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By: - 15th April 2015 at 13:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Looks to be in great condition!
By: - 15th April 2015 at 13:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Please tell me you weren't gardening! :)
So what are they from? I'm going to take wild guess and say it was a wooden aircraft (judging by the bolts) so possibly a Miles training aircraft? Those canopy opening latches are pretty distinctive.
By: - 15th April 2015 at 14:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Its a spitfire canopy frame with the butterfly hood latch which sits above the pilots head.
You should be very excited
http://markonepartners.co.uk/sites/default/files/DX%20061011%20cockpit%20details%20D450%20008-C.jpg
By: - 15th April 2015 at 14:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
But why was it buried with loose wing bolts?
By: - 15th April 2015 at 14:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Very nice find!!!! Wheres rest of it?:eagerness:
By: - 15th April 2015 at 15:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
But why was it buried with loose wing bolts?
Bruce, there was a lake of crates available so one hole fitted all !!!!
As T1940 said, must be dump finds, I found loads of interesting stuff at the dump for Willingale
By: - 15th April 2015 at 16:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yes, a Spitfire MU, 39 MU to be precise, in 1946, there were over 600 Spits stored with no where to go................
so the scrap men were invited in !
remember this photo ?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]236767[/ATTACH]
we have found enough wing bolts for a squadron of Spits ! sadly no stainless ones yet.
No Creaking Door, not gardening but a stones throw from home. if only we could turn back time.
Jules
By: - 15th April 2015 at 20:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That photo has also been listed as RAF Redhill ??
By: - 15th April 2015 at 22:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Is that photo definitely 39 MU?I only ask because we are using it in a certain magazine quite shortly. :-)
Yes, I'm 99% certain! every thing ties up! certainly the topography, last summer I tried to take a comparison photo! trouble being that the original photographer had the advantage of standing on the nose of a spit to get the height! sadly the Spit was not there for me! I'll try again this summer with a tall pair of steps, but as I say it all ties in nicely.
So yes, taken at RAF Starveall farm, number 2SLG. 39 MU.
It was established because the Spitfires that were repaired at number 1 Civilian Repair Unit at Cowley (Morris motors)
Could not be fitted with guns or radios, so they flew the 10 miles to Starveall farm, an RAF unit, where they fitted guns, aligned them in the gun butts and radios, before sending them off to squadron.
Back in the 1980's we spoke to several chaps who were stationed here.
All interesting stuff
Jules
By: - 16th April 2015 at 02:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'll put my hand up as being one of the folks who thought it was Redhill, but in the last thread we had someone said that, although very similar, the terrain didn't quite match up. So it's nice to finally put this one to bed.
By: - 16th April 2015 at 07:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's good then has also been attributed to Horne in the past!
By: - 16th April 2015 at 08:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That's good then has also been attributed to Horne in the past!
I'm glad then that we have finally found 'the home' of this lovely picture. as said I will try and get a good 'Now' picture in the summer off a pair of steps, I'm sure the cameraman must have been stood on the nose of a spit, or at least the wing to get that angle.
Jules
By: - 16th April 2015 at 16:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is 83 Group Support Unit.
I have this from Chris Thomas......Mr 2nd TAF.
I am away from my files but from memory that is Redhill.
Mark
PS. This is a crop from a larger image that shows the RAF serial of nearest Spitfire. This serial read in conjunction with the other serial visible establishes the time line through the respective movement cards.
Aircraft being prepared to be ferried to Europe.
There is a full caption in Chris Thomas's four volume book 2nd TAF.
By: - 16th April 2015 at 18:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Camera on a pole maybe? Like a selfie stick only larger.
I once - and this is one of my favourite wedding photo memories - spoke the words:
"Umm...excuse me but, err, could I please borrow your Spitfire for a few minutes?"
And he let me.
Love the look of that item, it just looks like something really tangible.
By: - 16th April 2015 at 21:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A stainless steel 'butterfly' is indicative of an early Spitfire in my experience.
Mark
By: - 16th April 2015 at 22:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A stainless steel 'butterfly' is indicative of an early Spitfire in my experience.Mark
Yes, I guess it must be early as it's got no holes drilled for the loop pull, so the canopy could be puled with one hand.
Jules
Posts: 590
By: thedawnpatrol - 15th April 2015 at 12:53 - Edited 2nd October 2019 at 11:40
I was excited to dig this up last night........................
[ATTACH=CONFIG]236763[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]236764[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]236765[/ATTACH]
Jules