I’ve seen XH558 and P5M over here in Virginia…

Cheers,
Richard

There is the botched up recovery of Peter Cazenoves Spitfire from the Calais beach (now supposedly under restoration in the UK).

I have always been curious about this aircraft. What was recovered, any photos? How was the recovery botched? How could anything from this aircraft make it into an airworthy restoration, since it was in such a hostile environment?

When recovering a wreck a lot of preparation is to be done before the actual recovery takes place. Some cases have proved that this still stands.

You are so right Cees… the US Navy’s recovery attempt of the Mariner was horrific… they literally tried to haul it out, without removing the tons of silt built up inside…. with predictable results… a diver died of the bends on that mission too I believe.

The B-29 was lost as the result of stupidity… an open canister of gasoline feeding the APU… very bumpy taxiing surface… again, very predicatable results…. a guy died as a result of that expedition too.

Then there was the condor…. how anyone could lift a condor out of the sea without a proper bracing frame for support is beyond me… the type was well known for having a weak back… again… predictable results.

I’m sure that there are others… the rumored scrapping of Tempest II’s in India after Doug Arnold recovered the others, therefore reducing the supply, and boosting the price of those already acquired….

There are, sadly, many stories like these. However, we have had some wonderful recoveries too. Take Peter Vacher’s Hurricane I, R4118. I’ve just been reading his fascinating book on the recovery and restoration of this beautiful aircraft. It is a story of the most tenacious persistence I think I have ever read about in the vintage aviation world. Hats off to Peter for a remarkable effort, and a very well researched and readable book too.

Cheers,
Richard

During the cold war there was obviously many efforts taken by US and USSR governments to obtain enemy aircraft for testing and evaluation.

I have seen many old pictures of MiG17s and 21s being tested by the US and F86s, F5s and older B29s by the Russians but the getting hold of which aircraft could be described as the Coup De Grace of the cold war?

Did you really mean Coup de Grace??? That’s the term used when someone shot by firing squad is given the final tap on the noggin with the firing squad commander’s pistol. Unless you meant meant the term to describe the final “nail in the coffin” for the Soviet’s, I am not sure it makes much sense? And even if so, I doubt that any one aircraft acquisition was the result of that.

If you meant the most important acquisition by either side during the cold war, then it was probably the nuclear weapon secrets given to the Russians by Claus Fuchs, or perhaps the Sapphire jet engine given to them freely by Clement Atlee. As far as the most significant aircraft acquisition… certainly the most spectacular was the MiG-25 already mentioned.

Cheers,
Richard

Here are some pictures of the Carvair, and other aircraft operated/owned by Brooks Air Fuels in Fairbanks, Alaska. I took these last summer. I was back there again this March, and got to go inside the mighty beast. It’s quite tricky climbing the vertical ladder into the cockpit in snow boots! I haven’t posted the most recent pictures, but if anyone’s interested I will.

All the best,
Richard

Brooks Air Fuel

Thank you so much for posting this story, and these photographs. They gave me such a lift, and I laughed out loud with joy at the images of Ken flying his autogyro. It has been a very difficult few days here in Blacksburg, Virginia, and this has really cheered me up. Thanks again for the wonderful story and photos.

Cheers,
Richard

Me too… Enough to make you weep, but I did manage to get airborne in one once.. unforgettable experience.

The Survivors…

http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Cosford.html XH 672
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Marham.html XH673
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Elvington.html XL231
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Bruntingthorpe.html XM715

You forgot B.1A(K2P) XH648 at Duxford, but you are right, it is a crying shame that more could not be saved. At least there are 6 or 7 cockpit sections surviving… which is more than you could say for the poor old Valiant.

Cheers. Richard

Sorry to hear that you’ve been so ill Jules, but very glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery. No questions, but I follow your posts with great interest. Thanks for continuing to post.

All the best,
Richard

I too agree that it is probably a Sea Hawk. The tail looks very similar, and if you look at the center section wreckage you can clearly see the fuselage engine ducts. Interesting photographs… thanks for posting. Do you know what will happen with the remains?

Cheers. Richard