There are BT and AVIA files on RH831’s crash in the National Archive. 

As I said in my post above – their excuse is one that many museums could hide behind but don’t.

Museums get targeted by thieves. They don’t use it as an excuse.

I think TIGHAR’s total lack of any output during its existence should make anyone wary of their abilities or motives. It’s a shame that people have been taken in by their promises over the years.

G-AFBW?:

Portsmouth Evening News – Tuesday 28 June 1938

Police Interview Man After Winning King’s Cup Plane Crashes: Another in Hospital

Police inquiries followed the crashing at Warlingham, Surrey, early today of the Percival Vega Gull monoplane with which Mr. Charles Gardner won the King’s Cup air race. Two men were in the machine. One was injured but the other was unhurt. Police afterwards interviewed the uninjured man and the other was taken to Caterham Hospital.

The plane, which belongs to a brother of Mr. Gardner, had been left in Mr. Charles Gardner’s hangar, and was taking off from his aerodrome when it crashed into a hedge and was badly damaged.

Mr. Charles Gardner won the King’s Cup in 1936 and 1937.

An official at the aerodrome said to a Press Association reporter: “Entrance to the hangar had apparently been gained through a fanlight. Two young men were seated in the plane.”

An early morning request for a large quantity of petrol at a local garage was described by Mrs Quittenden, wife of fthe proprietor.

“Two young men woke my husband at about 3 a.m. to-day,” she told a reporter, “and ordered a large quantity of petrol. My husband took drums of petrol in his car to the air field, making several journeys. The men said that they were going for a flight, but did not mention their destination.”

Portsmouth Evening News – Tuesday 09 August 1938

TIRED OF LIFE IN R.A.F.

Boys Steal Plane

The story of the two R.A.F. apprentices who “tired of life in the Air Force,” attempted to take off in £2,000 monoplane stolen from a private aerodrome, but wrecked the machine when they crashed into a hedge, was told at London Sessions to-day.

The two boys, Gernald Ernest Nicholson (18), and a Portsmouth boy of 16, of the R.A.F. Camp at Aylesbury, pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering an aeroplane hangar at Warlingham, Surrey, and stealing the machine, a Percival Vega Gull, the property of Mr. Richard Exton Gardner, and possessing a sawn-off shotgun.

Anxious to go Abroad

Mr. A W. Cockburn, K.C., postponed sentence on Nicholson until next Sessions, and postponed his decision in the case of the Portsmouth boy until later in the day.

Mr. Vernon Gattie, prosecuting, described how the two boys determined to desert after becoming tired of R.A.F. life. They were anxious to go abroad, and on June 18 left the camp and stopped at the Croydon Airport Hotel.

Having provided themselves with a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition, they got out the monoplane at the private aerodrome at Warlingham, but it crashed into a hedge just after taking off.

They were, according to statements, proposing to fly to France. They thought the ammunition might be of some use if they landed in another country.

Detective Sergeant Wolff said that both boys were being recommended for discharge from the R.A.F.

Living at Portsmouth

Questioned by Mr. Derek Curtis Bennett, Det.-Sergt. Wolff said that he understood the Portsmouth boy’s father, who was a Lieutenant in the Navy, had been away on service abroad for five years.

Mr. Curtis Bennett: Did the boy run away because his mother was living with another man?

Sergt. Wolff: Yes.

Counsel said that the boy was at present living with his grandmother at Portsmouth. His father’s ship was stationed there, and the father was prepared to look after him.
 

Tail gone late this afternoon.

Duxford auction 84; back to Tom Bracewell in Lancs; sold to Maurice Hovious in Vicksburg, Michigan circa 1985; stored at (Vicksburg? – some locals say “Frankenmuth airport” but there isn’t really one); donated to Frankenmuth VFW.

There is a photo in Michael O’Leary’s book of it in the USA: my assumption is that it was photographed whilst with Hovious’ Hov-Aire company at Vicksburg. They were restorers of Ford Tri-Motors so likely more on the classic aircraft photographer’s itinerary than “Frankenmuth airport” (which just seems to be a farm strip).

Hovious had apparently recovered a number of aircraft worldwide, so that part makes sense.

There has been a recent discussion of this aircraft on Air Britain Exchange and it’s been a case of adding up the parts and comparing photos. The visible repaired damage on the Frankenmuth Sabre is exactly the same as the damage repairs made to ‘TBF after it was hoisted into position at Blackpool in 1970. I saw it at Much Hoole in 1985 and can confirm. It’s very distinctive and I noted in back in 1985 and only later understood what the repairs were for.

It would be lovely to think that it might one day make its way back to the UK and be restored properly for indoor display…It was very complete when I saw it, but apparently kids used to play in it while it was stored with Hovious, so I imagine its instruments have long gone now.