Hi Guys.
I’m on the hunt for the whereabouts of a certain DeHavilland Vampire t11.
Her construction number was / is 15589. Tail numbers are, or have been XE849 and 7928M.
Nose number and letter configuration was V3.
She was located at the 936 Squadron Air Training Corps ( Hertford and Ware ) during the 80’s.
Apparently she was purchased by a private owner and now resides in Barton. However can somebody point me in the direction of Barton, there are about 5, in the U.K.
Thanks in advance for any help on this.
Swampyrv
By: Thunderbird167 - 30th October 2013 at 20:08
Vampires can be remarkable survivors.
VV217 was outside with the Air Cadets for over 30 years before I purchased it.
It the went to the North East Aircraft Museum from 1991 where the pod was kept under cover before finally being donated to the De Havilland Aviation Centre where it is currently stored awaiting restoration.
The pod is basically pretty sound despite the many years outside
So I feel sure the other ATC airframe would have been restorable, but aircraft preservation was in its early stages when it was scrapped
By: Mr Merry - 30th October 2013 at 19:41
Be careful looking for a Vampire at this time of year, it’s halloween tomorrow:stupid:
By: dhfan - 30th October 2013 at 18:38
Agreed (in principle – the wooden window frames in my house are 79 years old…) but if it was looking that unhappy 40 plus years ago, what would be left now?
By: ericmunk - 30th October 2013 at 08:29
it looks fit for scrapping, not recovery
Anything wood is very easy to repair, rebuild, restore or replace. This would have been a very good candidate for restoration these days.
By: TempestV - 30th October 2013 at 08:13
VZ304 never had a podectomy – it was just scrapped, and a Swiss aircraft painted up to represent it. Another damn shame!
Bruce
Ah, I stand corrected.
By: David Burke - 30th October 2013 at 00:14
XE453 was at Crossland Moor and I recall it being in a very poor state before it departed to Haverigg.
By: Firebex - 29th October 2013 at 23:19
Hi Dave
what about the two he had that ended up at Crossland Moor near Huddersfield the wings where scrapped and I understand th epods ended their days on the bonfire night special. Sorry dont know their identities but the information is definate I had a photo of the wings stood up at the sid eof the hangar once upon a time but cant lay my hand son them.
Mike E (EX MHAS Barton Aerodrome)
By: dhfan - 29th October 2013 at 17:00
I’ve no idea when the picture on UK serials was taken but it looks fit for scrapping, not recovery. When it arrived I was 6 or 7 and lived just around the corner but moved away in October 1959. I only saw it very occasionally afterwards but it always looked extremely neglected. I’m surprised it lasted until 1971 as the ATC compound became part of the new police station site which was completed and open about then.
By: Bruce - 29th October 2013 at 16:19
VZ304 never had a podectomy – it was just scrapped, and a Swiss aircraft painted up to represent it. Another damn shame!
Bruce
By: TempestV - 29th October 2013 at 15:55
What a shame that was scrapped – would have made a lovely project now….
I wonder if this was one of the “pods” that Sandy Topen ended up with? I have been shown some photos of several skeletal single seat vampire/venom cockpits that he had in the late 70’s/early 80’s. These were’nt from Vampire FB5 VZ193 or Venom FB1 WK393, so maybe they could have been from this one: Vampire FB5 VV542 or the original RAF pod from Vampire FB5 VZ304 before it was replaced with a Swiss FB6 one?
By: Bruce - 29th October 2013 at 15:24
🙂
By: Jagx204 - 28th October 2013 at 21:05
The location of XE849 has been duly updated !
By: dhfan - 28th October 2013 at 17:52
I suspect it was more than a bit tired when scrapped. If that’s the first Vampire they had, it arrived some time in the late fifties to replace their previous piston-engined aircraft.
By: Bruce - 28th October 2013 at 17:13
What a shame that was scrapped – would have made a lovely project now….
By: Roborough - 28th October 2013 at 15:38
[QUOTE=Jagx204;2082356]Was scrapped 08/1971. There is a picture of it on our sister site UK Serials:
Thanks Mark & David. I have an almost identical B&W shot that I took in 69 or 70.
Regards
Bill
By: Bruce - 28th October 2013 at 15:13
Mark, I usually rely on you for the up to date information – as I say, you are like Lightning with mine!
I don’t have any other information at present, though it looks like David might!
Bruce
By: Jagx204 - 28th October 2013 at 13:37
Talking of Single-seat Vampires and 936 ATC at Hertford, does anyone recall an FB-5 at that location in the late ’60’s early 70’s? I believe it was VV542. I used to pass it traveling between Southend and Stevenage. Then it disappeared. What happened to it? Single-seaters were getting scarce even then.
regards
Bill
Was scrapped 08/1971. There is a picture of it on our sister site UK Serials:
http://www.ukserials.com/images/ukimages/vv542.jpg
By: Jagx204 - 28th October 2013 at 12:46
Swampy,
No, I am an owner of some Vampires; just not that one! As I say, its unusual for demobbed not to pick up on the location changes.
Just proves we are not all knowing !
I confess this one has slipped our attention, if you want to PM me with the details of this and any other incorrect ones we may have I’ll happily update the site.
By: Bruce - 28th October 2013 at 10:55
Any of those single seaters Bruce?
No, I am sheltering three two seaters at present, and the remains of two others.
I do have custody of a single seat swiss venom at present though!
Bruce
By: TempestV - 28th October 2013 at 09:39
Talking of Single-seat Vampires and 936 ATC at Hertford, does anyone recall an FB-5 at that location in the late ’60’s early 70’s? I believe it was VV542. I used to pass it traveling between Southend and Stevenage. Then it disappeared. What happened to it? Single-seaters were getting scarce even then.
regards
Bill
I have a colour photo of this FB5 somewhere. I understand though it was scrapped in the late 60’s/early 70’s though.
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October 27, 2013 at 6:34 pm
