft setting fire to them and burying them. There isnt anything bit there i suppose the big remains were picked out and sold as scrap.
By: QldSpitty - 15th February 2007 at 23:33
Lets narrow the search down….
Ok Spits had a 30 Gallon,a 40 Gallon,a 90 gallon and a 170 Gallon jettison/slipper tank IIRC.Now are they made by the same manufacturer as the Main fuel tanks.If so then they might have an idea what it is,that,s if they are still around.;)
In regards to dumping.Here at Oakey during the big cleanup lorries were loaded up each morning and would leave the base and return back empty in the afternoon.This area is rich of stories,furfies,myths and legends of parts chucked down any number of pits/coal shafts/rivers/holes/quarries etc…Yes the armed forces did strange things sometimes and perhaps the parts you recovered might have been spares kept in stores and told to be rid of them.:)
By: Graham Adlam - 15th February 2007 at 19:55
????
Strange one isnt it? according to my part list 65 is aux fuel wether that means drop tank is another matter its just a educated guess based on allot of Culmhead spits using drop tanks. I find it hard to believe stuff was shipped to Culmhead to destroy it. Its in the middle of no where. Like I mentioned earlier i bought some bungs/caps from ebay and its not the first time I have seen them advertised (the bungs that is not the parts) so I think it must be a fairly common Spit part. Its a strange looking thing but i cannot figure out what it could possibly be used for ? with my limited knowledge I have never seen a fuel part like it?? perhaps a baffle? I have a complete parts list for a PRU Spit and its not in there?? Anyway i have several so if anyone IDs it I am going to send them one for the info, you’ll have to clean it yourself though they polish up really well.;)
By: QldSpitty - 15th February 2007 at 06:29
This really has me stumped…
Just checked my stash of 30065 drawings.Yes it seems that the bottom main fuel tank is in there along with a 30 Gallon and a 170 Gallon Jettison tank.Where as the rear fuse tank comes under a 44 number along with the top main tank.The fuel system is 45…:confused: :confused: This one really is a doozey:eek:
By: Bruce - 14th February 2007 at 09:41
As I recall, ’65’ is used throughout the fuel system, so a 30065 part would be just a fuel system part, not specifically drop tank, auxiliary tank or whatever. If the part was unchanged throughout, then it could be from any mark!
That said, I dont immediately recognise it myself!
Bruce
By: QldSpitty - 14th February 2007 at 08:43
A dump site…..
The Spits might not have operated there but they might have been dumped there.After the war there was a lot of cleanup to do.They might have came from another airfield altogether on the back of a lorry and dumped and buried.Also been thinking that being a 30065 number it might have been a rear fuse tank,remember 65 is Auxilliery Fuel tank,not “drop tank”.Also could have been a drain for the wet wing but that would have been 08…Intriguing…. 😮
By: Graham Adlam - 11th February 2007 at 13:14
Well It would make sense for them to be fitted to a PR Spit as I assume they needed drop tanks.? The trouble is it doesnt tie up with where i found the parts, I dug up a dozen plus, I have the full operational history of Culmhead and there is no record of PR Spits operating from there. The only documented history of drop tank use was 234 sdr training with 90 gallon tanks fitted to one wing only on MKVs prior to deployment to the far East. apparently no fun at all to Land with. Dave Glaser told me standing orders were to ditch the aircraft if the tank failed to jetison. He disobayed this order on one occasion after the tank release jammed. He didnt want to loose his personal Spit. The other documented use was by Seafire’s on D Day escorting heavy Tiffys, so why the 300 number?????:confused:
By: QldSpitty - 11th February 2007 at 12:27
Maybeeeeeee!!!
They were part of an early PR Spit.A MkI or II airframe converted.???????:confused:
By: Graham Adlam - 11th February 2007 at 11:52
I also didnt think the Mk1 was fitted with a drop tank? a bit of a mystery this part.:confused:
By: QldSpitty - 11th February 2007 at 07:45
Hmmm interesting….
I haven,t got the holey Spitfire bible on me but I thought the drop tanks didn,t arrive till the MkV Spits.That would have it as a 349 number.I noted this as that,s the Mk number where Frame 9 was modified to accept the drop tank mechanism.Check drawing 34927-5-c.Just theorising though….Someone with more knowledge than me can correct me….;)
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February 10, 2007 at 2:14 pm
