Control wheel ID

I can confirm that it’s a DC-3 / C-47 control wheel (part number 5117125)- will fit both pilot & co-pilots side of the control column. The worn area on the upper right arm is from a post-war mounting bracket for a microphone switch.

Rich

I’ve (hopefully!) attached an image showing the areas which should have been masked off for drops using the British X-type parachute. [ATTACH=CONFIG]252109[/ATTACH]

The mystery ribbon is the French Croix de Guerre with bronze palm.

C-47 prop pitch control lever

Rob,

You’re exactly right, it’s a “lever assembly, propellor pitch control, LH, inboard (as it states in the -4 parts manual!). Located in the upper section of the control pedestal.

Standard wartime produced part for the C-47 series in the original zinc chromate primer finish.

Hope this helps

Rich

English Heritage visited the site a week or so ago & examined the 3 combined RFC aeroplane sheds & the two small adjacent hangars (currently used by the Air Ambulance & to store airfield vehicles). Rumour is that they have been / will be listed & will form the nucleus of a Bristol themed aircraft museum (not holding my breath, but the location could be a winner if it ever went ahead) which will incorporate the decaying Concorde. If you’ve ever wondered what those aeroplane sheds look like inside, they’re the same as the ones at Duxford (just not so well maintained).

As ever, various rumours persist regarding potential buyers of the site who may continue to use it as an airfield, but the generally accepted view is that flying will cease next December. How long it takes for redevelopment to begin is anyones guess. I foresee several years of stagnation & decay before the site bulldozed & covered in “social housing”.

511 Sqn

Icare9,

A little off topic, but would does the 511 Sqn history detail the fate of their Dakota fleet when they moved to Liberator / York only operations? I understand this was in July 1944.

My main focus is Dakota 111 FL517, which is shown as having been received on squadron strength on 17/9/43 (with no further details then until March 1946).

Is there a source for obtaining the Sqn history as I’d love to know a little more about this aircrafts use whilst with the unit?

Many thanks

Rich

G-type oxygen mask

Kev35, you’re spot on. The microphone is secured into the mask housing by the type of clip you describe, but I’ve no idea of it’s exact name. It’s a very different set up from the later H-type. This clip also secures two “ends” of the web harness & ensures that it fits correctly when worn.

You may want to watch e-bay for this part. Sometimes a few “parts” lots are listed when the masks themselves have perished beyond redemption. Alternatively, contact David Farnsworth at http://www.historicflyingclothing.com. He may have the part you’re after or know how to source one. You may also want to post on the RAF collectors forum at http://www.network54.com/Forum/180748/

Good luck!

Rich

Gutersloh

I was at Gutersloh for 3 years in the late 80’s & recall that the original Luftwaffe infrastructure was largely intact (original hangars, admin & living accomodation, etc). Pretty well everywhere you went there was evidence of it’s wartime use (the stairwell to the celler in my block was still signposted “luftschultzkellerei” in german script for instance). The station HQ still had the words “Freiherr Von Richthofen Haus” carved above the entrance door! I wouldn’t hesitate to say that Gutersloh was the best station I served at & the “liberated” Luftwaffe accomodation was a large factor in that (cracking facilities, room, size, heating, etc)

Across town was the former Luftwaffe Barracks (then called Mansergh Barracks & occupied by the Royal Artillery). The main gate still had the large luftwaffe eagle carved in stone (with the swastika in it’s claws neatly chipped away).

Should you ever visit the Technik Museum at Speyer, they have a very resonable on-site hotel which is a former Luftwaffe accomodation block (as indeed the whole site is part of a former Luftwaffe airfield)

A good site for comparing “then & now” in Germany is at the following;

http://www.thirdreichruins.com

It’s quite suprising what you can find over there!