DX – 16/2/12. Pending a more in depth update probably tomorrow by DCW a couple of pictures from today.
The B.17 fuselage has now be unmasked.
The Vampire has gained some further nose stenciling.
Thanks for the kind words, as always credit belongs to all at Duxford.
Here’s the first photo I took at Duxford (23rd May 1975), B-17G N17TE shortly after her arrival from France, and just after her display debut at Biggin Hill the previous week. Nearly 37 years ago…….
Whilst on the subject of Sally Bs early history here are some further pictures of her early years.
Immediately after her arrival from France in March 1975 still carrying her French registration F-BGSR on top of and under the wing.
Still registered N17TE in 7/75
By 7/81 she had been repainted in her 457th Bomb Group markings
Although in May 81 she had acquired the temporary name of ‘Ginger Rogers’ for the TV Series ‘We’ll Meet Again’ although I am not certain if she appeared as such at Duxford ??. (These are not my 2 photographs – photographer unknown)
By 1985 she had been painted in AAF colours from I believe the 447th Bomb Group
1989 saw her participation in the Film – Memphis Belle – but thats a story in itself.
Not to much moving at present here at DX but an AAC Apache was visiting today.
For those with an eye for detail the Spitfire F22 wings have been moved in the TFC hanger.
With DCW still awol just a brief update to say nothing much has changed at DX since Tuesday. The P.40F and P.47 have switched ends of hanger 2S and the Fiat CR42 has been moved ‘slightly’ again as were noted yesterday.
Masking on the B17 continues
During a brief hanger 2N shuffle this morning the Beaver and Stearman are captured outside with the residue of the early morning snow still just visable on the distant hills.
I think that the pictures posted have – just about – caught three, rather than two, Marathons (the third being that behind G-ALVY). Presumably the third is either G-AMER or G-AMHT, which made up the quartet which F.G.Miles bought with the intention, albeit unsuccessful, of refurbishment for commercial use. All except G-AMHT were scrapped in February 1962, with the latter following its brethren to the same fate not many months later. I suspect that it was the last surviving Marathon in the UK. In the world, too? Maybe, but the legend of the Japanese Marathon hasn’t surfaced for a while!
The photographs would have been taken, I surmise, on 20, 21 or 22 May 1960. Shoreham was quite busy (for that time) over those three days for the RAeC competition. In Peter Campbell’s Shoreham log he records 42 visiting and 12 resident aircraft on the aerodrome. Everything from a Bensen gyrocopter to a DC-3!
The 3rd Marathon noted at this event in addition to G-ALVY and G-AMGR was indeed G-AMER. A correction I think to caption of the 2 photographs shown is that the one coded B is indeed G-AMER. G-AMGR was coded P as indicated in the photograph below. According to a report in Air Britains BCAN for June 11 1960 Marathon G-AMHT was noted in the hanger being converted back to civil but I assume this was never completed.
I am trying to get some history on the DH 84 Dragon that I have a picture of that was taken in Speke Airport in 1935. This picture has a crowd of people in front of ” the City of Cardiff” who include my grand parents and great grand father as they were preparing for a flight to Bristol with another DH 84 and an Airspeed Ferry.
From internet searches and some help for the DH Support people, I have managed to track down the currently registered owner in Washington State in the USA who has the aircraft 77 years after it was built. Through Google searches, I have managed to piece together some history, including its Joy ride time in Blackpool, some items on it parachuting life, its export to the US and its Chris Air time, but I have no information on its life during WW2 or during it time in the USA after 1972.
If anyone has flown on G-ADDI in the UK as a pilot or passenger, I would love the know more about your experience with C-ADDI (now registered as NDH84 in the USA). I suspect this old lady has had an interesting life which may be worth the telling.
For anyone interested here are some pictures of G-ADDI (photographer u/k unless indicated)
Below believed at Squires Gate early 60s.
1962 picture-location/photographer u/k.
Landing at Wolverhampton – photographer u/k
At Brawdy Aug 1966 – photographer u/k
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