Duxford Tuesday 2nd April:
After some engine runs yesterday, the OFMC Spitfire MH434 returned to the air today following a five month hibernation. A local test, then a wonderful work-out in the sunshine. Not bad for a seventy-year-old (the Spitfire that is, not the pilot)
The list of cameras is a long one, and the set above includes scans of colour negatives and slides, but I’ve been a Canon user for a long time now. Looking back at the 2003 Legends pictures (from colour print negatives), I wish I’d gone digital earlier. Oddly enough, my very first digital photo was taken exactly nine years ago on April 1st 2004, of the Plane Sailing Catalina just two days after arrival as C-FNJF:
Nine years and 40,000 digital images later, and still looking for the right camera and lens….
Duxford Monday 1st April:
70 years ago today, the 78th FG started their move from Goxhill to Duxford. The event won’t be commemorated until the Spring Airshow, so in the meantime here are some pictures of aircraft wearing the famous black and white checkerboard markings.
The TFC P-47D ‘No Guts No Glory’ flew from Duxford for 20 years (that’s more than ten times as long as the 78th FG Thunderbolts) Now N147PF, but still carrying the same markings:
Presently King of Hangar 2, Snafu will hopefully be busy this year:
When ‘Twilight Tear’ arrived for TFC, it was thought to be a 78th FG veteran P-51D. Sadly a case of mistaken identity, and she returned to Duxford in 2011 with the Horsemen as the Pacific war veteran P-51K ‘Fragile But Agile’. Whatever her history was, the slightly ‘war weary’ finish looked very authentic:
The 2003 Flying Legends weekend saw the 60th anniversary marked with a warbird formation featuring a visiting TF-51D (Cavalier) Mustang. NL20TF (for Tom Friedkin) is a Bolivian Air Force veteran, still in the same colours but now ‘Bum Steer’:
The three-ship was the 2003 Legends highlight:
Sadly lost but fondly remembered, ‘Big Beautiful Doll’:
The original BBD was famous as the mount of the 78th FG Commanding Officer, Lt Col John D Landers, who had made ‘ace’ in the Pacific and again in Europe before starting his third combat tour at Duxford. No surprise that IWM chose to use the markings on the ex-Canadian P-51D when first restored in 1975. She is still ‘Big Beautiful Doll’ but is presently hiding from her admirers in Hangar 5. (Seen here 29-6-75)
Another Mustang flying as ‘Big Beautiful Doll’ is the ex Nicaraguan P-51D flown by Ed Shipley from 1992 to 2002 as NL51ES (seen at Lakeland April 1994):
A new owner, but same name as NL351BD (photo thanks to Dave Jones, at the Columbus Gathering 28-9-07):
Viewers of a nervous disposition should look away now, as I include the Titan T-51 G-MUZY for completeness:
Other Mustangs wearing 78th FG marks include ‘The Jacky C’ which was N38JC in the nineties, and now N51VF ‘Shangri-La’. Seen here at Lakeland April 1994:
In the Eighties, NL5551D ‘414251’ flew as ‘Contrary Mary’. Now ‘Bonnie’ and preserved in the San Diego Air And Space Museum. This pic from 1987 by John Kerr via Tony Clarke:
When the American Air Museum was opened at Duxford in 1997, the P-51 had to be represented by a replica. Originally named ‘Sherman Was Right’, it will probably be replaced by the real thing in a couple of years. First pic 15-6-97:
Finally, when owned by the Proudfoot family in the nineties, Cub G-AKAZ was marked HL 6 7/8 as a 78th FG hack. Pic from Tony Clarke Collection:
Have I forgotten anything?
Duxford Sunday 31st March:
The Spring weather hasn’t quite arrived yet, but there were a few promising signs of things to come.
The Catalina looks almost ready for some fresh air and exercise:
Sally B is being buttoned up for the season. The famous cowling:
Now attached:
Some pics of the B-17 interior. As well as routine engineering work over the winter, a lot of work has gone into the fixtures and fittings (for example those canvas bins for spent cartridges). Thanks to SC for the tour:
Some other activity from today:
Duxford Saturday 30th March:
Many thanks to Roobarb for background on the Hurricane. Hopefully more details of the rebuild will appear in the press next month. PZ865 is spending Easter in Hangar 2, well defended against unwelcome attention. Thanks to Fred Taylor for this great shot from yesterday:
Here is PZ865 the last time she was in Hangar 2, shortly before the rebuild started, in December 2010:
Otherwise nothing new to report. Two visitors, a German registered Cessna 170A from yesterday, and a Cessna 180K this morning. Both British based.
Duxford Thursday 28th March:
A quick stop at 4 o’clock was too late to see a display practice from the Sabre. I’m told it was a stirring sight (and sound). All I could manage was a shot of the F-86 just before she was put inside:
Things did improve, however:
What a gem!
Duxford Wednesday 27th March:
It was pointed out this morning that 27th March was the arrival date in 1998 of the IWM CASA 2.111.
Originally an OFMC airframe, it arrived underneath a German Army CH-53. There are rumours that it was lucky to arrive, having been close to release over water en route. I had to wait until the next day to get photos (the weather looks very similar to today):
Here she is today, 15 years after arrival:
The CASA is marked as ‘B21-27’, although that is the identity of N99230 in Texas. It was part of a deal with the Spanish Air Force involving the construction of a DH.4 replica for the Museo Del Aire in Madrid:
The Spring Airshow poster has been updated, see if you can spot the difference:
Version 1:
Version 2:
Duxford’s Spring Airshow is now featuring in the aviation press. The flying programme will probably get some re-arranging due to the USAF withdrawals, so it could be a while before the participants are listed.
It is interesting that the poster features a 78th FG P-51D. The IWM ‘Big Beautiful Doll’ remains stored but hopefully will be part of this Spring’s anniversary events.
Duxford Monday 25th March:
Just one picture today, of the TFC Gladiator in Hangar 2. Undercarriage fairings, spinner and many fuselage panels are the most obvious additions since the last pic here in February:
Here are two shots from the above Duxford events (from the Tony Clarke Collection).
F-86A Sabre 49-1071 was based at Shepherd’s Grove near Bury St Edmunds with the 116th FIS. This had been an ANG unit until the Korean War caused an expansion of forces in Europe. Seen at Duxford 20th September 1952.
Tempest TT.V EJ660 is part of the Duxford static on 19th September 1953. This very aircraft had shot down a pair of Fw190’s on 23-1-45 in the hands of Greek ace Basilios Vassiliades, and was later converted for target towing duties. Can anyone identify the unit ?
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