It was the cockpit section thread

Ian,

I have looked at Group ORB’s for 221 Grp in India and find that they are not particularly enlightening. They are usually just a monthly summary of the units under control of the group with details of hours flown etc.

They don’t often mention staff officers

Regards

In principle this seems a good idea, however there is one fundamental problem concerning some of the artefacts that need rescuing. These artefacts are often owned by individuals that have little or no knowledge of their potential historical importance. As far as I understand it is not possible to compel private owners to part with their artefacts however neglected they may be.

The BAPC tried many years ago to provide a systematic process to highlight those airframes of significance. This has been used to good effect by a number of individual museums to gain funding for the conservation or restoration of a few airframes.

Unfortunately the disposals branch of the MOD has a mandate to seek maximum return for the taxpayer in disposing of surplus airframes. Often this means that private individuals or companies outbid the preservation movement.

These individuals on occasion have little knowledge of how to provide for the long term future of these airframes, thus the situation we see today with the Swift at Upper Hill and the Shackleton etc at Long Marston.

Personally I would recommended that those with a concern for the future of some of our neglected airframes should try to assist their independent museums. As a collective body they have a greater resource to look after such exhibits

WK198

It is very unlikely that the two WK275 and WK198 could be put together.

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to interest the owner at of WK275 in parting with the aircraft.

I know the owner and his sons as I supplied them with the Whirlwind HAR10 that was originally parked opposite the Swift and then moved to the back of the property.

WK198 is still owned by Unimetals, but is on loan to the North East Aircraft Museum. The restoration work carried out on the aircraft is as much as the owner would permit.

I believe that the lack of a desire to see either airframe passed into long term preservation is not driven by monetary issues by either owner or a deal would have been done long ago. It is regretable in some ways that the long term interest in both airframes by the enthusiast community has resulted in perception that the these relics have a value beyond their true worth. Perhaps we are best to show less interest in the future.

If neither airframe survives in the long term although this may be regrettable we must remeber that there are three much better examples at Tangmere, Southampton and Newark that clearly do have a long term future.

The House in St Cleer is owned by Roy Flood who at the time owned Castle Motors and Castle Air (As used in Treasure Hunt with Anneka Rice).

Roy also had a Sycamore from Torbay in the grounds which has disappeared.

I had a look at these, with the permission of Roy, some years ago when en-route to Flambards Theme Park to move the Whirlwind HAR9 and Widgeon.

If T6Flyer asks at Castle Motors it might be possible to visit the house to see the Lightning up close and find out where the Sycamore went.