Ferguson potato ridger

Hi Adrian

Unfortunately the person who could give you the details of the ridger is ‘unavailable’ for comment on this forum at the moment.
I myself was once the proud owner of a very respectable ‘grey’ Ferguson tractor. However no offence intended or taken.

I also have reserves about the final outcome of 764, but at least the recovery has made available the possibility of a rebuild. Secrecy in the early days of a historic rebuild is such that I have no knowlege as to the present whereabouts and furtherance of the project. Nevertheless we can wait and hope.

Recovered from a dig

I put these pics on the ‘Spitfire pictures’ post but have had a couple of sneering replies about ‘junk and scrap metal’ together with farm machinery ect.

I suppose some people think that all the flying Spitfires were delivered whole and flyable, but most of us know that many of them started from scrap yards, fire dumps, playgrounds ect.

MA 764 is probably one of the most complete Spitfire digs ever, certainly as far as the firewall, cockpit, and a small area of fusalage behind the cockpit is concerned.

Even though there was some anguish amongst the recovery team to start with, this one was not taken away and broken up into collectors bits and pieces. It was all kept together and will, I’m told, form the basis for a new aeroplane in the years to come.

If that happens, then it will show what can be achieved by recoveries carried out with a mind to preserve and show the aeroplane to this and the next generation.

To recover or not recover !

A fascinating thread, bearing in mind that there has been a recent recovery operation taking place over the last couple of weeks at Gravesend.

I have been involved in many digs over the last thirty odd years to recover researched aircraft and display those parts together with their history, in museums around the Southern half of England. The whole idea was to preserve their history whilst eye witnesses were still alive to point us in the general direction of a site. The enjoyment of the hobby has always been the search and eventual recovery of items that had a history and could be displayed and explained to future generations.

I will accept that a recovery will spawn an excess of bits and pieces that will fall into the hands of those who do not preserve them. However many bits are kept in private hands for the owner’s enjoyment, no different to any other ‘collecting’ hobby.
If you leave them underground, who is to police their eventual recovery and distribution in the future?

The difficulties of a recovery are borne out by the Eric William’s Hurricane at Gravesend. Here we have a situation of a known site for sixty seven years which contained the body of a dead airman. The site is to be built over eventually, and time and conditions made it essential for the recovery to be undertaken as soon as possible.

Two attempts at recovery have failed for one reason or another. Should another try be undertaken, or should we wash our hands and forget about it ?? I think not. It seems to me that some people think we are ghouls and body snatchers for wanting our nation’s war dead to be recovered and buried with honour and dignity. All of us who are prepared to speak our minds and spend precious time researching and finding fallen airman, do so with humble hearts and serious minds so as to show our respect and thanks to those who gave their lives for our future.

I would like to know what words in the suspended thread brought about the pressure from whom, to our webmaster, for him to kill off the discussions and free speech on this website.

How very sad and tragic to lose such an aircraft and its pilot on such a day.

Sincere condolences to all the family and friends.

R for Robert

R for Robert Hurricane P2902. R-DX
Built as one of the first production batch of 500 aircraft built by the Gloster Aircraft Co.Ltd, Brockworth during 1939/40 under contract no 962371/38/c.23a. Fitted with Merlin 111 and Rotol three blade propeller. First flight in Oct 1939 and by May 1940 was operational with 245 Sqd. at Drem. and coded
R-DX.
Relocated to Hawkinge 28th May 1940 and flown by P.O. McGlashan over Dunkirk on his first operational sortie on the 29th.
On 31st Of May, having returned to Kenley the previous day, the entire squadron of twelve aircraft were scrambled at midday to engage German bomber activity over Dunkirk. During a fierce engagement with Me 109’s, McGlashan was hit in the thigh and the aircraft severely damaged. After a vertical dive from 25,000 ft, McGlashan force landed,wheels up, on the beach near the Belgian border. He returned to England after an eventfull journey aboard a paddle steamer.

Further details available on request.
Peter

‘Forced landing’

The correct pilot’s wording for this landing would be a ‘precautionary landing’.
If the aircraft was unable to maintain normal flying attitudes the pilot would have to decare a ’emergancy’, and force land the aircraft wherever as soon as possible.
In this case, the pilot would asses that to continue on one engine was feasable, but increased the danger to the aircraft and all persons aboard if the second engine should fail. He would therefore take the decision to land at the nearest arfield or safe landing ground as a precautionary landing.

DH9 unveiling

I am somewhat surprised( although I shouldn’t be), at the sniping comments made by a small number of members when a ‘new’ treasured icon of our flying heritage is unveiled to the world of historic aviation.
The words ‘replica’, sums of money and ‘swaps’ are all in the dictionary of historic aircraft recoveries and rebuilds.
How many members would dearly love to be involved in the sharp end of these now rare discoveries and rebuilds. Let us not forget the months, or even years of work and frustration, in just locating and rescuing these icons, let alone the fastidious and expensive craftsmanship required to produce such perfection .
I, and many others, are eternally grateful to those people, wealthy and dedicated , or just dedicated, who produce the cockpit rebuilds, the static exhibits and the flying icons for us and future generations, to admire.
Well done to all involved in this latest treasure.
May the flying one be with us soon. Then the keyboard tappers will have some more to say.