Pic. 32 on Page 4 of this post.

Hello again Bob Kat, Sorry I’ve not been much help recently. Have been looking at your posts from time to time, but seen nothing I can recognize. However, if you go back to the Pic 32 in Page 4,(4 Different Views of a plug and bracket ) That Plug is the same type that was used on Sea- Hawks (And other Aircraft)right through 1950’s and even 1960’s. I recognize it because it is the one fitted on the rear of many Gyro Gunsights of this period. It would be connecting something like 8 or 10 pins sockets inside that main lump, is a screw on job and would have multi small cabling going through those metal tube stampings, The thread on back of that plug would secure the outer cabling or sheathing,(That would include an “Earthing” sheathing for Radar Gear too ) so that plug would screw into an aircraft fixed component,enabling power cables to have a quick disconnect point.

The plug “Ribs” or grip surface on your example are corroded(as to be expected) but they are many as U can see. Very handy to get a grip of in tight places on Aircraft. So I would think that plug unit you have carried Radio /Radar/ IFF/ or WW2 sophisticated electronics cabling to something .

So a quick phone call to Forumite Terry P. and he agrees with me and said that these plugs are very early combination of:- Plessey and Breeze (Think thats how U spell it) plugs. Breeze and Plessey of course carried on for many years making their brands of plugs that are probably only now going out of use.(Different shapes of course ).

I also asked Terry about what AP 1086 Books he had (Scans ) and he again like you cannot locate those elusive ones dealing with section 10. We are always on the look out though for borrowing some to scan in (and make available ) So not much help hey !!

I’ll take and post some pics of a new one of these plugs I have and how they attach onto my GGS,etc. Keep your pics. coming in though, very interesting.

Bill T.

Stunning Pic. Mark Eeeeeowooo !!

Wow, That it does sir. First thought was,”what a great pic”. 2nd thought was:-“What was identity and previous /subsequent life of that Spit on gate guard duties ?” And 3rd. one”Thank you Phillipa for taking it”.

That was RAF Castle Bromwich,quiet, bastion of the 1950’s RAF and just like many others, bulldozed into obscurity. Just look at the white painted picket fence, wooden huts, trimmed hedge rows. This pic. must have been taken either before 8am in morning or after 6pm in evening. Probably early April or late October and that looks like the Orderly Sgt. talking with Guardroom staff before /after the Station raising/lowering Flag duty. I hate to think what that same view looks like now (How about a modern pic folks ) ( and where was “Brums” Traffic –lol.)

What you cannot see is that the internal road past Guardroom ran around left of SHQ and down to “Left” side of Airfield and networked. The white neatly painted kerb edges, no litter, spick and span, a place for everything and everything in it’s place. Also no can see the Railway line that ran across far end of Airfield on a raised embankment, which must have made some of those WW2 Lancaster take offs very dodgy for the test and ferry pilots,as there was not a lot of room available.

The 2 Entrance gate posts (With what looks like Light “Globes” on, that I do not remember ) you can just make out the Wrought Iron gates, painted white of course. Myself and other 493 ATC Sqdn. members had to wait outside those on the 57 Open day as we had arrived early and they were shut. Military Police (Snoops) and RAF Personnel kept us there and when they opened up it was like an January shopping stampede into John Lewis sales, cos loads of the public and other ATC had arrived by then. We made straight for the visiting Aircraft park to get an un-interrupted wander around before Police ordered us away. (The ATC were allowed more slack than general public. Remember, this was pre-EU times and Servicemen were really helpful and encouraging to us ATC youngsters,—- not like under todays draconion EU inspired rules that incite unwanted,totally unnecessary hysteria at all levels of UK life. ) That was the time I actually got up into the Cockpit of the visiting Wyvern,the RAF Ground Crew being most obliging. (But dont tell Wyvern Fan :p lol )

And look at those Neat Wooden Station Sign Boards. From a young ATC perspective at that time, this place was the Holy Land and I was determined to be part of it, having tried the Army cadets and that was not for me, with National Service looming. Looking back from today,I feel I really caught the best times to be in ATC and RAF. (Left RAF in 1981 )

So yes Mark, it does ring a lot of bells and many thanks for posting it. RAF Honiley (Near Coventry ) was exactly the same at that time. We had a one day 493 Sqdn. visit there in 1957 and the Servicemen were fantastic, showing us all over that place, the pilots giving conducted tours aound their Attackers,etc,etc.Tea in their crew rooms. Wonderful times. But, I’m topic slipping—– oops apologies moderators.

Bill T.

That Panel / Door ???

[QUOTE=brataccas;1975189]Was at North East of Scotland at a coastal area where a lot of ww2 aircraft crashed into the sea (apparently) last year I found a washed up part of a wellington bomber airframe. Roughly the same area, maybe quarter mile apart I find these parts today. Can anyone confirm they are actually aircraft pieces? all 3 have traces of black paint.

the big piece is nearly 4 foot in length and only just managed to fit in the back of the car.

Hi Brataccus,
That 4 ft long panel fascinates me. After studying your excellent pics. of it, I’m convinced it is a main Undercarriage Door off a Twin Engined RAF Plane WW2. And this door would be one of 2 underneath one of the Engine cowlings.

Looks to me like the Slotted Hollow bar would be the top side door pivot.(Held in by maybe a long bar that is removable for U/C /Engine access ) and curved end of panel would be the front. You can see what looks like the marks left from maybe what was an Operating Bracket that was bolted/Rivetted on to panel, also, that 2 strengthening ribs are fitted,(Making that the inside of door ) What threw me for a while was ,why would 2 rough looking patches be on outside of this door,(obviously to strengthen /support the material around holes) then it dawned on me that these could well be in service strengthening doubler patches,done as a later Unit Modification, I say this because patches look like they have been hurridly attached.

So it looks like door folded in from the Open (near vertical postion ) thru 90 Degrees to mate with other door once U/C was :- UP. And the 2 holes allowed drain or exhaust pipes of some sort to poke through.

Also that “large Bump” at front half of door,was built in to clear engine/Wheel/whatever. With all this in mind, can anyone else ID what this door is off. (I’m hoping it is Blenheim/Wimpey/Beaufighter,etc,etc. )

And lastly, The door seems to be in A1 condition, ie:- has not been in a crash landing, which makes me think it could be from something “Dumped” in ocean at some point in time.

Very nice atmospheric place to visit, I hope you find more items that Forum members could pin down to a particular aircraft,or type. Thank you all for posting.

Bill T. 🙂

Fascinating reading !!

Certainly had forgotten about these 1950’s War Surplus dealers sales. Some of this stuff is great, I still have a Dalton Computer and Chobert rivetter, but they weren’t at those prices-lol !!! 😮

The “Blue Un and Green Un” Motor Cycle Weeklys of those times also had many adverts like these in the back pages and you would see folks at those times walking around wearing military Great Coats,berets,Despatch riders Boots, breeches, wearing WW2 gas mask Bags to carry their lunch in. Motorcycle riders used even more of this stuff,lots of em rode around in tank suits and Pride and Clarkes even sold off surplus BSA WD M20 Motorcycles at a very cheap price.

Thanks for reminding us radar.

Bill T.

LOL You do !!

Valid points, Andy/John, no doubt. Since I was in my early teens when I saw it it just seemed like a good war story – along with many other films of that period, most of which I have never seen, subsequently.

I think I was trying to suggest that an adult watching it then (he would be well in his seventies now) might not have dismissed it out of hand. But we will never know, unless we have a forum member of that vintage who does recall his impressions at the time.

Someone call me—:D (out of my coffin). Yes, remember that film well and I quite liked it at the time. OK Anthony Newly was not my favourite,but looking at the locations, the period army Barracks, Naval places,ships,etc, it was preserving many things that have gone now,reminding us of the people involved and I’m glad the film was made.

So here’s your chance to do a better job, we have the technology, I’ll await your efforts and judge you accordingly. (but probably won’t be around by then,but I’m sure forumites yet to be formed and ancients will. 😉 )

LOL !! Have a good New Year all.

Bill T.

Lift-A-Dot Fastener.

Hi Bob Kat,
Been looking thru your latest enlarged pics.and I cannot recognize anything except in the last Pic.(4) that shiny item is a WW2 Safety Equipment Fastener,which I think was called :- a “Lift-A-Dot” (Or something like that.) Which could have come off an Aircrews Mae West,etc. ” Safety Equipment” term covered most of soft and fabric Pilots rescue and use gear. The term is still used today.

Those Lift -a -Dots were used right up to early 1960’s,in Brit Military Gear. I’ve a bang Seat Cushion from 1964 with those fitted.
Sorry I’m not much of a help !! :confused: Lancasters are not my subject Items cleaned up more might be identified. Wish you luck with the project.

Bill T.

Pic. W10.

Hi BobKat,
More interesting pics again. Looking at pic.W10, Agreed that the scale is from an engine oil press gauge,(as used in most RAF WW2 Aircraft ). But the pipe and “union” item from , “grandads” house, looks to me like it is a fixed low pressure outlet from some system or other. I’d say that the end not photographed has a hole in it that connects to pipe and that end “crimped in to some sort of sheet metal vessel or ducting. And the pipe was used to possibly drain away fluid. If it was a higher pressure,you would be looking at hyd. type unions,etc, fitted. So unless that was an overboard drain,it probably had a black rubber pipe connected to somewhere. Head scratching time guys !!!-lol.

If some of these items could be cleaned up more, especially getting the “crud” and “flowery Rust” off them, more will be identified in future pics. Also these fine chappies in here will keep coming back after time as they go researching and digging into A.P’s.

———-

In pic. U, those 2 light alloy -painted green pipes, are almost certainly pipes from the Pitot -Static system. (part of the flying instruments input feeds ).

———

Pic.T3, item 15 looks like a “Break” point for a Tele-Flex control system. And above that slighty right, that top heavy looking cable with the clevis on also looks “Teleflex” inner to me.

These TeleFlex controls were used on most RAF WW2 A/C and lots of early 1950’s ones too. (Vampire-Meteor-Sea-Hawk.etc )

They are like a heavy duty “Push/Pull” Bowden cable assy. And would be used on Secondary controls,like Rudder/elevator C/pit Trim Wheels, and various engine and misc. Control systems. The “Break” point I mention was fitted into systems so the fitters could disconnect controls when required for servicing functions. eg:- Engine change. So that item in your pic. would have had an upper half bolted to it,these 2 clamped the break connection in place.

However,why it should be only 1/2 there,means somebody after crash opened it up, removing the 2 bolts, or it was a loose object sculling around all the time (as you see it.).

But then again, I could well be wrong, but a good clean-up will help ID it.

——

Pic.T4. The elect plug ticked with green (close by) is certainly to do with the Armament System in some way, I’ve seen these fitted in Sea- Hawks (cables to cannons ).

Right underneath RED 19 also in this pics, is a corroded wire Hoop fastened together at bottom with what looks like soldered wire. ( This “Hoop ” is corroded away so only 1/2 is left. ) I’ve seen these used somewhere and am wracking my brain to think where!!!!!! DUH .

___

Hope this all helps a bit more.

Bill T

Bill T