The nigh inevitable contribution from me…

There’s a Wellington throttle box, several control column tops and wheels, and sundry Wellington front turret spares out in the garage. Oh, and a DF loop fairing, too. And a leather seat cover with the aircraft’s serial number stencilled on it.

I recall stories that a section of Wellington fuselage was in use as a shed, somewhere in the Crewe/Nantwich area. Long time ago, though.

And even longer ago, as a youngster, I used to cycle to my local disused aerodrome at Cranage/Byley. Part of the attraction was the factory where Wellingtons were assembled, later a Ministry of Supply store but at that time apparently locked up and forgotten. I was always puzzled by the oval shaped structures which lay against one wall of the shed. I could never figure out what they were until many years later when I saw a sectioned view of a Wellington fuselage. They were either actual fuselage formers or possibly the jigs used to manufacture them. They’d gone by the late ’60s.

Could this be the same section that was incorporated into the fuselage of N2980 as the original was too weak to support the entire airframe. The real centre section of R-Robert is the exhibit next to the Wellington.

Cees

Given we are discussing engines of Manchesters what other bits of the type still survive? Anything of note or just a few piles of twisted metal? I cant say I have ever seen reference to anything but worth a try!

Jon

Jon,

Mostly twisted wreckage. But I believe the RAF Museum S-for Sugar was originally ordered as a Manchester. So technically she could still be a Manchester that was converted on the production line into a Manchester III AKA Lancaster I.

Cees

Unlikely. Why replace an icon with something that was considered unsuccesful in its day, and is only remembered today as ‘the forerunner of the Lancaster’?

Any director of a museum owning a Lancaster would have to be certifiably crazy to even consider it!

Mike,

Of course it would be sacriledge if a museum would only even contemplate such a conversion 😮 . But there are sections still around (Kermit Weeks, Sandtoft etc.) that can be used for such a project. Don’t forget the Manchester wasn only the forerunner of the Lanc. It was a type in itself of which high hopes were placed. But it represented a moment in time of Bomber Command that deserves a place. Why having only succesful types on display? It would be boring as that way most museums have similar collections which is to a certain extent already the case (in my very humble opinion).

Cees

Hi Dave,

Two Manchester engines are in museums in the north and south of Holland. As I said ours came from the north sea and only just resembles a Vulture with the cilinder barrels and engine mounting being recognisable. The one in the north is very complete and still has its prop mounted. It came from a Manchester which crashed in soft soil.

Very interesting engine, deserves more PR

Cees

Stuart,

I have seen a photograph of a Vulture that I thought was taken at RAF Stafford. It showed a substantial complete Vulture but still covered in peat, perhaps this was the same engine.

So no engines have survived not even at the Science Museum? The last Manchester was recovered from a quarry by an American team and scrapped. Pics in the book by Mr Kirby. Pity. I know where the wreck of one lies in the IJsselmeer but it is very shallow and not worth to recover for a restoration.

Cees