AirfixtwinAirfix the end?
If Airfix produced a few more kits like the 1/48 Lightning or Mk22 Spitfire, I think modellers would be alot happier, and their future secure.
As they are they seem to be dealing mainly in childhood nostalgia.
Tamiya, Hasegawa, Revell, Trumpeter, Classic Airframe, Czech Master, are all producing quality models of the aircraft that modellers want, and starting to work their way through the types once only available from Frog or Airfix.And far superior fit, mouldings, decals and detail.
Even the TSR2 wasn’t that hot, although I do hope we do get to see the Canberra PR9 and Nimrod
AirfixtwinTwo easy/cheesy listening……Bobby Richards & his Orchestra, From Europe with Love………….and a Trident
Quincy Jones Big Band, Travellin
AirfixtwinDisko airlines
Depth Charge, Disko Airlines 12″
Gary Numan had a picture disc of his Harvard for one of his mid 80’s singles, might have been beserker?
And I remember seeing a colour picture of some P-47’s on an album, I think by The Screaming Blue Messiahs.
AirfixtwinDambusters 2
I think alot of people hear the word remake and it sends shivers down their spines. And we’re all probably thinking of the recent Pearl Harbour as a classic example of how not to do it. I’m sure just as many Americans cringed when they saw it.
I do reckon that Peter Jackson would have a bit of integrity when it comes to making the film, and even Steven Spielberg has gone on record saying the original is one of his favourite war films.
What it will do is introduce a new generation to the story who may never have heard it otherwise, which can only be a good thing.
Maybe if the British film industry decided to make some fresh movies with war or conflict as the subject, on campaigns fought by British servicemen, we wouldn’t all be getting so annoyed about Hollywoods interpretation of WW2.
As for computer generated effects, the scene in Band of Brothers when a squadron of Mosquitos fly by at low level, and the last one comes along engine splutterring and prop feathered….thats just fantastic, and impossible to recreate with real aircraft.
AirfixtwinSunderland survivors
Diverting from the diving theme,and preserved examples. Does anyone know if this example is still with us…..former RNZAF Sunderland V NZ4111 on Chatham Island
Ian Hutchison wrote an article for Flypast on it in March 94
AirfixtwinWimpy picture
4th from the left in the centre row.
He was an electrician, and once told me a story about how he’d had to clean a dead seagull of the back of the control panel. The poor bird had gone straight through the plexiglass nose apparently!
Postwar he moved to Canada and worked for Avro.
AirfixtwinMystery plane
Looks like a ‘Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder/ Argus’
The windscreen and struts seem about right for it.
AirfixtwinCostal Command Wimpy
Personally I’d love to see a Wellington in the White Coastal Command scheme. If only because I have a picture of my late Uncle standing in front of one at Chivenor.( and I’ve a soft spot for CC)
See attached photo,Sorry for the poor condition of the picture but it was folded up in 1945. Thought I’d share it with the world anyway.
Anyhow, if all the major elements are there, why shouldn’t a composite aircraft be assembled.
Though ultimately it’s down to the individual groups who own them..
AirfixtwinSalvage photo
A copy of the halifax photo was given to me by a now retired member of BA groundcrew at Aldergrove. Its a photo of a photo ( no digital technology available in the 80’s when I got it) I’ve no idea of its original source unfortunately. I’m assuming a member of the salvage operation took it, being postwar with less restrictions possibly. I’ll investigate a liitle further myself to see what info I can get.
I’d definitely be interested in seeing some sonar images of the Sunderland at Milford haven Allison.
Does anyone plan any returns to Lough Erne for another go there?
AirfixtwinLough Neagh crashes
Some photographic evidence of the salvage operations that took place at Lough Neagh……….. Halifax RG831 in 1948.
AirfixtwinMore Strathallan pic’s from 84
A few others, Doesn’t the Lysander look great!
AirfixtwinStrathallan pictures 1984
Took these during July 1984
AirfixtwinSalvage of wrecked or ditched aircraft is one thing, and a costly process in itself.
But preservation,restoration, or conservation should all be considered fully before anything is done.
Certainly I think some groups or organisations have been more focused on getting an item rather than how it might be looked after once they have it.
So I’d agree that certain stuff should be left where it is.
At the end of the day alot of the issues come down to funding, and most Museums are short of that at the best of times
AirfixtwinAll the info seems to match up OK, Sunderland W4001 I have down as hit a rock taxying, DBR. DD858 I’ve actually got down as capsized and sank in Belfast Lough???? Catalina Z2152 I have down as beached and classified DBR.
A propellor from the Liberator in Lough Foyle was recovered by 665 Sqn AAC in 1982 and mounted outside the Sgt’s mess at Ballykelly, I’ve also heard of dives taking place on a B-17 at the mouth of Lough Foyle, which was on a ferry flight. Quite a few aircraft went into Lough Foyle, some very close to the shore. I walked out to the remains of a Firefly on the mud flats at Eglinton back around 1987. The tail section and rear cockpit remained lying on their side and half filled with mud, along with the port wing.
Back to Lough Neagh then….The Blenheim, T2128, I have down as being from 254 Sqn who where based at Aldergrove at that time.The bodies and wreckage, again being recovered by the Henry McGarry organization. The wreckage was collected at Lough Neagh on the 30th Sept By a team from 11 Repair & Salvage Unit, and the crew were buried at Killead Church of Ireland Graveyard. So it I think it can be ruled out as our mystery twin.
Two Beauforts also crashed in the Lough: AW311 No 5 OTU, 2/4/43. The wreck was again salvaged an brought ashore on the 17th April, and L4503 which crashed 28/5/43 again from No 5 OTU. The RAF form 1180 says crashed at ‘ Sweene Flat ‘ which might in fact be Skane. I don’t know if t 🙂 his aircraft was salvaged.
All these are RAF aircraft, and it is interesting to speculate if any U.S aircraft may be in Lough Neagh.
Cluntoe, Toome and Langford Lodge all former U.S bases and all on or near the shores. Has anyone investigated the USAAF records?
Thanks for pointing out that website Hurrifan, hadn’t seen it before.
AirfixtwinHi All
Here’s some info I have on Lough Erne Sunderlands and other likely sunken treasures in Northern Ireland.
W3995, 228 Sqn,11th Jan 43, Sank during a salvage operation along with the barge!
DP181, 423 Sqn, 11th Nov 43,aircraft bouced on touchdown split the hull and sank killing 5 crew.
W4036, 201 Sqn,18th Nov 45, On touch down the port wing hit the surface and the aircraft sank in deep water near the western shore. There were only 2 survivors and a number of bodies never recovered.
DD862, 423 Sqn, 31st May 45, Aircraft made an emergency landing with an engine fire and sank after becoming waterborne.
DD857, 201 Sqn 30th Jun 43, Crashed on touching down, but no fiurther details .
There have certainly been rumours for many years of Sunderlands being scuttled on Lough Erne and I’ve seen photographs of both Sunderland and Catalina aircraft literally pilled up against on another on the shoreline, with their engines removed. The stories generally are along the lines of, all usefull equipment being removed and then the aircraft being towed out to deep water and sank. The Catalina seemed to have little use for the RAF postwar and it was deemed uneconomical to return them to the States. I’d think there’s a high likelyhood of a few of these in Lough Erne.
Also the following Catalinas crashed and/or sank on Lough Erne:
AH536, 240 Sqn, 7th May 41, Sank in 80 feet of water, with the loss of 10 lives. Salvage attempts were abandoned due to the danger from unexploded depth charges.
FP194, 130 OTU, 10th May 43,Crashed on alighting during an instructional flight, no fatalities.
FP110, 131 OTU, 24th May 43, Crashed while attempting to alightand sank near Inishmakill Island. The pilot was badly injured and one member of the crew drowned.
W8414, 130 OTU, 26th May43,Aircraft made a starboard wing down approach which caused one float to dig into the water and the aircraft sinking after the resulting crash.
W8408, 131 OTU, 8th Nov 43, Crashed on take off No further details
Z2147, 131 OTU, 9th Jan 44, Crashed landing
FP193, 131 OTU, 9yh Jan 44, The aircraft hit the water while trying to recover from a diving turn, crashed and caught fire.
I’ve also heard a Saro Lerwick sank on Lough Erne.
Regarding Sunderland W6075 which crashed on Lough Neagh. The aircraft was salvaged and beached with the hull being taken to Shorts CRO in Belfast where it was categorised a write off. The salvage work had been undertaken by By Henry McGarry who had a contract with the air ministry for such work on Lough Neagh.
I understand his work was pretty efficient and little may be left down there. However considering the close proximity of 5 airfields to its shores including 3 USAAF bases you can’t help but wonder. I heard stories back in the eighties of the sillouette of a twin engine aircraft being visible by pilots taking off from Aldergrove, which was allegedly a Lockheed Hudson. I also have a friend who’s Father and Grandfather worked a fishermen on the Western shore and regulerly caught their nets on something sunken near the former USAAF Cluntoe airfield, and insist it was an aircraft.
There may well be some interesting wrecks still to be discovered.
Liberator or Marauder anyone?
Clive
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