Sydenham Spitfire

Definitely 72 Sqn with SD codes and sqn badge in fighter spearhead on tail. I have the F540 at home (on nights just now) and will check for a serial number tie in.

Tom

I will be interested to see if you can identify the aircraft.

Regards

Eric

Definitely 72 Sqn with SD codes and sqn badge in fighter spearhead on tail. I have the F540 at home (on nights just now) and will check for a serial number tie in.

I’m just wondering , looking at the back end of that Sunderland ,partly hiding behind the Shetland’s port wing ,if it might be the part assembled Sperrin Fin and Rudder test bed ..?

… Short Sturgeon and Sea Otter. In the background, could that be a Short Shetland Flying boat on a beaching trolley, a Sunderland and a Scion?

Mark

Mark,

The aircraft in the background on the right hand end of the line is the Mamba powered Sturgeon.

Eric

Nothing wrong with my eyes, Mar kis.

And I think you will find it is type G39/B beaching trolley with the unusual pattern of cross ply tyres and fitted with a longer towing arm than is usual. The chap in crane number three has got the Daily Mirror….dated….nah…cant quite see! Andy 😀

3rd April 1950.

You should have gone to Specsavers.

Correct…!

… Short Sturgeon and Sea Otter. In the background, could that be a Short Shetland Flying boat on a beaching trolley?

Mark

And I think you will find it is type G39/B beaching trolley with the unusual pattern of cross ply tyres and fitted with a longer towing arm than is usual. The chap in crane number three has got the Daily Mirror….dated….nah…cant quite see! Andy 😀

Didn’t realise you were so old as to be a subscriber to Aeroplane Spotter xtangomike!! 🙂

2 Firebrands, 2 Barracuda’s, and a Short Sion??

… Short Sturgeon and Sea Otter. In the background, could that be a Short Shetland Flying boat on a beaching trolley, a Sunderland and a Scion?

Mark

2 Firebrands, 2 Barracuda’s, and a Short Sion??

Seafire Picture

Eric, that is a lovely picture of a Seafire 17 (would have been nice to have had that earlier this year for a certain painting project). Very interesting to compare roundel positions with SX336 – lower wing identical, top wing roundels are positioned a little further aft than many other aircraft in this instance. The under wing serials have a stencilled look to them which I have not observed before. Any chance of a higher res version of this please?

Mark can you make room on your mailbox, pm waiting to go to you!

Eric

Eric, that is a lovely picture of a Seafire 17 (would have been nice to have had that earlier this year for a certain painting project). Very interesting to compare roundel positions with SX336 – lower wing identical, top wing roundels are positioned a little further aft than many other aircraft in this instance. The under wing serials have a stencilled look to them which I have not observed before. Any chance of a higher res version of this please?

Eleven Years on!

James & Mark

Eleven years on and as you can see things had moved on a bit, still Sydenham in Northern Ireland, however Naval Aviation was now the thing!

Eric

Ps: In the picture looking towards the shipyard etc, have a look at the background, some interesting aircraft to be seen!

Yes a fascinating photo. Just think it might be K9942.

Note the short M/G stubs protruding out of the leading edges of the outer two guns.

Mark

Mark & James,

The photo was taken by my late uncle, I have studied the picture in great detail, sadly no serial number is visible.

The picture is to my knowledge the earliest pictorial record of a Spitfire in Northern Ireland, although one did appear at RAF Aldergroves Empire Air Day in May of that year.

Eric

Yes a fascinating photo. Just think it might be K9942.

Note the short M/G stubs protruding out of the leading edges of the outer two guns.

Mark

There is some serious construction work going on in the background there.

They were known as ‘shipyards’. Sadly hard to spot in the UK nowadays. 🙁

Nice pic. There’s some of the airport opening IIRC with Furies, I saw recently.

Where’d the pic come from?

Interesting photo, I would think you are correct in your squadron and date suggestion. There is some serious construction work going on in the background there.