Walrus W2718 (G-RNLI) – how's she doing?

Thanks Martin, you have a PM.

James – I’m quite happy for you to use the photo in your research work/files. If I come across any more info on it, or the incident, I’ll pass it on. Martin

Who was the ex BBMF engineer of Grace Spitfire fame who was going to rebuild it?
Is he still around?

As answered above – Mr Dick Melton – he did re-build it to the point shown in the linked photo (taken at Audely End).

Martin. Great pics. By coincidence we had an old gent turn up at North Weald today along with his daughter and grandson, who wanted to have a look at our Hurricane Gate Guardian. I offered them a tour around the Tower as well. It was his 70th birthday, and he was over the moon. Upstairs in the VCR he mentioned that his father had flown air sea rescue missions in Walruses and Warwicks in the Mediterranean. I didn’t get to see this thread until after he had gone, otherwise I would have pointed him to it.

Hampden, I think you are referring to Dick Melton. I have seen the Walrus fuselage at Audley End. Not sure if any progress has been made recently.

According to Wikipedia, a gent called James Lyle bought her in 2011 ; but that’s all I know

Who was the ex BBMF engineer of Grace Spitfire fame who was going to rebuild it?
Is he still around?

What a wonderful pair of pics Martin, as you say it looks like the Walrus may have survived the prang.
Moggy, that’s looks like the shot I referred to in my OP and shows her being restored at Audley End.

http://www.vintagefabrics.co.uk/about/index.html

I tried to email Vintage Fabrics; but it seems that there is an email receipt limit
I don’t suppose there are any members who live near Audley End who’d like to pay her a visit at Vintage Fabrics?

Here’s a publically shared image from mid-last year

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1416033/

Moggy

Let’s hope she does make it back into the air one day.

Wasn’t there some story that she had been acquired by the museum at Southampton ?.

Bob T.

Acquired then sold on as they didn’t have the funds to restore it as they wished.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?88007-Supermarine-Walrus-to-fly-fantastic

there was a project walrus website, but it expired on the 20th March.

Wasn’t there some story that she had been acquired by the museum at Southampton ?.

Bob T.

Here’s a publically shared image from mid-last year

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1416033/

Moggy

I’d also be interested in seeing any publicly shared information on ‘W2781’ AKA G-RNLI.

And martinW88 – as a researcher on the Walrus, would you be prepared to share a copy of the Walrus and (complete!) Warwick shot for my files? Credit when/if used of course.

Regards,

Walrus & Warwick – Italy 1944?

Hi – unfortunately can’t answer your question but as you like the Walrus, thought you might be interested in this photo of a Walrus in Italy (believed to be 1944). Parked alongside is a Warwick with a lifeboat slung underneath. The second photo was taken shortly afterwards and apparently shows the remnants of the Warwick after an American Maryland had ploughed into it! Not sure if it took the Walrus out as well. Looks like a Walrus can be seen in the centre distance in the second photo. Cheers, Martin