Gutted fuselage, empty cockpit, huge exfoliation issues in the outer wing sections and that was at North Weald over ten years ago. She was a “fair” static when at the Historic Aircraft Museum in Southend up until sold at the auction in 1983, though in the last five years there she had gone down hill and also lost her turret as a mould pattern for Sally B for the LWT series “We”ll meet again” (it was never returned from the film set). After moving to DX now with Aces High she had various film schemes applied before moving to North Weald. Given a cosmetic make-over she became “Bedshoot Bomber” and was entered for auction again. There are a number of stories after this point that involve some vague issues that lingered for years and she ended up slowly sinking into the grass storage area and became derelict. From the little that I’ve seen of her “storage” at Booker, I’d be surprised if the corrosion issues have “improved” at all. A real shame, as had the aircraft found a home with a museum like Newark or Elvington when sold at that Phillips auction at Southend (ok I know Elvington wasn’t going back then but it’s just an example) then I am certain it would have undergone a comprehensive restoration to a high quality static condition and maybe in time would have been fitted out inside. For me growing up in Southend, I saw it have its film nose removed and an authentic bomber nose restored and fitted. All the gun positions had convincing good quality replica gun barrels installed and a nice RAF WWII period scheme had already been applied in one of the airport hangars. I think from memory it got repainted whilst at the museum (in Aviation Way) as well. As has been mentioned, for the B25, the CASA and the Lincoln, it all went down hill after the auction and I seriously doubt any of them will ever be fully assembled again. Ones that got away for sure, sadly.
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