I am just checking with the owner if I can post photos of his restoration.

For those who helped with my identification of Argus I-MARC a few weeks ago, I have some news. I am in contact with its new owner who is restoring it in Italy. He just sent me copies of the “Certificato di navigabilità” which clearly states c/n 416, and previous identity of MM 43-14452. A note has been added to the certificate to state ex USAAC 43-14452 and FS535. There is also a letter dated 2010 from the Department of the Air Force with the record card that the aircraft was received on 13.2.1943, sent to Newark, NJ on 27.3.1943, thence by sea to North Africa where it served with the Twelfth Air Force there and in Italy. Surplus on 11.12.1945. I wonder if FS535 was allotted but not taken up, as it seems to have next gone to the Italian Air force, and then to I-MARC. The first entry on the inspection sheet is 28.3.1957, in Venice.

Nice picture of Turkish “53” – used in 1944-45 it seems

http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/50/pics/137_2_b1.jpg

Thanks AM. It certainly looks like the piece they found. If anyone comes up with a similar illustration for the Mk V (Bisley) it would be great.

I just reread the translation of the Arabic note by the local farmer that I quoted in my post 24:

It had three people in it. None died in it. They were carried to Sharjah’s Al Mahatta on camels. Pots and pans were made out of it. 1947. Civilian plane coloured white. 52

To my knowledge 244 Squadron’s Blenheims (IV and V) were camouflaged, not white, and the “Civilian” is mysterious. However, eye-witnesses are not always 100% reliable.

I’m glad you agree Elliot. But is it a Mark IV or V? Were the frames the same? I’ll post a photo of the site I just got. It’s fairly typical of Sharjah countryside in my experience! I understand the pieces were recovered some time ago: the landowner stated that most of the wreck was “recycled”. I have several Bisley crashes in 1942-3 that might fit, but nothing much on Mark IVs. The story is also that the 3-man crew walked away safely.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]240083[/ATTACH]

Two years later, I have just received some new photos of pieces recovered from this wreck. Just to remind you, the Sharjah museum service asked me if I could identify the remains from a crash in the desert near Sharjah, said to be in 1947, but they admit the date could be wrong. See my original posts above.

We seem to have established that it is likely to be a Blenheim. I have several report of Blenheim Vs (Bisleys) crashing around there in 1942-3 (Bisleys were notoriously crash-prone). The new photos clarify some of the pieces, so I shall post them later. However some numbers come to light. On the whitish plastic part I now read: PAT IN GB, No 402474, 18 BSS 546. The number on the metal part in my first post just below the bomb release button is stamped 145934/1.

For information: were the undercarriage frames of the Bisley the same as the Blenheim IV? I’ll post this now while I work on some photos.

Thanks