I too am eagerly looking forward to seeing this lovely machine take to the skies – all credit to the guys at Kennet! And if I hear anyone at an airshow ever say “oh look, another Spitfire”, I’ll personally lump ’em!!
It would be interesting to know whether this scheme was indeed based on a 799 Sqn Seafire from Yeovilton or a 764 Sqn aircraft – both of whom used this code range, but at different times (799 was May 48 – Dec 51, with 764 being May 53 to Nov 54). I’ve attached a photo of the last line-up of 764 Sqn aircraft at Yeovilton when they disbanded in Nov 1954 as the last Seafire unit. Note how much thicker the codes are and the fact that they are not of the fragmented style. I hope that, in the finishing touches, the very prominent Dzus fastener marks will be applied to the cowling along with all of the other various servicing placards as it would look far too ‘clean’ otherwise.
As for what the Warpaint book says, I’d be a bit cautious as the set of images on the inside front page shows a Seafire 17 with a 5-bladed prop!!
Personally I would have loved to have seen the aircraft decked out in one of the very smart (and sadly much-ignored) RNVR schemes such as 1832 Sqn SAD Culham or 1833 Sqn Bramcote, or even an early 800/804/807 Sqn scheme in the EDSG with Sky-S undersides. With SX336 not having any known service history it can quite legitimately be a bit of a blank canvas, so perhaps something for the future?
Just quoting from the book. Not saying they were permenantly based there – maybe just on temporary detachment?
What book would that be, out of interest?
SX336 is painted to represent a 766 Squadron machine, as Mike said, Yeovilton based.
Think you mean 764 Sqn, based at RNAS Yeovilton. 766 Sqn was at Lossiemouth.
Two black cats – Merlin and Griffon! 🙂
Kennet SEAFIRE MK.XVII G-KASX SX 336
Air_Britain’s ‘Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft Since 1946’ shows the following service history for SX336:
“Ready for collection, 30 April 1946; delivered RDU Culham, May 46; AHU Abbotsinch, 21 August 46; tested 22 November 46 – 3 December 46; to GI Class II as A571; At Bramcote as A2055, June 53; AHU Stretton, 27 July 55 (fire fighting practice); sold for scrap to British Aluminium, Latchford Lock, Warrington?; Joseph Brierley & Son scrapyard, Warrington.”
It was at the latter location that Mark 12 came to the rescue.
The aircraft appears to have never been issued to a front-line or reserve squadron.
BR
Laurie.
Well, that’s all the information we could muster. Mark12 did help to sort out the very convoluted relationship with the other Seafires that contributed to this terrific project. It goes without saying that I’m very much looking forward to seeing SX336 take to the skies. An early Seafire F.17 scheme would be very nice!
Cheers
Lee
No – co-author of a new tome due out in a couple of month’s time: “Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft Since 1946″……watch this space!
FAO Cestrian
Cestrian
Can you contact me off list (or send me a PM with your e-mail address)?
Cheers
Lee
Sea Hornets & Fireflies
Having just been made aware of this forum (which is terrific!!) I have the following comments on the previous exchanges which might hopefully be of use:
The Firefly fuselage marked “277” was actually WB298 (not WD).
Wrecks & Relics listed the remnants of “TT20?” and “VZ66?” Three TT-serialled Sea Hornets are known to have ended up at Minworth Metals at Castle Bromwich, these being TT205, TT208 and TT209. It is a good bet that these ended up at Failsworth as scrap does seem to have moved between yards from time to time. I have no record of TT207 at Failsworth (doesn’t mean that it wasn’t, though).
As for VZ66-serialled Sea Hornets all bar VZ664 (which became an instructional airframe in 1954) were sold for scrap on 22 July 1957, which doesn’t help with the identification of this particular wing section.
If anyone has any further details of these aircraft then I’d love to hear of them. Similarly any logs of Naval aircraft (all the Fireflies etc) and the dates they were noted would be hugely welcomed if you could contact me off list.
Cheers
Lee Howard
co-author “Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft Since 1946”, Air-Britain (due early 2004)
Sea Hornet in Plymouth
Originally posted by slicer
Does anybody remember, or know the history, of the Hornet that was on wooden poles in a “crash” situation at the Paradise Road (I think….it’s a long time ago) civil defense site in Devonport, Plymouth, in the 60’s. If I remember correctly (I used to pass it every day on the bus, going to school) it was substantially complete then. Wonder where it went?
The aircraft was TT187 and by May 1959 was in a scrapyard in Plymouth.
Hope that helps.
Lee Howard
Air-Britain