potted history of P8727

Hi
A Harrowbeer 276Sq spitfire, so I have a ‘potted data history’ probably from the spitfire ‘bible’.

P8727 IIa CBAF960 CBAF MXII
24MU 18-7-41
FAAC 23-7-41
Scottish Aviation PIGTW 25-2-42
AST 5-2-43 Cv V M45 Cv ASRIIc
276S 13-7-43
ASTE CB ops 20-5-44 SOC
sold L Branson Kings Langley 24-7-46
G-AHZI crashed Kastrup Airport Denmark 15-4-47

So she was actually a Mk V not a IIc according to the above data.
Of interest it seems that an ASR IIc could have ‘a’ or ‘b’ armament from photos, the ‘c’ purely indicating the ASR fit, although I have one photo of a 276Sq spit with cannon in the wing position like a ‘c’ cannon wing.
Cheers
jerry

manuals

I’m waiting for a list of APs and drawings which still exist from various sources, and sadly large companies don’t work as fast as me… so wait I must….

Hi,
The PRO/NA at kew have I am sure a whirlwind AP, so it might be worth a visit with a digital camera.
As I recall they don’t have a peregrine manual, I think rolls has the only one.
But the manuals for the sub systems, I think were at the PRO/NA, Unfortunately I never found the time to do them,
I always got sidetracked with something else…
Please keep us updated here of your progress, No doubt board members can then help appropriately as we see this project progresses.
Cheers
Jerry

I have been in touch with Westlands at Yeovil and can categorically say that there is no Whirlwind at their site. It is true that their company hack was buried there having served as a fire rescue training aid (and was burnt considerably). During the 1970’s the airframe was exhumed from the north side of the airfield and removed by persons unknown for disposal. It was in danger of contaminating a nearby stream, and was removed along with a substantial quantity of soil. The records for the removal either do not exist, or are not in circulation, and Westlands have no idea of the company used for its disposal.

Hi
Sounds like a typical MOD denial quote !! .. :rolleyes:
I am sure it was re – stated in a 80’s mag that it was still there, I will try to find the mag and the photo, ( as a fire training wreck it seemed to have been non torched ).

Bit ropey, the they don’t know who took it, but now it must be worth a search of the local scrapyards then, can’t be many, who knows maybe find something or something else. pity I emigrated, sounds like a good search is on.

or is it still buried there ….:rolleyes:

Cheers
Jerry

engines

Hi
If you are serious, a couple of leads for engines, the whirlwind buried at westlands airfield, had it’s engines removed, these were used in a helicopter test rig that westlands built, the unit many years later went into storage, and is rumoured to have been sold to a scrappies, who knows ??
Next option on engines and parts after this is P6994, this aircraft went across to the USN an ended it days at pensecola, Florida. The airframe went to a local srappies at the end of ww2 but the engines were removed before and were used in a powerboat, the trail is lost here.( I won’t post the story here, but if you want the details mail me [email]jezbrew@yahoo.com[/email])
I always wish a series of events never happened, whilst at school in 1970, a relative in the RN, offered me the chance to sit in a cockpit of a ww2 fighter, at a local royal navy engineering college, as i was interested in aircraft, a rare battle of britain aircraft cockpit section, a whirlwind.
It was later to be disposed of, the RAF were contacted and apparently said we don’t need it, sadly it was burnt in a fire fighting display on a later ‘ RN family day’.
Before anyone asks I never got photos of it..
I always assumed they turned it down because the RAF thought is was a helicopter cockpit.
I have never been able to trace the I/D of the aircraft but have a couple of options.
some ideas maybe here

http://www.spitfireaircraftco.com/

Good luck.

Cheers
Jerry

Having climbed 3000 feet up Carnedd Dafydd to see it I can tell you it was more than a section – it was 80 or so percent of the span from the attachment points out, including the undercarriage leg!

😡 seconded!

Adrian

Hi
I remember the wing well.
any ideas what happened to the ventura stuff that was near there?
Cheers
Jerry

battles

Hi
Not sure the ‘battles’ are actually battles.
To me they look like an a-17 Nomads
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/I_NORTHROP_A-17.HTM
Cheers
Jerry