Interesting that the clock is missing from the fitter cockpit as they are so commonly available – as reproductions and as originals.

Even I have two of them a new one and a 1961 original.

I admit to finding Herr Gunkels written article to be a little strong with the wording being written as a modern reinterpretation of the results whilst forgetting the causes.

e.g.
Victors Arrogance
Serve as a crude reward..

Looks like another “Lancaster” morse code thingy in this collection.

Is this a preemptive disposal before the radiation police visit ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAF-Guages-Switches-Lights-Regulators-Spares-JOB-LOT-/130393311302?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CPV_Aviation_SM&hash=item1e5c0c0846#ht_1008wt_1167

Elliot – thank you for updating.

Couple of questions though:

Who assigned the numbers – the company or the ministry ?

Were numbers consecutive only within companies ?

For example

244 = Wildebeeste I
258 = Wildebeeste II
267 = Wildebeeste III
286 = Wildebeeste IV

236 = Walrus
287 = Wellesley
285 & 290 = Wellington I

The reason I ask is that I have a Stainless firewall with code 252 – which doesn’t appear on the list.. It is a 1.3 m dia circle – so I assume a small radial engine

If it was consecutive it would be a mid 30s aircraft.

Does anyone have any ideas as to make ?

I know someone who was on the shoot. Last week I was shown the remains of the elegant lamppost that stood at the end of Blitz Street.

I do fear that we may soon have to face up to the fact that the milk bottle doesn’t make it!

My mother in law had their anderson shelter in the front room – her mother decided it was too cold to go outside – so had the Anderson erected in the lounge!

We are 10 miles from Spadeadam ( as crow flies) and heard the blasts when they set off these charges – the V2 one was probably the one that rattled the windows as well.

Didnt know what they were as we thought the quarry 3 miles away was just getting over ambitious with their explosives – all makes sense now.

Chaps the luminescent paint is a mixture of radium and a zinc salt. Luminescence is caused by gamma radiation causing the salt to excite and glow.

Over 50 years the gamma radiation is till strong but the zinc salt is knacker*ed = either by changes in the salt or the binder. Hence no luminescence.

The luminescence is no indication of radiation.

I think I can confirm that given T167’s list – one of the aircraft scrapped was FT – 29.

This small panel and a rudder pedal were all that were identifiable from a dwindling small pile of scrap on the ground.

The two engines are still high and dry in a skip.

P.S. I was told that the aircraft were “borrowed” from the scrap heap to be used in a film set in the North East with Robson (?) before being returned and being scrapped.