The “Archive” article I mentioned above contains a later photo of G-AOFU in a different colour scheme to that shown in Mr Clarke’s picture and depicts it with a three bladed prop fitted and spray equipment installed, just prior to departure to Sudan.

To validate that ‘OFU was for certain the aeroplane in which Mr Coates was killed someone would need to verify in official records the accident data provided in “Archive” and ASN.

Tim

Just stunning and it was reported recently that they have a spare engine and a pair of floats already to facilitate restoration.

Tim

Interesting that the Sikorsky S-38 “Osa’s Ark” is scheduled to be static at the Texel event. I saw reports that it also did a display at Ferte Alais. Where is it based at present?

Tim

It is ex-RAN Sea Venom FAW.53, WZ944 / N7022H, which was restored to flying condition in the markings of 809 Squadron. It was certainly airworthy up to a few years ago.

I thought the only “recently” airworthy Sea Venom was the ex Amjet example N903WZ (Ex RAN N4-903, WZ903). I recall seeing that fly at the Oshkosh gathering in 2000. Was N7022H also flown in the US in the recent past?

Tim

According to “The Anson File” published by Air-Britain, those aircraft with frame numbers prefixed by R3 LW were constructed at the main Avro works in Manchester. RAF serials were it seems ” not issued in direct sequence of frame numbers, but there is often an approximate relationship … …” The book provides no data on frame numbers related to RAF aircraft apart from some sold onto the civil market where the frame number may have been utilised as a pseudo c/n during registration. So it seems unlikely you’ll ever establish now which specific example was involved if your material is from a service machine.

Tim

The background to Cranfield’s acquisition of German equipment is described in that excellent work “War Prizes” by Phil Butler in which he mentions that Cranfield was allocated complete Ju388L-1/V6 W Nr 500006 some time between 1946 and 1948. It was subsequently scrapped there. So perhaps the engine you highlight came from that airframe.

Tim

Good news if photography is unrestricted now – I’ll have to hunt out my images to share them then. Thanks for the feedback.

So far as the prone pilot aspect goes – I seem to recall it was illustrated in a book on British experimental aircraft that I have stored in the loft – I must investigate.

Tim

I photographed it in the same position some years ago – but that was on condition that you had to respect a prohibition on any publication of images taken in the storage area. Has that restriction now been lifted?

Tim