WV-903.Hi Ozjag,
Thanks M8. Yes!!! must admit, a very atmospheric pic, it turned out well. You see those “S**** Pile” hills on horizon, they are slightly indistinct because of the blowing/ suspended sand particles. On the day of Keith’s crash, the weather was like this, but much worse down at low level, almost like a sort of indistinct fog and Keith and Martin Johnson were carrying out “seek and find”/evasion from other plane, type of sortie.(Pretty sure they were flying Hunter Mk. 9’s ) Keith was doing the escaping part and he was down close to the top of this “Fug” and hit top of a hill like those in pic. He was a great chap and very much missed in “Toytown” after that,— let alone elsewhere.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi James,
Took a long time to find I know, but here is pic. of your dad a short while before he died in the Hunter crash. Kieth (Your dad) is the man on right in shorts holding the “Brick”. “The Brick was a slang name for the 2 -way radio Pilots carried around with them when they were on QRA duties. Kieth was one of the Hunter Duty QRA Pilots on day of pic. Pilots were allowed to wander around the Base until called up to closer readiness, as one was already geared up for that.
This pic. was taken on the morning of Base “Day off” for most and “Toy townies” would waste no time in getting out on Airfield to fly their models. In this case, the “Tiger Moth” held by Ian Richardson, was about to depart for its first ever flight. Ian was a good model pilot and Mark next to him was the “Tiggie” owner who was trying not to show concern, Other chaps name was Paul I think.
Ian Richardson went on to become one of UK’s top model builder/Fliers, he won many awards for his “Ducted Fan” and Jet engine models and took over the “Perma Grit” files business, that we were all using out there then. He still runs it to this day.
I took the pic. as it looked right to lay down and snap the shot. The Tiggie flew well in fact and did many more trips, I’m pretty sure Mark packed it up and took it home with him when he left Thumrait and Oman.
Wish you and your Mum well James.
Bill T.
WV-903.Wow !!! Thread still going.
Really nice to see this thread continue, didn’t realise it was so long since it started. Hi Pipsqueak, we met at Newark last year and I know you’re interest is still well and truly alive.
So:-
My Valiant Mk 3 Seat is out of WZ 367 and is the 1st pilots seat,which is very significant as that Aircraft followed 15 minutes behind 366 taking pics. during that first atomic bomb test at “Operation Buffalo”. Not that this seat was necessarily in 367 at the time, but it is linked and that is enough for me as I was involved in “Blue Steel ” Trials at Edinburgh Field, South Aussie some 6 years after the “Operation Buffalo” Valiants flew from there. Was probably rubbing shoulders with the Air and ground crew from “Buffalo” too, but I didn’t realise the historical significance till some 50 years later.
So, yes, time has passed and as you guys realize too, “where has all the Valiant stuff gone ?” Mostly to the Scrappies (Like the rest of the Valiants,) but digging into places has shown collectors have some bits. But how deep are your pockets ? — lol !! I’ve managed to collect about 90% of parts for my seat, and although I’m very happy about that, It has taken quite some time not to mention cost of some items. This is my seat after purchase from previous owner, who got it out of the South Wales Aircraft Museum during closure. It was covered in pigeon “Poo” and looks like it used to hang from the roof there. But it has been really well stripped, including the data plates, which is a shame, but beggars cannot be choosers and I felt very lucky to have come across this seat. Intention is to restore it, but family life and problems always get in the way, but one day, one day !!
Other pics. are how a Valiant seat should look. Pic. of WZ 367 in her final days at what I think is RAF Marham, not long before scrapping. Why she was painted in these colours I know not, but she certainly looked nice.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Brattacas,
Looking at post 172, the pics of the Dunlop Tyre washed up, the tyre sizes shown seem to be 7.50″ x 10-1/4″. Perusing through my period Dunlop Wheels/Tyres List, this size fits for Spifire–SeaFire and Hurricane. My list shows 10 different types of Spitfire Wheels and Tyre sizes, but only one fits your sizes embossed on Tyre you have. I would have expected a larger number like 24″ to be in front of numbers on your tyre, but that doesn’t appear to be there. Funnily enough, for that one wheel Part Number:- AH 10019 for that size only ,the list has no “Big” front number either and that seems to fit in with what is on tyre . Also Wheel :- AH 8213 was used on one of 3 diff Hurricane wheels listed too that fit sizes. List doesn’t give what Mk of Spit tyre fits either and last size in list is 10-1/2″ instead of 1/4″, but I think that’s neither here or there. So the 7.50″ must be inside dia. of tyre and 10-1/4″ width of tyre. No Mks of SeaFire or Hurricane given either.
So there’s some food for thought here:-
(1) Did Spitfire-SeaFire -Hurricanes operate up in that area, off carriers or land based ? And did the Navy poss. Dump these aircraft overboard once finished with them ?
These sizes shown fit nothing else in my Dunlop list, which covers 1930’s to 1970’s. :confused::D Have fun ,keep finding stuff and post back with pics, as and when, it’s great fun trying to ID stuff.
Bill T.
WV-903.Brilliant !! Well done guys. Great to see that Nosewheel and tyre fitted and the roll-in to new building done. Very impressive building too. Few beers must have been had last night.
Went through your face book page and great info and pics. posted, especially the ones of the old wheel and tyre. I see what you mean now, crumbly is one word I can think of. :very_drunk: All the best for the future.
Bill T.
WV-903.Halton Pics are great for ex Apps.
Thanks for posting these great pics. Credible Sport,
The RAF Halton ones are great to me, especially that first one of the march line up of Apprentices about to leave the (New ) Airframes Workshops, to go back to barracks. Been there, seen it and done that (88th Entry Airframes). I would have been in the Pipe band that played as they marched and led Formation across Main Point Cross roads. (Side drummer)– ( Underpass ??? never heard of that. ) Like others in here, I was surprised to find these (NEW) Workshops were up and running in WW2, wheras the “Old Workshops”(Engines trades,etc. ) dated from WW1.
Also looking at that first Airfield Pic. with Biplanes in and see the Instructer in dust coat standing in front of his team, notice he has a metal chevron displayed on his arm. That was a common “Halton” Ground Trades Instructors thing as they were still using these up to and beyond my time there, (Late 50’s ) And I’m pretty sure each Instructor made his own.
Rest of pics. are wonderful to look at to, especially the Typhoon/Tempest ones.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Alan,
Nice hoard of gear. Cannot ID anything but the straps and certainly folks are always needing Z harness ones for various projects MB Mk 1-2 and 3 Ejct. Seats will use these as will pre Bang seats.( Vampire-Meteor-Chipmunk,etc ) These can be cleaned up nicely and re-used for a static job. You are looking at 60+ years old perishables, that are thin on the ground nowadays.
Like the 3rd in from the left( Z lap straps pic.) with the metal plate unit mounted on and some sort of adjuster /release unit with cable. Never seen anything like that before, wonder what it’s purpose is ?
Great stuff m8, keep pics. and info coming.
Bill T.
WV-903.Wonderful pics. Great to know most of the Hawker stuff made it back to UK. Any idea of plans for it all ? Bet the BlueBird Team could make a superb static re-build of one.
Bill T.
WV-903.Nice one guys !!! Takes me right back. She’s in good hands.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hope he gets to see it fly.
Brilliant !!!
Fingers crossed for em all. What a piece of history.
Bill T.
WV-903.Brill Mike !!!
Hi Mike,
Excellent stuff M8 !!! Well done, gonna look great when finished.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hmmmm !!!
Hi Flying Blind,
Had a look through my Dunlop List and nothing with that number. My list covers 1930’s through to 60’s military (UK ) and some civil. Only have one AH Number starting with a 7 too and that’s AH 720 (Dragon). Have to concur with other replies about check that number to make sure it’s absolutely right and /or look for other numbers on main hub. What size wheel do you think it is ? It looks (Loose Flange and locking ring assembly ) like anything from WW2 through to late 1950’s. Hope you get to ID them.
Bill T.
WV-903.Magister ??
Hi Mike,
Looks too small and too wooden to be an Anson. My hunch is it’s a Magister. Agree about it isn’t summer too.
Bill T.
WV-903.Absolutely brilliant !!!!!! Just great to see the skydivers exiting from a B-17 Bomb Bay. Mixing the old with the new, bet the Skydivers loved that and the Flight crew would be involved in something not done before (As far as I’m aware ) with one of todays B-17’s operations. Great camera shots and music was spot on. I liked the choir singing a tune that I remember my old man humming when I were a wee young lad.
Just when you think the modern day Vintage Aircraft operators have seen it all, done it all and got the Tee-Shirt–bingo !!!!!!
Bill T.
WV-903.Keep searching, Something will turn up.
Hi Mike,
Well at least you know what you are looking for now. AH 8373. Forumites????
Bill T.
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