RAFM Cosford Re-visited

[Airframes]

As mentioned earlier, the on-going reorganisation at Cosford has seen some resident airframes moved around, with the Bf109G-2 "Black 6" and the World's oldest surviving Spitfire (Mk.1A) now in much better, accessible locations.
Some aircraft have been hung from the hangar roof, to allow more movements / placements to be made.
The Defiant has also been moved, and a few detail shots of this are included here. I did a more detailed coverage of the Defiant in a previous Cosford thread.
Still a few more to come, which I'll post either later today, or over the weekend.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Final selection from this visit, with some "odds and ends", including the Miles Magister, the lovely D.H. Devon (military version of the Dove) with the twin booms of the Argosy in the background, Spitfire PR.19 detail, Catalina float retraction details, and Hurricane starter socket / cable.
To round off, a few detail shots of another recent "import" from Hendon, the mighty Hawker Tempest Mk.II.

I hope you've enjoyed this brief coverage of the RAFM Cosford changes, and thanks for the comments and "likes" etc.

 

[special ed]

Especially like the PBY float close up. It may help solve a problem making removable retracted/extended floats for a flying model

 

[Airframes]

Glad it's proved useful.

 

[Snautzer01]

I hope you've enjoyed this brief coverage

Yes i have. Thank you.

 

[Crimea_River]

Enjoyed this very much Terry, thanks.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks chaps.

 

[Gnomey]

Great shots Terry!

 

[Capt. Vick]

Where was that Sterling found Terry?

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Hugh.

I forgot to ask about the Stirling Jim, as I was gobsmacked at seeing it !
I'll find out and let you know though.

 

[rochie]

good stuff Dogsbody, shame i missed it.

hope they get some of those test aircraft under cover before too long !

 

[Airframes]

Yeah, pity you couldn't be there, but there's always next time.
I agree about the aircraft outside, they need to be undercover. indoors.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Thanks Hugh.

I forgot to ask about the Stirling Jim, as I was gobsmacked at seeing it !
I'll find out and let you know though.

No worries. I would be also. Amazing piece.

 

[Airframes]

Jim (Capt Vick) asked me about the Stirling fuselage section, and where it came from.
I now have the info from Rodd at RAFM Cosford.

The aircraft was Stirling Mk.III, serial number LK488 from 1651 HCU, which crashed in the Pennines (UK) on a training sortie on October 19th, 1944.
All crew, with the exception of the tail gunner, perished in the crash.
As the location of the crash was remote, and in very harsh terrain, the wreckage was pushed into a sink hole, where it lay buried for over three decades, finally being recovered in1977.
The fuselage sections and other parts were in storage at RAF Stafford until this year, with the mid-fuselage (where the upper turret is located) and the tail wheel assembly now on display at Cosford, and the rear fuselage section and other parts on display at Hendon.

I'd need to check with my friend, Mick, but I think that this is the same aircraft, the crash site of which Mick visited a couple of years back, which is not far from where we both live, where it was evident that the Stirling had flown into the side of a steep hill, in poor weather conditions. Small fragments can still be seen, both metal and "Perspex", and some exploded .303 ammo was also found. The earth beneath the coarse grass was still blackened from the resulting fire.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Thanks Terry.

 

[Airframes]

You're welcome Jim.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Just serendipitously, today a coworker gave me the following magazine:

Which happened to have an article about ANOTHER Stirling recovery: