Thought that I would try a few of my shots. As you can see, my interest is mainly military.

DH Hornet departing Butterworth and heading south. If only………….

Sea King lifting off from Scampton.

JP 5 airborne from Cranwell.

Will try some more later.

BR

Laurie.

I thought I recognized that bird. Mark 12 check your email
Mike

Mike,

I bet your happy that VP441 has a powered wing folding system and is not a manually operated like this aeroplane! 🙂

BR

Laurie.

Here’s another good Javelin site:

http://www.btinternet.com/~javelin/

There is even an audio download of a flypast of 3 x 9 ship formation flypast of Javelins at an airshow in the late 50’s. Marvellous sound.

Some good photos as well.

Regards,

Laurie.

I’ve always had a spot soft for the Balliol (must have had a weird childhood, but then I like Harvards) and from what I can gather the one being rebuilt by the Boulton Paul Association is not a replica, but one recreated from two cockpit sections that were obtained in the late 1980s from the Pennine Aviation Museum. (This of course is totally off the top of my head, as dont have the net at home and only use it at work or either down my parents house, when I collect my washing!!!).

Martin

Hi Martin,

Perhaps I should have used the word ‘reproduction’ which is how the project is described on a web page describing the Boulton Paul Heritage Society. That states:

“Boulton Paul Balliol – a reproduction of the post war trainer, under construction with a restored cockpit at its core.”

I think they are doing the same with this aircraft as they did with their excellent Defiant project that was completed a while ago.

Click on the link below to visit the site:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Links/bpa/bpa2.htm

BR

Laurie.

Not being that familiar with the Balliol, are there many survivors out there?

T J

I only know of three.

The first is the Sea Balliol T21, WL732, in the RAFM collection at Cosford. This differed from the RAF examples in that the wings folded and an arrestor hook was fitted under the tail. I took the attached photo of a Sea Balliol T21, WP333, at the ‘At Home’ Day, RAF Chivenor, in September 1960 or 1961. Not exactly sure of the year.

The other two examples are in Sri Lanka, both T2’s. One resides in the SLAF Museum at Ratmalana, while the other is listed as being at the SLAF Recruiting Centre, Ratmalana.

The Boulton Paul Association are building a replica Balliol T2, I believe.

Anyone got any further details?

The article in A-B Aeromilitaria mentioned by Consul in Post #10 shows that 21 examples of the type served at various times with 3 CAACU. A little later in the same magazine, is a photo of the Balliol prototype, VL892, fitted with Bristol Mercury radial engine, prior to the Mamba being installed.

BR

Laurie.

Welcome to the forum, Craggan.

As mentioned by Paul in the previous post, Wg Cdr Dredge was demonstrating Meteor III, EE238 of 1335 CU, at Farnborough on 18 May 1945, when the accident occured.

The details listed in Colin Cummings’ ‘Price of Peace’ read:

“The pilot was carrying out a demonstration of the aircraft and entered a barrel roll at 400 knots and a height of under 200 feet. The aircraft lost height in the roll, struck the ground and burst into flames. It was commented that this pilot had undertaken similar manouvres on two previous occasions and each time had lost significant height. Wg Cdr Dredge received his DSO whilst commanding 3 Sqn and the citation comments on his inspiring leadership, great courage and determination.”

BR

Laurie.

Another query… When did Fighter Command change from the Battle of France style balck/white undersides to the duck egg blue undersides? Did any aircraft actually fly in the Battle of Britain with the black/white paint still applied? Or were all surviving aircraft repainted by then?

Also, what was the purpose of the black/white scheme? Was it ID to stop the French gunners shooting them down? (if so, it didn’t work in Bill Kain’s case!)

Dave,

The black and white undersurface scheme was actually introduced in September 1938. It was then decreed that the undersurface of the starboard wing would be painted white and the port undersurface would be black. In reality though, there were many variations of this. There is even evidence of a Spitfire having silver port undersurface. Some aircraft had silver on the bottom engine cowlings and on the rear fuselage.

The change to ‘Duck Egg Green/Blue’ started around May 1940, when a new undersurface camouflage scheme was announced. Initially, again, some aircraft had silver , or even pale/dark blue, applied. By the start of the BoB, most fighter aircraft had adopted this new scheme.

BR

Laurie.

The clouds of smoke would probably generate a scramble of the Fire service as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!