Thanks Cestrain for sharing these photos with us. Its amazing to think that a Sea Hornet wing survived in the UK until December 1980! I can imagine though as 50% of its structure is wood, and 50% aluminium (the underside shown), that it wasn’t in particularly good shape by then.

This was a Sea Hornet PR.22 I believe. A 1970’s edition of Wrecks and Relics has the full serial I believe: VZxxx.

The Fifth edition lists this as VZ66? this is the only reference I can find to a serial in any of the editions I have.

This is truly splendid news. I was only musing the other night as to whether to post a ‘request for any info’ on these as it had all gone quiet.

I note from your post on ‘the other side’ that your pics are a year old 😮 have they been here that long under wraps? (other than to a choosen few)

Its great to see these airframes back in more friendly surroundings, one can only hope they don’t now dissappear into the warbird blackhole for many years to come.

Well done to all involved.

I am out in Comox, B.C. Canada. at the moment looking at the Y2K mark nine spitfire’s progress.
They have a Mark III here and I believe there is a Mark III in the museum in Calgary. I have some photos of the Calgary one on my computer at home and can post them on the weekend when I get back home if you like.
Also I could photograph and gather some details on the one in Comox in the morning if you wish.

Rick

Please do so.
The one at Comox is: 17031 / N41J (formerly VP720)
The Calgarly one is 17069 / CF-RLK (formerly VP769)

Would love to see pictures of these.

Vampire T11 in Mexico

Whilst googling for info on the former RCAF Vampires which went to Mexico if found this picture of a T11 on gate guard duties.

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00946118

I know Mexico had two ex RAF frames, WZ414 and XD439, but was not aware at least one had survived. WMOOS by Andy Marden does not list it, so has anyone on here any more info about this frame?

Hi Jag,

Do you have any “paperwork” showing that David did have these two airframes I know both were owned by Al Letcher and were in storage in Lancaster Calf. up till 1981 and then they both don’t show back up as change of ownership till 1986 VP772 went to Flight Research while VP773 went to John Downing.

There is a passage in the book ‘De Havilland Vampire – the complete history’, by David Watkins which deals with the Canadian airframes, this makes mention of the Flightways purchases and states: Very little is known of their subsequent histories after ‘civilianisation’, but Paul Mantz, the Hollywood film pilot, was known to have operated two, one of which was 17071/N6883D

Some ‘googling’ on 17072/N6878D produces a number of photographic hits as well as some articles, including this one below:

http://www.easycalls.us/article/20899-de_havilland_f_mk__3_vamp.html

Which refers to it being sold in the early 70’s from the Tallmanz collection

I also stumbled across this, which appears to be a fairly comprehensive listing of the entire Tallmantz collection and includes the two previously refered to.

http://www.aerovintage.com/ac_list.htm

Here is one I found poking around in Chile in Jan 2003.

May, or may not, be well known.

Nice pictures in an even more remote location !

ex FACh J310, ex RN Sea Vampire T22, its former ID is uncertain any one of three possibilities:XA107, XA128 or XG769

Presumably this was taken in the ‘storage’ area at Santiago/Los Cerrillos ?

SAAF Vampires

OK so rather than just sharing this with Mr Collins, now I’m back at ‘home plate’ I’ve decided to post those seen on here as a starter for ten on a less often reported user of the type.
Hopefully there should be pictures as follows:

208 at Ysterplatt museum
227 at Swartkop
229 at Swartkop
241 at Stellenbosch
242 at Capetown (Thunder city)
253 at Swartkop
254 at Swartkop
257 at Swartkop
269 (ZU-MES) at Wonderboom
271 at Swartkop
276 at Swartkop
277 at Swartkop
R4032 at Swartkop (with the remains of 222 in front)
An unknown single seat at Swartkop – I have been unable to tie this one down.

Can anyone identify this “Tube” which again is a lost soul about to head to the museum

That will be unassembled ATP set c/n 2070.
The give away was the previous shot of the Whirlwind – XN298
Both ex Fire training college – Chorley.

Have you warned BAe systems yet ? – the way your hoovering up airframes in Lancashire, you’ll be having them straight off the line at Warton next !:D