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Home , Aviodrome, Avro 504, RAF Montrose, Supermarine Spitfire

July 2018 News

NEWS EDITOR: TONY HARMSWORTH E-MAIL TO: [email protected] TELEPHONE: +44 (0)7791 808044 Buchón ‘Yellow 7’ airborne WRITE TO: Aeroplane, Key Publishing Ltd, ispano HA-1112-M1L PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1XQ, UK Buchón C4K-99/ Looking like a still from Spanish location G-AWHM ‘Yellow 7’ shooting during production of the Battle News made its first flight of Britain film, Buchón ‘Yellow 7’ gets Hfor nearly 50 years at Sywell, airborne from Sywell with Richard Grace at the controls on 3 May. ASHLEY STEPHENSON Northamptonshire, on 3 May with Richard Grace at the controls. The ex-Spanish and film fighter has been restored over PR Spitfire flies at Duxford the past year or so by Air Leasing at Sywell, and is now based alongside the two-seat HA-1112-M4L Buchón, C.4K-112/G-AWHC ‘Red 11’, which took to the air following restoration by Air Leasing at the same location on 24 November last year. The two are part of the famous haul of former Battle of Britain film Buchóns that were given to film pilot Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards as part-payment for his work on the movie, and were stored on his ranch in Big Spring, Texas from early 1969 until they were finally put up for sale John Romain brings Spitfire XI PL983 in during 2014. to land at Duxford after the first flight on Richard Grace, the 18 May. Note the outsize , manager/chief engineer at Air painted on with reference to a picture taken Leasing said of the first flight, at in January 1948. COL POPE “It flew beautifully. There were no problems at all, which aircraft is well designed, it is good reference point to Uffz Edmund Rossmann during doesn’t normally happen. The relatively easy to restore. replicate the film colours.” September 1941. It is upermarine Spitfire MkIX. The deep chin cowling repairs went on to serve in was killed in PL983 during an aircraft was in good condition, When they painted it for the The next Buchón to emerge expected to make its maiden PRXI PL983 flew again particular to the PRXI has not occupied Germany in airshow at Rouen on 4 June so it didn’t require a rebuild, film, they didn’t prepare the from Air Leasing will be flight during June, and it is from Duxford during been refitted. September 1945. 2001. The remains were just a restoration. Restoring surfaces underneath, which C.4K-145, which will fly in the hoped it will appear alongside the evening of 18 May Reference for the markings After use with the US subsequently acquired by something so original is one made paint-stripping easy. But markings of a III./JG ‘Yellow 7’ and ‘Red 11’ at the withS John Romain at the came from a photograph of Embassy Flight, PL983 was Propshop Ltd at Duxford and it of the delights. The Buchón is the original scheme, which had 52 Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4, Flying Legends show at controls following a long-term PL983 taken at Eastleigh donated to the Shuttleworth was re-registered G-PRXI easy to work on: when an survived since 1968, gave us a ‘White 9’, flown by 80-kill ace Duxford on 14-15 July. rebuild with Historic Flying shortly before it was presented Collection and ferried to Old during February 2003. Ltd. After landing, Romain on loan to the US civil air Warden in 1950. Having spent The project was progressed reported that PL983 is very attaché to the many years at Duxford on an ‘as and fast, has light handling and a UK, sitting outside, when’ basis, when manpower high stalling speed. Livingstone After landing from a rebuild to fly was available. A new OPEN DAY CELEBRATES The machine is fitted with a Satterthwaite, the first flight, John was started in was built by Rolls-Royce Merlin 70, the in January Romain reported that 1975, but Assemblies on the Isle of HISTORIC HELICOPTERS correct mark of engine for the 1948. The financial Wight, incorporating as many On 19 May, visitors to the second Historic Helicopters Open XI — the powerplant having machine was PL983 is very fast, has difficulties saw parts as was practicable from Day at Higher Purtington Showground in Somerset saw a been rebuilt by Retro Track originally light handling and a the aircraft the remains of the original. unique formation as the world’s sole surviving airworthy and Air in Gloucestershire — delivered to high stalling speed sold during The and tail were built Westland Whirlwind HAR10, XJ729/G-BVGE, and former and has a newly constructed, No 1 Pilots’ April 1983 to by Historic Flying. Westland Wasp HAS1 92/G-BYCX unarmoured PRXI-style Pool at the French former It is hoped that PL983 will flew together. windscreen, the frame of RAF photo-reconnaissance HQ fighter pilot Roland Fraissinet. return to Old Warden for a Located outside Crewkerne, Higher Purtington is home to which was built using an at Benson in November 1944, It was acquired by Doug Shuttleworth show at some the Wessex Restoration Project, manned by a team of original PRXI windscreen for and was transferred to No 34 Arnold and moved to Biggin time in the future, but in the dedicated engineers under the leadership of Whirlwind reference. The leading-edge Wing, Second Tactical Air Hill in 1987, before being meantime it was due to have owner/pilot Andrew Whitehouse. They are working towards fuel and wing tanks fitted to Force in . While bought during early 2000 by made its display debut in the The wonderful sight of the ambitious goal of restoring another Westland product, the PRXI have not been operating with No 4 Squadron Justin Fleming and operated static park at the RAF Cosford Whirlwind HAR10 XJ729 and Wessex HU5 XT761/G-WSEX, to flying condition. Both XT761 installed, the machine just in April 1945 from Mill in the thereafter by Rolls-Royce and Air Show on 10 June, Wasp HAS1 ‘92’ airborne over and a second example, XT771, were purchased by having the standard 85-gallon , PL983 sustained Bentley motor engineer Martin exhibited with a selection of Somerset on 19 May. LEE HOWARD Whitehouse in 2017 following disposal by the MoD. tank in the fuselage as on the battle damage, and following Sergeant. Tragically, Martin wartime PR cameras.

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La Ferté Corsair back in the air NEWS IN BRIEF TEICHMAN TO HANG UP orean War veteran Ralph Parker of Wichita Falls, DISPLAY HELMET Chance Texas. The latter painted the North Weald-based Hangar 11 F4U-5NL Corsair BuNo Corsair back into its VC-3 Collection owner Peter Teichman 124724/F-AZEG, colours, which it still wore when has announced that he will retire Kowned by the Salis family’s bought by Jean Salis. In April from display flying at the end of the Casques de Cuir (Leather 1986 the fighter was shipped 2018 season, his last show being Helmets) collection, made its to and flown from the Shuttleworth Race Day on 7 maiden post-restoration flight there to its new home at La October, when he will fly his P-51D. at La Ferté-Alais south-west of Ferté-Alais. It continued to be BOBSLEIGH FLIES Paris on 9 May. Baptiste Salis a regular airshow performer The one-off Reid and Sigrist RS4 was at the controls. The aircraft there and elsewhere in Europe Bobsleigh, VZ728/G-AGOS, flew at had last flown in 2003 and had until the early 2000s. Spanhoe in early May following been under active restoration The markings of VC-3 have restoration by Windmill Aviation. since 2008. been reapplied in the course of The experimental prone pilot This night-fighter was taken the F4U’s recent restoration, research machine — which first flew on charge by the US Navy on albeit with the codes and titles Baptiste Salis getting airborne from La Ferté-Alais in newly restored on 9 July 1945 as the RS3 Desford 26 September 1951 and F4U-5NL Corsair F-AZEG. BEN DUNNELL in blue rather than white. — is owned by Leicester County assigned to composite Baptiste Salis piloted the The newly repainted XIX G-AHKX, showing Council and was previously stored squadron VC-3 ‘Blue Nemesis’, Corsair on its return to display the Station Flight markings in public for in an old miners’ washroom at the home-based at Moffett Field, Corsairs — a mixture of F4U-5, ground sorties against flying at the La Ferté-Alais the first time at Old Warden on 6 May.ADRIAN M. BALCH now defunct Snibston Discovery California, the following April. F4U-5N and F4U-5NL models, Salvadoran forces. show on 19-20 May (see report INSET: The real TX176, on display at Odiham in Museum near Coalville. With that unit, BuNo 124724 the latter distinguished from The Honduran F4Us were on pages 104-105), and it is September 1964. ADRIAN M. BALCH was sent to the Korean theatre the standard -5N by virtue of retired in favour of North hoped to be present at several ANOTHER VIGGEN FOR SWAFHF in December 1952 aboard the added winterisation equipment American F-86 Sabres during other major shows this summer. The Historic Flight USS Valley Forge for an initial — were supplied by the US 1970. Eight of the nine It is now the sole airworthy (SwAFHF) Saab SK 37 Viggen, six-month operational tour, the government to the Honduran airworthy survivors, which had Corsair in . Fv37809/SE-DXO, flew again at unit primarily conducting Air Force. From 14-18 July been stored at Tegucigalpa, The run-up to the La Ferté BAE Anson repainted Såtenäs on 15 May after several nocturnal interdiction and radar 1969 the Corsair fleet were acquired in 1979 by event was a notably busy years in storage and a restoration to intercept sorties. It returned to participated in the last air Hollywood Wings, a company period for the Casques de Cuir, airworthiness. Originally delivered wartime duty from August- combat action seen by the type formed by Jim Nettle to sell as the association’s DrI to the Swedish Air Force in February November 1953, this time on when Honduras was attacked them on to collectors. Most replica F-AYDR — the ex-Robs for RAF 100th 1974, 37809 last flew in September the USS Boxer. by El Salvador, resulting in the went straight to their new Lamplough aeroplane, formerly 2007 while being operated by the Little is known about the so-called ‘Soccer War’ — so owners, but Hollywood Wings registered G-ATJM — was also n 4 May the Old — was During July 1981 it was air arm’s test unit, based at remainder of its US Navy named because of clashes kept BuNo 124724 until 1983. reflown after a programme of Warden-based, BAE welcomed by the station bought by British Aerospace at Linköping/Malmen. This two-seater service, but at some point the resulting from a World Cup Registered N4901E, it was restoration work. Bruno Systems Heritage commander, Gp Capt Mike the famous Strathallan auction. joins the SwAFHF’s single-seat airframe was placed in storage qualifying match between the passed to Terry Randall and Marlière was at the controls Flight-owned Avro Baulkwill. A rebuilt to flying condition at Viggen, 37098/SE-DXN. at Naval Air Facility Litchfield two countries. BuNo 124724 John Rourke of Tulsa, when the ‘Dreidecker’ took to XIXO Anson G-AHKX flew in to The machine first flew in Woodfood was intended to be BUYS Park, Arizona. It re-emerged in was involved in the brief Oklahoma, then to Phillip Bass the air on 15 May. RAF Coningsby wearing its November 1946. It was carried out by apprentices, but Convair 340 ZS-BRV has been March 1956 when 10 surplus campaign, conducting air-to- of Fairhope, Alabama and Ben Dunnell new colours, the familiar operated by Smiths Aircraft ended up being undertaken donated by Rovos Air in two-tone blue civil scheme Instruments at Staverton, by volunteer retired staff, who to the Aviodrome museum at having been replaced with that Meridian Air Maps at still retained the necessary , the Netherlands. The of the Coningsby Station Flight Shoreham, Treffield Aviation skills. It flew again on 8 March twin-engined airliner — originally The exquisite Klemm KI 35 SE-BGA at Anson C19, TX176, which 2002. built for the US Air Force as a C-131B Siegerland, where it is now based with operated from the Lincolnshire The original TX176 was built KLEMM TO GERMANY — will be flown to its new home this the Sterntakt collection. STEFAN SCHMOLL base as a ‘hack’ on general at Yeadon and delivered to the Following nine hours of test-flying, Friedrich Diehl and The civil scheme July, and thereafter kept airworthy. communications duties during British Air Forces of Thomas Holz ferried Klemm KI 35 SE-BGA from Håtunaholm has been replaced by Twenty-four examples of the type airfield, just north-west of Stockholm, to Siegerland airport in the early 1960s. Occupation Communications that of the Coningsby were operated by Dutch national central Germany at the end of April. The historic German The repaint was carried out Wing Station Flight at RAF airline KLM. BEN DUNNELL trainer is now part of the Sterntakt collection at Siegerland, at Gloucestershire Airport by Station Flight Anson Gatow in Berlin. It then served which currently operates a Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz, two Ardent Paint Care, from where C19, TX176, during the with the Home Command PREDATORS TO UK MUSEUMS Spanish-built CASA 1.131 Jungmanns, and a 1939 Swiss-built the Anson was flown direct to early 1960s Communications Flight, With the retirement of the type by Bücker Bü 131. Coningsby by BAE test pilot Coastal Command the US Air Force, two General SE-BGA was built in 1941 at the Klemm in Peter Kosogorin. The idea for Communications Flight, the Atomics MQ-1B Predator unmanned Böblingen, south-west Germany as Werknummer 1983, and the new scheme is at least — set up by Lord Trefgarne Station Flights at , aerial vehicles were delivered to delivered to the Swedish Air Force as Fv5054. It was retired partly to mark the RAF’s 100th and Charles Masefield — Kinloss and Coningsby and major UK museums in mid-April. from service in 1948. Its most recent owner, Håkan anniversary. BAE Systems is a flying freight, and Kemps finally with Transport IWM Duxford has received serial Wijkander, restored the machine about 10 years ago. strong backer of the RAF 100 Aerial Surveys at Command’s Northern 03-33120, while the second In addition to SE-BGA, Friedrich Diehl is restoring another programme and is heavily , who used the Communications Squadron. example has gone to the RAF former Swedish KI 35, Fv5012, which will also be painted embedded at Coningsby with Avro for the final five years of The Anson was sold off into Museum at Hendon and silver overall. Diehl is preparing the fuselage in his own 600 civilians working to its career before retiring it in civilian hands in February will be displayed in its new Age of private workshop, while the wings have already been support the RAF’s fleet of 1973. G-AHKX was then 1967, becoming G-AVGR, but Uncertainty exhibition. The Predator completed and are now stored in the Sterntakt hangar at Typhoons. After landing, ‘HKX acquired by the Strathallan only lasted a couple more has been replaced by the more Siegerland. — which remains based at Old Collection and moved to years before being scrapped capable MQ-9 Reaper. BEN DUNNELL Warden, ‘parented’ by the Auchterarder, Perthshire. in March 1969.

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Rob Davies prepares to take F-6D Lil’ Margaret up for its first, 15-minute test flight at Sywell on 22 May. The markings are those of Capt Clyde B. East of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group. DAVID WHITWORTH

F-6D MUSTANG DAMAGED IN TAKE-OFF MISHAP North American F-6D Mustang 44-84786/ Following importation from the USA, the N51BS Lil’ Margaret was badly damaged when machine was reassembled by Air Leasing at it failed to get airborne on the new Italian Sywell, from where it made its first flight in the owner’s first take-off in the reconnaissance UK on 22 May with former P-51D owner Rob machine at Woodchurch, Kent on 25 May. Davies at the controls. ADVERT PAGE Second Avenger Nord for for Classic Flyers Quax-Flieger At the Classic Flyers Aviation Museum at Tauranga Airport in The Quax-Flieger club’s the Bay of Plenty region of the latest hangar open day at North Island of , its headquarters at 15 volunteers are stuck Paderborn-Lippstadt on into their second 6 May revealed a new Avenger restoration in less acquisition: Nord than four years. The derelict NC856A F-PGCD, former Royal New Zealand Air which had arrived Force TBF-1, NZ2539, arrived during April. The rare on 7 July 2017 from Riverhead, 1950s French Army just north of Auckland, where The second Classic Flyers Avenger machine — only four it had been kept by owner Ken project, NZ2539, in the hangar at examples of which are The lavishly glazed former French Jacobs since he acquired it in Tauranga Airport. DAVID ASHWORTH flying worldwide — is Army Nord NC856A F-PGCD in the mid-1970s from a children’s now owned by three of the Quax-Flieger workshop on 6 playground in Havelock North. the club members and is May. STEFAN SCHMOLL Ken donated it to the museum after seeing its previous TBF-1 expected to fly again restoration, NZ2505, on which the Classic Flyers engineers later this year. The began a two-year rebuild to ground-running condition in August engine, a 160hp SNECMA-Régnier 4 LO 8, is being 2014 on behalf of its owners, the Gisborne Aviation Preservation overhauled. Society. That machine is on loan to Classic Flyers for five years Meanwhile, Quax-Flieger’s Bücker Bü 180 Student, and is providing an important reference point during the D-EUTO — the sole airworthy example of only two restoration of ’2539. Gisborne airfield was where No 30 survivors of this late 1930s trainer — was one of Squadron, RNZAF trained on Avengers during 1943 prior to the stars of the static park at the ILA Berlin Air Show at heading to the Pacific theatre, so NZ2505 will be in an Berlin Brandenburg Airport at the end of April. appropriate home when it finally goes on display.

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B-17F MEMPHIS Last ‘Dambuster’ flies in Lancaster BELLE UNVEILED he last surviving British n 17 May, exactly crew member from No 75 years after its 617 Squadron’s raid on crew flew their 25th the Ruhr dams, Sqn and final mission LdrT George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, overO Europe, B-17F flew in the Battle of Britain Flying Fortress 41-24485 Memorial Flight’s Lancaster I Memphis Belle was unveiled to PA474 from RAF Coningsby on the public at the National 17 May to mark the 75th Museum of the US Air Force at anniversary of the raid, Dayton, Ohio, following a Operation ‘Chastise’. Johnson 13-year restoration/ flew in the bomb-aimer conservation project. position, the same as he Surrounding the jacked-up occupied in 1943. The is a new strategic Lancaster flew over the dams bombardment exhibition of the Derwent Valley, exactly featuring a digitally animated the same journey he took just map of the campaign, two over 75 years ago while Medals of Honor, items worn training for the mission. and used on significant The dramatically posed B-17F 41-24485 Memphis Belle at Dayton on 17 May, surrounded by the new After landing, ‘Johnny’ said, missions, artefacts from strategic bombardment exhibition. NMUSAF “It has been a wonderful trip bombing campaign leaders, a and it’s surprising how 75 years photographic display, and B-17 just disappear. Over the top and ball turrets. following year the rather to Dayton for restoration. lifetime opportunity to witness Derwent Dam, the time was It is the first time the aircraft bedraggled bomber was Among those on hand at the a culmination of thousands of gone, just like that. I was back has been on public display moved to a restoration facility unveiling were hundreds of hours of work”, said Lt Gen there thinking about the times since 2002, when it was on at the former Naval Air Station family members of the Jacqueline Van Ovost, USAF that we went there… I have to show at Mud Island, a little Memphis in Millington, Memphis Belle crew and director of staff. “It is a say the first time I noticed the peninsula on the Mississippi Tennessee, but in 2005 it was maintainers and invited tremendous piece of our hilly area we were going to, I River in Memphis. The decided to relocate the aircraft dignitaries. “This is a once-in-a- national history.” wondered what the hell we were doing down at 60ft, but there it was — that was the Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson MBE DFM in the middle of a group of BBMF air and groundcrew in job.” front of Lancaster PA474 at RAF Coningsby on 17 May. MoD Big grant for ‘Connie’ Montrose museum adds an Anson During May at Longreach, Queensland, the Qantas The Qantas Foundation Memorial will contribute $455,000 Founders Museum’s Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, to the project. The external restoration is expected to be C19 TX226 heroic action, Willits was N4247X, had its wings, engines and tail section fitted, and is completed by July 2018, and the museum plans to restore arrived at the Montrose Air awarded the Distinguished now standing on its undercarriage for the first time in more the interior in time for the Qantas centenary in 2020. Station Heritage Centre Flying Medal, the first of the than three years. The project had received a major boost on Qantas took delivery of its first Super Constellation in April (MASHC) in Angus, on a truck war, which was presented to 16 April with the allocation of a $300,000 grant from the 1954 and went on to operate a fleet of 16 L-1049s. On 14 from storage at a site near him by King George VI. federally funded Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure Fund, January 1958, two of them left Melbourne to inaugurate a Coventry, at the end of April. Dr Dan Paton, curator of the administered by the Queensland Government. round-the-world service, first visiting Sydney and then flying The 1945-built machine was Montrose Air Station Heritage The museum bought N4247X from the Manila off in opposite directions. One travelled via along the previously owned by Glenn Trust added, “Our approach International Airport Authority in September 2014. Over ‘Kangaroo route’, while the other flew eastward on the James, who operates Anson at the heritage centre is two-and-a-half-years it was extracted from its mud-encrusted ‘Southern Cross route’ via the . The aircraft T21 WD413/G-VROE from different from that of most position at the airport, dismantled and transported by ship circumnavigated the globe in opposite directions, arriving Sleap, . MASHC aviation museums. They from Manila to Townsville and by truck to the museum’s base back in Sydney six days later. Soon after, Qantas was chairman Ron Morris said, “It’s collect and display aircraft, at Longreach, arriving in late May 2017. operating eight round-the-world services per week. a very exciting project and we while we focus on the are looking forward to starting experience of the men and restoration work, which we women who served here and estimate will take around five Anson C19 TX226 being unloaded at the Montrose Air Station seek to collect aircraft which to six years to complete.” Heritage Centre in late April. KEVAN DICKEN have a historical connection Anson Is first appeared at with RFC/RAF Montrose. RAF Montrose in August 1939 ‘Tiny’ Burrell, attacked a large man, but his navigator, Ansons served at Montrose, with No 269 Squadron, and Dornier Do 18 flying boat. Sgt W. E. Willits, managed to so they fit our collections were soon flying on anti- Return fire from the Dornier pull his body out of the pilot’s policy, but we will be looking L-1049 Super Constellation N4247X submarine patrols over the entered through the seat, regain control and fly the for a personal story to attach with the newly refitted wings, engines and tail at the Qantas Founders . On one of these windscreen of the Anson and damaged aircraft 140 miles to our Anson when it is Museum in Longreach on 30 May. QFM an Anson, flown by Flt Lt Burrell was killed. He was a back to Montrose. For his restored.”

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Richthofen CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS remembered The death of the ‘Red Baron’, Manfred von Richthofen, in a field close to brickworks near the Somme at roughly 10.30hrs on Sunday 21 April 1918 was commemorated 100 years later by a reception in the village of Vaux-sur-Somme. The crash site itself is slightly to the north of the road that runs between Bray and Corbie, just north of the Somme. Two map references are given in official reports, so the location can be narrowed down to an area of 100 by 50 yards. The events of 21 April 1918 A former resident of the Milestones of Flight gallery at Hendon, Harrier GR3 XZ994, and a full-size facsimile Typhoon with RAF 100 tail started when two RE8s, markings outside Cardiff City Hall on 18 May. patrolling near Sailly-Laurette, were attacked by Albatros and The floor beams of Night Fokker DrI fighters. The Fright, seen through the RAF centenary tour begins Sopwith Camels of No 209 gap where the cargo door Squadron joined the fray and will go. CHARLIE WALKER This summer’s RAF centenary Flight building at Hendon. The YAM replica on display in front of the Hôtel des the fight moved westwards Invalides on 25 May. The Dôme des Invalides contains the tomb of aircraft tour got under way at Completing the aircraft display Napoleon. NEILL WATSON towards Sailly-le-Sec and Vaux- Cardiff, south Wales, on 18-20 were Wessex HC2 XR497 from sur-Somme where von May with a display of five the RAF Museum collection at Richthofen is said to have aircraft in front of the City Hall. Cosford, and a Eurofighter YAM Avro on show in Paris overflown the church before Night Fright on target The on show Typhoon FGR4 replica wearing turning north. The town of represent five major eras of an RAF 100 logo. Over the long weekend of Reed commented, "This was Vaux decided to mark the he rebuild of D-Day veteran Douglas to the whole centre section and we are almost RAF history, starting with The aircraft types selected 24-28 May the Yorkshire Air an unprecedented occasion occasion together with the C-47A Skytrain 42-100521 Night ready to start building up the bays one at a Sopwith Snipe reproduction for each of the successive city Museum/Allied Air Forces and the first time that a UK local tourism organisation. Fright is now progressing well with time. ‘E6655’, which is a partially events will vary, but will cover Memorial’s Avro 504 replica museum — indeed any Ben Cox and his team at Coventry “The rear fuselage has been stripped and original aircraft constructed by the same eras seen in Cardiff. was displayed outside the museum — has undertaken a AirportT for Charlie and Philip Walker, the the necessary skin repairs carried out. A new The Vintage Aviator in New Future tour date are 6-9 July at Hôtel des Invalides in central display of this kind in perhaps owners of Membury airfield in Wiltshire. The rib at the front of the fin has been fitted as Zealand. It was moved to Horse Guards Parade, London; Paris to commemorate the the most prestigious location historic transport flew from Membury at the has a new web at the base of the rudder, Cardiff from the RAF Museum 10-12 August at Newcastle in RAF’s 100th anniversary, and in France, where many start of Operation ‘Neptune’ — the initial which was missing. Cargo door frames, upper at Hendon. County Down, Northern to celebrate more than 100 occasions of state take place. assault stage of Operation ‘Overlord’ — and lower channels are currently being Representing WW2 was the Ireland; 25-27 August in years of co-operation between We are very privileged to be during the early hours of 6 June 1944. The replaced, and all of the floor beams are being Imperial War Museums’ Birmingham; 31 August-2 the air arms of Britain and asked by the team is still aiming for completion in early inspected and, where necessary, new ones Spitfire I replica ‘X4474’, September in Glasgow; and France. Displayed alongside to assist in bringing to fruition The Digger Cote 160 group 2019 and remains on schedule to fly in the fitted. A new rear bulkhead has been installed wearing No 19 Squadron 14-16 September in the Avro was a replica SPAD this unique celebration of over exhibited its static Fokker DrI Daks over Normandy event in June next year. and painted. markings, while the Cold War . The London event VII provided by the 100 years of co-operation replica at Vaux-sur-Somme for The aircraft was acquired by Philip and “Our first engine is about to go in to a the Richthofen centenary event. was depicted by Harrier GR3 will be followed by a Conservatoire de l’Air et de between the two countries’ air MELVYN HISCOCK Charlie Walker of Walker Logistics during cradle ready to be built up, and the second is XZ994, which was previously 100-aircraft down The l’Espace d’Aquitaine in forces, especially in this year of 2012. The Walker family had purchased the en route by sea from the USA. The next jobs on display in the Milestones of Mall on 10 July. Bordeaux. YAM director Ian RAF 100.” Membury estate during 1993, and in 1999 the are to look at putting the original cargo floor In the small park next to the family business, Walker Logistics, which back in. We can then look to mate the church, Digger Cote 160, a specialises in warehousing, transport and sections back together and the aircraft can group based in Pozières that distribution, moved onto the old airfield, stand on its wheels. From there we need to Tiger Nine flies commemorates the Australian using some of the T2 hangars dating from the build up the undercarriage and brakes, build troops stationed in the area, war. Charlie Walker is a commercial pilot with up both engines, research the layout of the ‘100’ formation had set up its static DrI replica. a keen interest in aviation history, so he set original instrument panel, then make it and A procession, led by a French about trying to track down an aircraft that had source all the instruments both old and new.” During the Moth Club’s private Moth pipe band, contained local flown from Membury. With the help of several The Skytrain was operated from Membury Flying Forum held at RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire, dignitaries and members of JG contacts, Night Fright was located on an by the 475th Troop Carrier Group. After on 12-13 May, the Tiger Nine display team 71, the current ‘Richthofen’ airfield in Arkansas, and acquired during returning from the first para drop, Night rehearsed a ‘100’ formation using 16 DH82A Tiger squadron in the German November 2012. The aircraft arrived at Fright was one of 50 C-47s that towed Moths in honour of the RAF centenary. With team Luftwaffe. Speeches were Coventry by road from Southampton in April Airspeed Horsas during the evening of D-Day leader Jeff Milsom in command, a number of made by Philippe Gosselin, 2017, following a sea crossing from the USA. on the ‘Elmira’ mission to a landing zone near ‘guest’ aircraft and pilots were added to the Tiger the mayor of Vaux, M. Barbuat, Charlie Walker says, “A huge amount of Sainte-Mère-Église. The aircraft returned to Nine’s regular line-up to create the spectacle. A the president of the Val de painstaking work has gone in to repairing Membury with serious flak damage and was The augmented Tiger Nine team’s magnificent 16-aircraft seventeenth aeroplane was also airborne to act as Somme tourist organisation, corrosion in the centre section; new pieces out of action for several days. Some of the ‘100’ formation over Henlow on 12 May. MARK O’NEILL a formation ‘whipper-in’. Ben Dunnell and Lt Col Rex of the have been spliced in to seven of the 12 skin repairs are still evident, particularly on Luftwaffe. Melvyn Hiscock cap extrusions. Primer has now been applied the crew entry door.

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