Bruntingthorpe’s Comet is the ex RAF example named Canopus. Still very much in RAF colours although now sporting a very non military UK civil serial on her rear fuselage. Well she was two weekends ago anyway.

Blue Robin is quite correct re the photo archives.

I work for the company at their office in Rugby. A couple of the guys I work with are plodding away putting the archives on the database as we speak. Ok maybe not now as its past work hours but you know what I mean. Well worth keeping a regular eye on as some fantastic pictures are being uncovered and put online.

Bear with me Curly the thread will happen I promise. A few things have put her back in the priorities at the museum. Namely the Javelin. Saying that get her through the winter and she is in good condition so thats not a problem and then next year watch this space.

Im very much a believer of chat to the public. Explain take the time with them and they will appreciate it. Maybe come back again, maybe tell their friends or maybe just maybe beccome restorers in the future. Ive had days in the summer on the Phantom where I may have got an hours work done. The remainder was spent chatting to the public. A valuable experience though for the above reasons. Also what you can learn from them. One chap I spoke to was a guy who made Phantoms about the time ours rolled of the line. May well have assembled ours. That was educational for me. So it works both ways.

At least youve got manuals Bex. Im lacking in that dept slightly.

Heres her service history

F-4C, s/n 63-7699

Manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft, St. Louis MO and gained by the USAF on 3 Mar 1965.
Mar 1965 To 366th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), Holloman AFB NM
Aug 1966 To 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Pacific Air Forces), Da Nang AB Vietnam
Oct 1966 To 366th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF), Da Nang AB
Oct 1967 To 39th Air Division (PACAF), Misawa AB Japan
Mar 1968 To 475th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF), Misawa AB (deployments to Kunsan AB Korea and Taegu AB Korea)
Dec 1969 To 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), George AFB CA
Oct 1971 To 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), George AFB
May 1972 To 183rd Tactical Fighter Group (Air National Guard), Capital AP, Springfield IL
Feb 1984 To 142nd Fighter-Interceptor Group (ANG), Portland IAP OR
Dec 1986 Dropped from inventory

And the details of the kill. Callsign Elgin 01

14/05/67 MiG-17 F-4C 63-7699 CG/480TFS/366TFW Bakke S.O.,Maj Lambert R.W.,Capt, Elgin 01 AIM-7

Thanks for posting the pics Kev, always good to see us on the forum showing what the teams up to. Love the F-100 pictures. Not a favoutite aircraft of mine but the colours of the bare metal around the tail is something special. Well caught.

A bit about the Phantom as you queried the colours. This is the aircraft I look after. Although temporarily in the middle of helping Rob on the Javelin. Once thats complete I will return to work on the Phantom. THis time with Rob in tow. Im sure he will have somethin to say about that comment.

Ive started to do some good work on her unfortunately most of it is stuff the public wont see. Underneath the ole girl is a myriad of access panels. These have all been opened and cleaned inside. On some panels the original manufacturers stamps can now clearly being seen. Ive also started cleaning the nose gear and nose wheel bay. Inside here was black but with some magic cleaning stuff (dont ask me what its called my old man sourced it) the area is gleaming white once more. The original Maccie D’s white paint being once more visible.

THe Phantom did actually serve in Vietnam. The C model which she is was the first of the US Air Force variants to enter Air Force service. Pretty much a Naval D with fatter tyres. The colours she wears are those that she was wearing when she shot down a Mig in Nam. THe other pic you posted of her a few years back in the grey scheme was the colours she wore whilst an Air National Guard aircraft. This scheme is still under the SE Asia Camou she wears today.

You may be able to see from the pics Kev posted that on the side of the forward nose and halfway down the fuselage flanks you can see the formation strips. Although not fitted whilst in Vietnam she was later modified to carry them. They have had the paint stripped of them and now look as good as new. There are 8 in total on the aircraft. All have been striped back apart from those on the fin. Its a long way up to that area and they will get done a little later.

The aircraft will be repainted next year after some TLC is applied and some minor niggles are taken care of. Once more she will be put into the Mig Killing Colours and the full badges will be put on the aircraft this time. The formaton strips although not fitted in Nam will be left exposed to show how the aircraft was modified through her life.

Once work resumes on Ohannie (well what other name could I call her) I will keep you guys upto date with whats happening via text and pics.

Alas I havnt got the copy any more Olloe but if you get the correct version of Spitfire the Story by Alfred Price their was a stunning colour 3 view plate of the high speed spitfire. Other than that all im aware of is a number of black and white pics.