Just wondering. How many flyable Spitfires were there back in 1986, with the 50th anniversary ? Haven’t checked my old FlyPasts yet to find out when, and where, there was an event like this year at Duxford.

BTW, are the Spitfires leaving Duxford for Goodwood on Friday or probably early-morning Saturday ? Our bus should arrive around 09:00 on Saturday.

Benno

FX493 served with the Kai Tak Station Flight from May 1948 till May 1955

Other Far East Units using Harvards (all Mk.IIBs just like the photo of the machine in the strange “camo” and FX493) were at Butterworth, Seletar, Changi, Iwakuni, Kai Tak, Kallang, Sembawang, Tengah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang. In general just a couple for transport and commucations. The last were withdrawn (267 sq) as late as November 1958.

Regards,

Benno

Harvard groundloop

G-BWUL/FT375 was groundlooped on May 20 at Rivanazzano Airport (close to Milan) after an air-display at the Avioexpo airshow. The Harvard is owned by Mr. Scaglia and is based at Brescia-Montichiari. I should have further details of the damage in a few days.

Regards,

Benno

Wildenrath

I can hardly recognize Wildenrath. Looks a ‘bit’ different from those days that I was standing along the fence watching the Phantoms (1 & 92) and Pembrokes (60) with everything else RAF (and other NATO AirForces) visiting.

Sloinge museum Sweden

Hi Dave,

I was there; summer 2004.

Regards,

Benno

Ju52s in The Eagle has landed

The Ju52s were Swiss Air Force aircraft; still in active use those days.

Bruggen; Dutch spotters

Hi,

Bruggen and Wildenrath were the first ‘foreign’ destinations as a spotter for me in those days. Lot’s of activity and I do also remember the Lightning and Canberra-wrecks at the far end of the (east) runway.

MK732

Hi Mr. XN923,

Small typing-error. Ours is MK732; not MW732

http://www.skhv.nl