Let’s see….

Looks like Soesterberg to me.

The one without the wings is the one being restored for the MLM at Soesterberg (formerly on display at the Bosbad, Hoeven) and the other one used to be airworthy with the large orange triangles)?

Am I warm?

Cees

Correct, it’s from a Stirling

Cees

Herbert,

Well the ICC is a bit quiet at the moment but I have just sent a progress pic of my Halifax panel to the webmaster so hopefully he will put it up with the rest of the pic of my projects and the many other interesting project around the world (such as you Spit and FW panels).

Cees

Mark,

I have seen it up close rjust after it had arrived at Lisserbroek. It is a very nice looking replica using aluminium with pop rivets throughout.

There are some original parts used such as instruments, a seat and two propeller blades (5% original?). I was told by the builder Mr Willem Sieben that he used to have an original Spitfire elevator but he sold it on again but don’t think any original ones were used on his reconstruction which by the way was based on a three view drawing he got from a book initially and it was built in his garage. Although some of the proportions are suspect from certain angles, this is a magnificent achievement, and the museum attracted more visitors than they would have before the Spit arrived. Such is the charisma of Mitchell’s finest.

Hope this helps

Cees

Moggy,

Many thanks for the cockpit photo’s. They answered some
questions I had, as I am working on recreating a pilot seat
for my cockpit section. Seems that some work is being done
on the interior looking at the shiny green “thingy” in the seat.

Cheers

Cees

Don’t worry Lancman, I won’t

There are two ways W1048 can be displayed in a proper way
and to serve as a worthy monument to all the fallen aircrew.

1. display her as she is now but with all perspex, skins, cowlings etc. fitted as when she was when she had just emerged from Lake Hoklingen so that she really looks like a complete aircraft instead of a disassembled carcass. And make a really good representation of the lake surroundings instead of a layer of gravel.

2. restore her to proper static condition so that people who cannot go to Canada can see what an early model Halifax looks like.

The problem with the first option is that her long term preservation isn’t assured as there are a lot of hidden areas where the red (rusty looking) preservative can’t go and the
danger is that in the year 20.. she will start corroding into a pile
of blue dust.

The problem with the second option is cost, as usual.

Of course there are as many opinions as there are admirers of her but if something has to be done to her, then now is the time as I understand the Bomber Command Halli is quite bare now some aircraft have been removed. The bits of Stirling are very battered but still give an idea about the size of such an aircraft of which dozens were sent out to Germany any one night.

Moggy, if you are going to visit Hendon, could you take some shots of the interior and the pilot’s seat and pilot’s bulkhead in particular?

Cheers

Cees

Hello there, might I ask you in what sense you wish to contact these families?

This particular airframe has been recovered through the actions taken by our organisation Aicraft Recovery Group 1940-1945 based at Heemskerk, Holland.

Over a periode of some three years we have established contact with the majority of the next of kin of the six missing persons involved. Some weeks ago all six missing persons were recovered. One of the next of kin, the nephew of crewmember Campbell from New Zealand was present when the body of his uncle was found and identified immediately when his gloves with his name inside were found next to him. If you wish to have more information you can contact me directly and I will forward your message to our chairman who was mainly involved with this particular investigation.

Does FlyPast know that a lot of things have happened this year in Holland regarding recoveries (three) where missing persons (eleven) were found. Today was the official burial of five Polish crewmembers from a RAF Lancaster that was recovered due to actions taken by our foundation as well.

Hope this helps

Cees

left hand turning Griffon

Regarding the way the Griffon turns I read a report by the famous Eric “Winkle” Brown that the Griffon was developed as a Marine engine to be used in aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm. He mentioned in said article that the Griffon turned the opposite way compared to the Merlin to avoid hitting the aircraft carriers bridge if the torque would cause the aircraft (Seafire or Firefly) so) to swing off course.

Back to lurking

Cheers

Cees