Although personally I only go back to 1977 I have a local spotter friend who has the first CAM book (1947??),I think it goes up to about G-AJxx . He is still spotting having started in 1943, although he thinks he will have to live to 100+ to have time to get his logs up to date!!

The Mercators of VQ-2 operated weekly missions up to the Baltic, and the limit of Soviet airspace from Blackbushe. They operated from 54-59,more during the earlier period, they were quite rare after 57. They carried several specialistes who recorded various soviet radar wavelengths and monitored communications. It was quite normal to carry a Russian speaker. The USN also operated their WV-2 and WV-3 on similar missions over the artic, these also regually transited Blackbushe.

The original IWM site was set up in South Lambeth post WW1 and is being refurbished for the WW1 anniversary. Seeing most of the aircraft are hung from the ceiling there is gives us a good chance of seeing them on the ground at Duxford.
Just a reminder that as per normal Duxford is FREE on rememberance sunday , which this years is actually 11/11.

Any ideas of whats happening with the Indian Dak? It seems to have been sat at the same place at Kemble for a year or so?

I think In would be right in saying that there were the last survivors of the types in the UK? Of course several Battles were imported in the 70’s along with Bollingbrokes but apart from the Finnish one the Blenheim is extinct. I assume they were considered too far gone for the embryo RAFM????

I have thought about this every time a euromillions rollerover comes along!
My personal fleet would be
PC12 as every day rubabout
Grumman Albatross for those trips for the seaside
Chipmunk for me to learn to fly in
yak 52 for the advanced training.

now for the museum-location unknown,somewhere in the south. It would be a little like airbase but with more imagination and lots more money!!!
First purchase the two DC-4’s at North Weald and restore one as a R5D and the other as static.
DC-6 G-APSA airworthy
Douglas R4D-8 US Navy as based in the UK
Lockheed Neptune, the ex RAF one if its still around in the US
Vickers Viscount-airworthy
Bristol 170-airworthy
AT Carvair
Sunderland back from Kermit Weeks
Classic British light aircraft (Gemini,Messenger, Proctor, Rapide etc)
Classic british fighters (Hunter,Venom, Meteor, Sea Hawk etc)
World war 1 replicas Gotha, handley page V1500!!
and a replica handley page 42 and that is just to start..

Actually I have had a brain wave, if a new London airport is ever built I can buy LHR and the BA maintenance base…..;). Truth is my wife would have already spent it on horses!

Seems a strange aircraft choice to me too. I suppose logically the 146 has a good payload, the aircraft are easily available with plenty of spares. Lets face it the likes of the Trackers and Neptunes are 50-60 years old and getting towards the end of their life.

Looks like this is now out in the open with bids being accepted to sell these aircraft. Obviously these have been offered to suitable UK museums so who knows where they will end up?
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections-review/disposals/sealed-bid-disposals-june-2012