Aviation Photo Company have a couple of photos of SMR Lancs for sale on their eBay shop at present, they look like ME52? H-T and RF322 D-H.

DD

I’ve been told the parts are displayed at the “Militärhistorisches Museum” in Dresden/Germany. The display board says “Wing of a North American P-51D Mustang Fighter, USA, ca. 1944” and “the wing of this P-51D was recovered in 1969 from the “Schweriner See” (the lake near Schwerin/Northern Germany).

That will be the place I was referring to.

DD

Rather than bemoaning the loss of XV208, the fact that only one RAF Hercules had been preserved, XV202 at Cosford, is cause for concern. Given the length of service and contribution the C-130 fleet has given the RAF it is surprising that IWM Duxford did not accept one of the remaining C1/C3 aircraft, several of which had excellent service history, including Falklands War service.

I agree with that, a very significant and long-serving type in Royal Air Force history; though I doubt whether IWM would have been offered a free C-130 in these cash-strapped times.

DD

That’s interesting.

It looks like the main airframe is painted Light Aircraft Grey ,which was only used on a few Gnats before the Red and White scheme was introduced – if my memory serves me correctly. Prior to that they were silver, of course.

Nice shot.

DD

Re 133

The late, great Bill Gunston referred to the P40 as ‘mediocre’ and an ‘also ran’. Which is much how the Americans and British saw it in WW2.

My judgment is coloured, not clouded, by my preference for anything to do with a Spitfire. The P40 has its place in aviation history and that is as it should be. To give it and/or its recovery, equal value to a late model Spitfire albeit one that is a bit short on some components, is unreal.

The RAFM is just that, the Royal Air Force Museum, not the Museum of Excellence in Fighter Design, or The Museum of Spitfire lineage.

I respect Bill Gunston’s opinion, but comparisons of relative value , in this context , of P-40 vs. late Spitfire don’t rest on their effectiveness in combat. Mediocre they may have been, but the RAF had a lot of P-40’s, and the Sahara machine is a combat veteran with a fascinating story to tell. I need hardly add that it is largely in original wartime condition .

DD

‘ The Kittyhawk is safe.’ That is very good to hear.

Sea Dog, thanks for posting.

DD

Very sorry to read that.

DD