WJ244WJ244,
“The B of B display at Biggin in 1967 was my first ever air display. My neighbour was in the ATC and got me a lift on their bus to Biggin provided I was OK on my own all day once we got there.
As an aircraft mad 12 year old it was an unbelievable sight to walk into that hangar and see all those aircraft that had only previously existed for me as photos in books and airfix kits.
As far as I remember the hangar contained the HE111, JU88, ME110, CR42, ME109 and Wellington. I am sure the Gladiator had gone by then.”….I also went to that event, my first BoB at Biggin too. I don’t suppose that you have a list of the aircraft partcipants do you?
I probably still have the log book I used that day but it is buried in the loft and I messed up our electrics so don’t have a loft light at present. When I have light up there again I will have a look. If I have a list I will let you know ASAP. I am pretty sure there was a Beverley in the static (possibly two of them). I also recall a HS125 Domine, Beagle Basset, maybe a Victor/Vulcan and I think Mustang N6356T may have displayed but will let you know more if I can find my log.
WJ244Great pictures which brought back a lot of memories. The B of B display at Biggin in 1967 was my first ever air display. My neighbour was in the ATC and got me a lift on their bus to Biggin provided I was OK on my own all day once we got there.
As an aircraft mad 12 year old it was an unbelievable sight to walk into that hangar and see all those aircraft that had only previously existed for me as photos in books and airfix kits.
As far as I remember the hangar contained the HE111, JU88, ME110, CR42, ME109 and Wellington. I am sure the Gladiator had gone by then.
The ME109 had been operated by 1426 Enemy Aircraft Flight during WW2 and it may be that the later canopy was fitted as a replacement during its RAF career.
WJ244From memory didn’t the beeb make a documentary about Nick Grace and his rebuild of ML407?
There was also the documentary about Darryl Greenamyer and Kee Bird although I must admit it breaks my heart to see her burn at the end.
It seems to ring a bell that in the late 70’s early 80’s they also made a documentary about Sir George Cayley and I think it was Derek Piggott test flew a replica Cayley Flying Machine. I know this may not be of interest to all the warbird enthusiasts but I love the pioneer machines and there must be others out there who do as well. A visit to Old Warden is well worthwhile just to see the Blackburn Monoplane in the air.
If we are looking at old display footage there are some classic old airshow acts like the Belgian Stampe Duo who performed mirror aerobatics but this footage may be long gone as the beeb used to reuse many tapes and lost a lot of classic television.
WJ244From memory I think this one had sat outside on display at Tablada (I think that is the right spelling) ever since the Spanish AF retired them so it may have taken part in the filming in Spain but it wasn’t one of the two brought to the UK (G-AWHA and WHB). I think the ex UK pair are both in the USA now. G-AWHB was at the Southend Museum for a long time. By coincidence I happened to meet Ray Thomas when he was working in the ex Southend aircraft at North Weald before it went to the USA. He said the spars were in a pretty poor state on that one and put it down to the salt in the air at Southend even though the museum was a good way from the sea.
WJ244If it was late 60’s it could have been Proctor G-AOBW which was rescued from a garden in Middlesex around 1967 by the British Historic Aircraft Museum which became the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend. OBW was cut in half in about 1972 due to glue rot and the rear fuselage was sectioned to show the structure and kept as an exhibit. The front fuselage was burnt and the wings were fitted to NP303/G-ANZJ which was exhibited at the museum and moved on to Paul Raymond after the museum closed. I believe it was eventually stripped of its engine and burnt after it had been sold on followiing the break up of the Whitehall theatre collection.
It may seem appalling now to saw a Proctor in half but don’t forget there were more Proctors about than people who wanted them at that time and the museum decided to cannabalise the best bits from the two they owned to get a display airframe. NP303/G-ANZJ had been an unexpected gift to the original BHAM from Southend Airport after it was impounded for non payment of parking fees. Anson G-AVVO/VL348 landed up with the Historic Aircraft Museum by the same route and was ultimately moved on to Newark as Southend had 3 Ansons at that time!
The only other possibility is that I believe Sandy Topen lived at Bushey Heath and my ancient copy of Wrecks and Relics says he had Magister G-AIUA there at one time but I think this was possibly late 70’s/early 80’s and as this was ex Old Warden I think it was most likely dismantled rather than a complete airframe so OBW seems the more likely candidate.
Has anyone else got any ideas please?
WJ244From the responses here I gather that the Hanningfield Metals Viscount is a thorny subject. I just wondered if this was the ex Channel Airways cockpit section from the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend which I last saw painted in BMA colours.
WJ244I never actually saw the Stapleford Aerovan but it was often mentioned by various people amongst the group of spotters / enthusiasts who were regulars at Southend in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I was always led to believe that it was kept in one of the hangars on the far side of the airfield which weren’t accessible to the public. I think it is likely that the Stapleford aircraft was the last survivor.
WJ244Hope tango charlie doesn’t mind if I add a few more pictures from a fairly long, tiring but enjoyable day. The last picture is the final solution to get her through the workshop door. The engine bearers had to come off but we got there in the end.
WJ244Thanks for posting again to set the record straight and also for taking the trouble to contact the forum when many would have simply scrapped the parts without bothering to see if anyone was interested.
WJ244I am a bit confused so can someone please clarify. Was Wrecks and Relics wrong to list the Sandy Topen airframes under Bushey or were they kept at a site near his home there as some of the info posted gives conflicting information. Thanks.
WJ244Sorry can’t help with whereabouts of Sandy Topen but if it is any help my 1984 edition of Wrecks and Relics records Auster AOP9 XK416 ex 7855M/G-AYUA as being with Sandy Topen at Bushey together with an unidentified
AOP9 frame.
WJ244Just a further thought. I believe the Real Aeroplane Company has a small collection of “flightless birds” including the Ward Gnome. Maybe the Tawney Owl would make a good addition to their collection. Perhaps someone who reads this forum has contacts there and could pass this on.
WJ244From what other members have said it appears that the info about the crash being fatal is wrong. Unfortunately the lady who was a relative of Thurstons moved to Lincolnshore a few years ago and we lost touch so I can’t get any more information from her.
I seem to remember that the circumstances surrounding the splitting up of the parts was covered by the prominent aviation mags at the time.
Whatever happened all those years ago maybe it is time for all those involved to let bygones be bygones and ensure that the Tawney Owl is preserved. I appreciate that some of the people involved may not feel that way but this would be a far more constructive way forwards rather then seeing most of the aircraft scrapped for want of the cockpit section.
WJ244One of my other halfs friends had a husband who worked at Thurston Engineering about 10 years back. I mentioned the Tawney Owl to her and it turned out that she was related to Thurstons.
Apparently her uncle (I think it was Eric Thurstoon) was killed when the Tawney Owl crashed on its one and only flight and she said the remains had been stored in the factory roof ever since the accident.
It was around that time that a report appeared in Flypast stating that the aircraft was to be preserved. She told me that the company only let the aircraft go because they were glad to see it preserved.
She went on to say that someone called to collect the aircraft and took away some parts only for a second group of people to turn up a week or so later claiming that they had the ownership and they carted off the rest. If she got this part of the story right then this explains how the fuselage became seperated from the rest.
If I had the room I would gladly look after the wings etc and try to reunite them with the rest of the aeroplane but I haven’t got any space or suitable transport.
Please can someone save this. It does seem a great pity that Thurstons kept the airframe for all those years only for it to be scrapped because the parts got seperated in rather strange circumstances.
WJ244Presumerably it is possible to make a profit itherwise we wouldn’t see the same organisers coming back year after year BUT you have to bear in mind that they will have built up years of contacts to help keep things running smoothly. The time, manpower and financial outlay to get a show up and running from scratch including the cost of booking participants (even if we assume some of the military still appear for free) together with insurance, hire of airfield, toilets and staff etc must be huge. The UK weather must also mean that the chances of a loss are high – bear in mind the washout at Fairford this year.
Sorry to pour cold water on the idea but quite honestly if you want to raise some money for a charity then there must be ways which involve far less outlay and far less risk of failiure due to weather etc than an airshow.
Maybe something like a classic car show or classic motorcycle show would be less daunting and financially more viable for a small charity.
I don’t know where you live but if it is near me then by all means send a PM and I will try to point you in the direction of some people who may help with cars or motorcycles. Please don’t dismiss the motorcycle idea – most classic bike enthusiasts are in their 50’s and 60’s and are way past being Hells Angels and the truth is few , if any, were Hells Angels even when they were young.
Sign In
