Is the Fairey Battle still there?

Very good question Geoff. It’s been ages since I visited the museum. 1977 To be precise!

The Battle is at Rochester being restored by the Medway APS

Cambridge University Library, Grange Road, Cambridge.

Phantom inside the base at Coningsby – visible from the road.
F-100 on the gate at Lakenheath (plus F-4, F-16 and F-111 inside the base … not counting the pole-sitting Spitfire FSM which has always puzzled me!)
A-10 inside the base at Alconbury.

Its interesting to note that BL628 and AB803 were both transferred from No.401 Sqdn to 308FS on 5 August 1942 and both moved on the following week to No. 167 Sqdn at Castletown, Caithness.

As the 308th were based at Kenley from 2 August – 28 August 1942 one wonders why these transfers were made, both aircraft were only on charge for seven days and presumably did not see any action?

A third aircraft, BM481, left No.401 Sqdn on the same day as BL628 & AB803 and was assigned to No.317 (Wilenski) Sqdn which was based at Northolt at the time.

A further whisper in my ear advises that Neil Williams ferried it to Strathallan in 1975 from West Malling, so we reckon October/November 1975…!

(Thanks Ian!)

Bruce

Your first guess was closer! It was taken in June 1969, I was on my way to Lympne to fly to Beauvais in a Skyways Avro 748 and then catch the coach on to Paris to visit the Paris Air Show. Seems like yesterday!

While we are waiting for RS712 year of movement, how about identifying a bit newer photo.

VR796 in Bob Jens’ hangar at Vancouver 🙂
(Should have cropped out his Spit 14!)