Ant.HRE: K5054 replicas
The Du Cros replica was severely damaged in 1998.The pilot overshot on landing,but when he opened the throttle nothing happened.He was forced to attempt a landing in the next field,but unfortunately a hedge got in the way!She shed a wing and various other bits and pieces and ended up in a heap in the corner of the field.Thankfully the pilot walked away.She’s now in storage with the Southampton Hall of Aviation awaiting a rebuild to static condition.
The Spitfire Society’s replica is now on display at Tangmere as part of a display about RJ Mitchell and the Spitfire,including a waxwork of the man himself.
Ant.HRE: Bf-110
Just to correct myself,Epro210’s leader was Walter Rubensdorffer,as opposed to Hans.Grey matter does certainly play some funny tricks on you!
As an addition to my previous post,I should also mention the unit’s attacks on Manston in late July and early August,both of which were highly succesful.One raid in conjunction with Do17’s of KG2 put Manston out of action for more than 24hrs.
Ant.HRE: Bf-110
When considering the Bf110 in the context of the Battle of Britain,it could also be argued that the escort tactics employed by the Luftwaffe did not suit the type.The 110 could have been devastating if it had been allowed to fly at 25,000ft+,swooping down on the intercepting Hurris and Spits and then zooming back up to altitude with impunity.Unfortunately (or fortunately,depending which way you look at it!) Goering himself insisted that his fighters should stay close to the bombers,so that the 110s didn’t have much of a height advantage to play with.You could say that the Zestorergeshwader were operating with one hand tied behind thier backs.
A more successful side of the 110’s involvement in the Battle is often overlooked.This is the role played by Eprobungsgruppe210 (Epr210).
Thier leader Hans Rubensdorffer was said to be one of the finest leaders in the Luftwaffe.It was this unit under his leadership that almost completely destroyed Ventnor radar station on the Isle of Wight on Eagle Day,August 13th.The bombing was deadly accurate and all the Gruppe’s 110’s returned safely.Less successful was an attack a few days later on Hawkinge aerodrome-they bombed the disused Croydon Airport by mistake!Thier second attempt on Hawkinge was even worse,a number of the gruppe’s aircraft being damaged or shot down. Rubensdorffer himself was killed on this raid,and his loss was devastating to thier previously unshakable morale.The gruppe’s performance deteriorated somewhat after his loss,but I reckon that it could be argued on the basis of the Gruppe’s overall record that the Bf110 made a significant contribution to the Luftwaffe’s overall effort in the Battle of Britain.I would certainly agree that the Bf110 has had something of an unfairly bad press,and it would be good to see one flying again so that perhaps we can get some idea of it’s capabilities for ourselves 🙂
Ant.HRE: Self sealing fuel tanks + Spitfire
Have been doing a bit of research and I’m now a bit clearer on the subject.It all really depends what is meant by a self sealing fuel tank.It is true that rubber linings were fitted inside conventional metal tanks by 1940,but this gave only limited protection.If a relatively small calibre bullet were to puncture the tank,then the rubber lining could cope with it,but against cannon shells it stood no chance.During tests carried out in the US before the war some designs of tank simply disintergrated when hit by a cannon shell,making the tank’s lining rather irrelevent!The shockwaves of the shell’s impact,coupled with it’s detonation,sent massive shocks through the structure of the tank,so even if it didn’t explode or disintergrate it would almost certainly suffer a severe rupture.Rubber linings also did little to reduce the risk of explosion of the tank through the ignition of the highly flammable gases within.So all in all the rubber linings only overcame one or two of the shortfalls of a conventional tank.
Much better were the later bag-type tanks because these deflated as the fuel was used and the highly flammable gases within the tank were allowed to escape,decreasing the risk of explosion by a long way.They also had no structural parts to them,so they didn’t rupture or disintergrate to such a great extent.
An interesting sidenote is the case of the LaGG-3,and a number of later Russian fighters.They used a system whereby some of the exhaust gases were syphoned off down the fuselage to a box full of copper filings in the tail,the copper having some sort of benefitial effect on the exhaust gases(the gases also cooled as they travelled up and down the fuselage piping) and then sent back into the fuel tanks.This had the effect of neutralising the flammable gases within the tank and thereby reducing the chance of explosion.The fuel tanks themselves were also lined with self sealing rubber.The only drawback was that the exhaust gases started eating into the rubber tank linings,but the benefits seem to have outweighed the problems.
Hope this clears up one or two things.
Ant.HRE: Self sealing fuel tanks + Spitfire
I’m not sure how widespread self sealing tanks were in the Battle of Britain-it’s actually news to me that there were any as early as 1940.I’ve always thought that the majority were unprotected,so I’ll have to do a bit of research…
Ant.HRE: Bf-110
The Bf110 had the Shrage Musik installation fitted between the pilot and observer,the butts of the cannon being just behind the observer’s seat.Other types had as many as 4 cannon built more integrally into the rear fuselage or centre section,some versions of the Do217s and Ju88s being possibly the most heavilly armed nightfighters of thier day.The only aircraft I can think of which had Shrage Musik designed into it from the start was the He219 Uhu,and that also had a conventional forward firing installation.
The Japanese adapted a number of thier nightfighters with a similar device,including the Ki45 Toryu and the Ki-46 Dinah.This usually consisted of either a single heavy calibre cannon (37mm,40mm etc) or a pair of smaller calibre (20mm,30mm) guns.They met with some success, and it proved to be useful in B29 interceptions because the Japanese nightfighters couldn’t always reach B29 altitudes and bring thier conventional forward firing guns to bear.
Ant.HRE: Doodlebug Summer
My TV listings guide says that ‘Doodlebug Summer’ is on Sunday 14th April at 4.15pm on ITV1.Is it part of a series?If so I’ve missed the first part 🙁 My TV guide covers the LWT region,so you might find that it’s shown at a different time or date in other areas.
Ant.HRE: Self sealing fuel tanks + Spitfire
I’ve read recently that Hugh Dowding expressed an interest in self sealing tanks as early as the mid-1930’s.When he met a team of government scientists he was purposely shown the wieght and performance figures for armoured fuel tanks rather than self sealing ones.It seems that to introduce self sealing tanks would have cost money,so the government decieved him with these figures to try and put him off the idea.Sadly it worked,and so the majority of Spitfires and Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain had no form of fuel tank protection at all,with dire consequences for many of ‘The Few’.
Ant.HRE: Doodlebug Summer
The piloted V1’s were used as development aircraft for the unmanned machines.Early unmanned prototypes refused to fly properly,so it was decided that a manned version should be used to try and identify and remedy the handling deficiencies.There was also a plan to use them operationally,the plan allegedly being that the pilot bailed out before impact,but in practice this probably wouldn’t have been possible.No manned version were ever used operationally.
The name of the female test pilot I think was Hannah Reich.
Ant.HRE: Pic Of The Day-04/04/02!!
I agree it would be great to see an airworthy Victor,but unfortunately I think it would be a near impossibility.The Victor was in service so long that the supply of airworthy spares was practically exhausted.Even keeping the two taxiable examples in working order is proving to be very tricky.It has been said that it is easier to get airworthy spares for a Lancaster than many of the parts for a Victor.You’d also have to consider the Voctor’s popularity.How many people have heard of a Victor and would be willing to donate to the project?
On the subject of Victors,does anyone know what plans there are for Duxford’s B.K.1?I saw a Victor included in the new superhanger plans a few months back,so does this mean her future is now assured?
Ant.HRE: Russian Spitfires
According to Bill Gunston’s ‘Aircraft of World War Two’,143 Mk.V(5) Spitfires were sent to the Soviets,and 1,188 Mk.IX’s (9’s).Most were delivered in the standard RAF grey/green camouflage,although some are thought to have later been painted by the Russians in thier own types of camouflage.The Fighter Collection currently holds a wrecked Mk.IX in storage that was recovered from Russia.Thier website contains some pics that might be worth a look.
Another Spit IX was also recovered from Russia a few years back.She hit the ground in an inverted flat spin sometime in 1944,killing the pilot.There was originally a plan to restore this aircraft to airworthy condition,but I think the plan was abandoned due to the very substantial damage.
Hope this helps.
Ant.HRE: Another
Nice pic Keith!The Javelin has always been a bit of a favourite of mine.I reckon the 9’s were the best looking of the bunch,particularly with the refuelling probe fitted,although I know some would disagree.
It seems strange that this one isn’t fitted with a probe when you consider that it was on a long range ferry flight.Could that be the reason why this one didn’t refuel in flight with the others? Just a thought…
Ant.HRE: Mystery Jet Provost
I’ve been staying in Abingdon in Oxfordshire for the last few weeks (hence my recent lack of postings!),and I have seen what I presume to be this JP flying overhead on a number of occasions. Certainly makes a pleasant change to the usual light stuff and the endless Merlin helicopters!
Ant.HRE: I know this is a long shot but…….
I’m afraid I can’t give a precise identity for him,but the theory of him being a Pole is doubtful in my opinion.Foreign nationals in the RAF usually wore a shoulder patch bearing the name of thier home country eg Canada,Norway etc etc.The chap in the picture doesn’t appear to have these shoulder flashes.
Having said that he does ‘look’ Polish or Czech,so perhaps this is where the idea originates,and perhaps he is a Pole afterall.
It would be great if someone could firmly identify him.
Ant.HRE: Underwater Wellington
While she does look tantalisingly complete,we have to remember that she is in warm salt water-a far cry from the cold depths of Loch Ness.Aswell as the corrosive effects of the salt,there are a great myriad of organisms in the oceans which actually live on these wrecks.
Certain sponges and corals remove various chemical elements from the metals,and in extreme cases what you end up with can be a ‘ghost’- say a prop blade made entirely of coral as the real blade itself has been eaten away.
What this means is that you could attempt to raise it and have it fall apart,or you could find on closer inspection that it is in far worse condition than was initially thought.Recoveries from the sea are fraught with all sorts of other obstacles,including bearacratic ones,particularly if the wreck is in international waters.
Having said all this,take a look at what is going on at the Maltese aviation museum.Thier Hurricane is now well on the way to becoming taxiable,so salt-water wrecks aren’t always irredeemable.
If I remember rightly,there was an attempt to raise funds for the recovery of this Wellington some 5 years ago,but nothing came of it.
To conclude,any plan to recover this machine would have to be meticulously planned and rather expensive.With any luck she’ll be in decent condition and we’ll have a third surviving Wellington.On the other hand you could end up with empty pockets and a heap of coral encrusted wreckage to deal with.
The best of luck to anyone intending to raise her.
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