ballturret,

You’re right about the cockpit section. To quote Johnathan Falconer’s book Filming the Dam Busters: [QUOTE]For the scenes depicting action inside the Lancasters themselves, Associated British constructed mock-ups of the various crew stations, as well as installing a complete Lancster nose section in the studio, mounted on a pivoting platform. […] The cockpit controls were linked to a motor beneath the platform to create what was in essence a simple flight simulator. […] During the long spells of filming in the studio, Richard Todd was strapped into the pilot’s seat in the nose section for hours at a time while scenes were shot again and again […] To help pass the time between takes, Todd was taught how to ‘fly’ the platform correctly by an RAF flying instructor.[/QUOTE]
Sadly, the book doesn’t answer your question about where this ‘compete Lancaster nose section’ came from or what happened to it.

Pete

Whilst the loan of the RAF Museum Meteor was a good idea maybe time for a change ?

Yes and the museum’s management felt the same way. The changes began a few week’s ago when the Hurricane FSM was moved across the aisle in the Merston Hall to be next to the Spitfire prototype, replacing the SE5a replica cockpit and the Canberra B2 cockpit. The SE5a has been moved near to the Swift, co-locating it with the Hunter and Provost cockpits – a much more sensible arrangement. The Canberra cockpit has been temporarily re-located to the conservation hanger but will return to the main museum when all the other moves have been completed.

The Meteor (EE549) will be back at the museum by mid-July where it will be re-assembled by the same Cosford team who took it apart last week. The original plan was for it to return to the position opposite WB188 where it has lived for many years but, having seen the quite stunning visual impact that the Lysander has in that position when entering the Merston Hall, EE549 will now be displayed in the position previously occupied by the Hurricane FSM with the Lysander staying where it now is.

Pete

Does anyone know when or why it picked up the Polish insignia on the engine cowl? It is of course in 1sqn Battle of France colours so the Polish addition makes no immediate sense.

Yes, it does look odd but there is an explanation. During the summer holiday months we ran a special exhibition on Polish and Czech airmen in Sussex during the Second World War and the Hurricane was temporarily given the markings of Josef František’s R4175. Although most of the temporary markings have now been removed with the end of the exhibition, the Polish insignia has yet to be done.

There’s a news item on the change of markings here: http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/news/change-of-markings-for-the-museums-hurricane and a report on the exhibition here: http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/polish-and-czech-fighter-pilot-exhibition

Incidentally, the Phantom repaint is the work of just one dedicated volunteer who’s been beavering away for the best part of this year outside in all weathers – I’m sure he’ll be delighted to know his efforts are being appreciated.

Pete

You may well be right – I’m nowhere near as familiar with the view of the Downs from Goodwood as I am from Tangmere – but they always seem closer at Goodwood than they appear to be in this photo. I’ll stick with Tangmere for the moment but – with apologies to the OP for the slight thread drift – I’m keen to hear any evidence to the contrary as I regularly use this photo in talks and would hate to think I was giving out incorrect info about it.

P.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think that? I can’t find any reference to 411 being at Westhampnett although I guess some aircraft could have been dispersed there while the squadron was at Tangmere.

Also, if the date of 22 June for the photo given in the link in CAF-UK’s post is correct, then it’s unlikely to be at either Tangmere or Westhampnett – the squadron left on 18 June for France and began operating from B4 on 19/06.

P.

I suspect my bank account is being emptied by some Hungarian (?) bandits as I write this!

Any guesses at a translation…

Google Translate detects the language as Turkish and offers the following translation:

Thank you for your support to the campaign

Thanks to the campaign you take an important step to succeed. The campaign will be shown to 69 people and will be urged to participate.

Payment summary

Make of that what you will.

Being done at Tangmere, too.
http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/news/museums-spitfire-replica-cockpit
PP

I hope you all enjoyed your visit. I have to say, whoever did the stall allocation has one heck of a sense of humour!

Pete