Neil

I had to furnish the county archaeologist with a project report for the 3 digs we are currently excavating. In each case, I produced a fairly detailed approach to what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. I would suggest keeping the county archaeologist on your side, though they do not have much veto rights unless there are what they would consider significant archaeological remains there (say saxon or roman etc – lots of them around us!). In my experience they maintain a watching brief and have been interested, but no more.

Like everything in life, it can be as easy or as hard as you wish to make it
cheers
Tony

I’m interested to hear from other groups who participate in excavating aircraft.

I have the license for a Hawker Tempest from the MOD and the permission from the farmer but the county Archaeologist is giving me quite alot to think about in how the excavation should be completed.

I understand the position which he is coming from and i do wish the excavation to be done right but he uses the term “archaeological standards” alot in his email and im wondering if all of these standards are appropriate for Aviation Wreckology.

If it seems that i currently cant facilitate an appropriate excavation then i will walk away and make arrangements for a memorial to the pilot.

What problems have other groups come across?

I stripped out lots of these type of connectors over the years from my Hunter cockpits….some may still be in the museum but may require work.

A good post Peter……

I find it odd/annoying that BC and Bomber Harris get so much grief when it was Hitler and the people who elected him and kept him and his cronies in power who took the lid off Pandora’s box unleashing a hideous scourge on the world…..20+Million Russians and 6 Million Jews not to mention the losses of the Allied forces and populations ridding the world of that scourge.
BH did have misgivings and spent his latter years near me in Oxfordshire.

The carpet bombing of cities was sad and there was a wanton waste of life (on both sides)…..but what would you have done Wilhem to rid the world of the Nazis?

Back to the initial thread…..I read a terribly sad story in the After the Battle magazine of the sole survivor of a B17 crew (who only survived because the German populace thought he was dead)

Here are a few pics of the prototype replica control wheel,getting the “dipping”correct was fun,but now very pleased with the outcome.Just for an alternate look we have tried string wrapping the wheel ,[just like the pilots high powered Lagonda car ] with what I think is a very pleasing result.

The string wrapped wheel is an optional finish.As i mention in my Lancaster seat posting these parts are being reproduced to generate income for the restoration of FM 104 in Toronto.Follow on projects WILL be the control column and the control pedestal assemblies [throttle box].

for more information please view their restoration site or contact; [email]lancasterfm104@hotmail.com[/email]

Geoff, you have inspired me to dig out my control wheel for restoration….I have been trying for years to convince AirMinistry to let me have some bits to finish mine to no avail!!!:)

yep my Merlin III plates are nicely engraved too…as are my lims plates from Battle, Hampden, Blenheim etc

Now we will just wait for the first Wyvern data plate rebuild, Rocketeer. 🙂

Well, it will make a change from Spitfires!

tee hee!