Duxford
Visit for the Spitfire 70th Anniversary
0930 on Friday morning Mick Boulangar,
Mark Ray and I (Addo Addison) met in the car park of
the Imperial War Museum at Duxford; our timing for the visit couldn't have been
better as this was the day before the 70th Anniversary show weekend for the
Spitfire. By 9.45 the queue was already stretching deep into the car park and a
number of Dutch Spotters were evident amongst the now thronging crowd. Having
paid our £13-00p entrance fee which we all considered a little on the
"steep" side we made straight for the Air Space hangar which was
formerly the Super hangar. Stunning is one adjective that I'd use to describe
this hangar; opened only for the weekend to coincide with the Spitfire anniversary
we soon realised why the £13-00p was well worth it! A Harrier GR.3,
Trying not to look too conspicuous with the drool
still hanging from our mouths we moved outside to the area of The Aircraft
Restoration & Historic Flying Ltd; again we were not disappointed as this
company had pushed out desert camouflaged Spitfire JG891 (Addo's
first take of the day). During our stay in this area several visitors arrived
for the show, Three Tucano T.1's and two 100 Squadron Hawk T.1's. We moved on
as we had a prior appointment at The Fighter Collection; Greg was our host and
went to great lengths to show us stuff that had henceforth been concealed from
the public eye. I have to add here that not a lot escapes the Eagle eyes of
Mick or Mark as was evidenced by a drone XT871 which was stored amongst a pile
of aircraft parts at the back of one of the conjoined hangar. We bade Greg
farewell; he'd given up his lunch break to conduct the visit and thus we were
all very grateful to him.
In-between the TFC hangar and the next are some low
buildings which I can only describe as a Restoration area; contained within
these low former office type buildings were the following, a Lysander
and Bolingbroke in one part, the nose of a Sea Vampire in another and
finally a former RCAF Bolingbroke in the third and final part.
We moved to the next hangar and again none of us were
disappointed with the contents; I have to add that a full list of what we saw
in each hangar/building will be supplied by Mick. A little respite from
spotting was taken in The Runway cafe on the site. Not one of the cheapest
places to eat but none the less the bowl of chips and the French stick made
excellent "chip butties". Refreshed we set
off for the fourth and fifth hangars and yet again were not disappointed with
the contents.
The
Both age and time were against us so we decided to
take the train/people-mover back to the entrance however we had to stop off as
yet another Spitfire was about to land; we were getting close to 12 of them by
now! As we wandered back toward the entrance/exit area an
RAF Chinook HC.2 ZA714 arrived and I have to say in some style. Getting back to
the M.11 end of the runway at Duxford the engines of this mighty machine were
re-started we thought probably about to depart. Oh how wrong we were; a
magnificent display followed I was dreaming of being in the Load Masters seat
next to the open door. Some of the manoeuvres did not seem
"right" for this mighty helicopter and I feel certain that if I
had been aboard my lunch would be in a disposable bag by now!
The day at Duxford for us ended with the arrival
of a Sea Fire SX336 which upon arrival over the airfield gave an impromptu
display - what a lovely sound those Merlin/Griffon engine's make? Our day ended
with the three of us going to an Indian Restaurant not too distant from RHAG
HQ's. I would like to thank Mick and Mark for their company and let's hope that
it is not another fifteen years before either of you come back this way.
By way of a foot note, Greg at TFC has extended an
invitation to anyone "if you're passing" to call in and see him; one
would suggest that this is probably best left to the autumn/winter months when
things are somewhat leaner on the aviation front. If you do decide to go let me
know and I will make the initial contact for you, who knows if I'm invited
I may even come along with you.
Outside |
|
|
|
BM597 |
Spitfire |
VB |
JH-C,
G-MKVB |
FE992 |
Harvard |
IIB |
G-BDAM,
42-12479 |
HG691 |
DH.89
Dominie |
I |
G-AIYR |
MJ271 |
Spitfire |
LFIXC |
H-53 |
R4922 |
Tiger
Moth |
II |
G-APAO |
RW386 |
Spitfire |
FXVII |
G-BXVI |
WJ945 |
Varsity |
T1 |
G-BEDV,
21 |
XF708 |
Shackleton |
MR3/3 |
C |
XH648 |
Victor |
B(K)1A |
|
XX612 |
Bulldog |
T1 |
A,
03, G-BZXC (Far side of field) |
82 |
Curtiss
Hawk |
H75-A1 |
X8-81,
G-CCVH, ex AdlA |
11005 |
Catalina |
PBV-1A |
G-PBYA,
'433915', ex RCAF |
42-85068 |
Texan |
T-6D |
LN-AMY,
'8084', ex USAF |
43-25147 |
Mustang |
P-51C |
HO-W,
325417, G-PSIC, ex USAF |
44-85784 |
Flying
Fortress B-17 |
G |
DF-A,
'124485', G-BEDF, ex USAF |
48-0178 |
Sabre |
F-86A |
FU-178,
8178, G-SABR, ex USAF |
51-7545 |
Trojan |
T-28A |
51-7545,
N14113, ex USAF & AdlA |
|
|
|
|
Visitors |
|
|
|
PT462 |
Spitfire |
T9 |
SW-A,
G-CTIX, Privately owned, Bryngwyn Bach, |
SX336 |
Seafire |
XVII |
VL-105,
G-KASX, Privately owned, North Weald |
WK520 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
Wears
'1377', G-BARS, Privately owned, Wombleton |
XX200 |
Hawk |
T1A |
CG/100
Sqn, Leeming |
XX284 |
Hawk |
T1A |
CA/100
Sqn, Leeming |
ZA714 |
Chinook |
HC2 |
18
Sqn, Odiham |
ZF243 |
Tucano |
T1 |
243/1
FTS, Linton-on-Ouse |
ZF287 |
Tucano |
T1 |
287/1
FTS, Linton-on-Ouse, 'City of |
ZF448 |
Tucano |
T1 |
448/1
FTS, Linton-on-Ouse |
|
|
|
|
Aircraft Restoration Company Area |
|
|
|
161 |
Spitfire
|
T9 |
G-CCCA
ex PV202 |
99+26 |
Bronco
OV-10 |
B |
26,
G-BZGL, ex GAF |
21261 |
Shooting
Star |
T-33AN |
261,
21261, G-TBRD, ex RCAF |
53-4619 |
Texan |
T-6J |
1747,
G-BGPB, ex USAF, GAF, FAP |
JG891 |
Spitfire |
LFVC |
G-LFVC |
RN201 |
Spitfire |
FXIV |
G-BSKP |
WP929 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
F,
G-BXCV |
WZ879 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
X,
G-BWUT |
2
X Replica Spitfires (Unpainted) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air & Space Hangar |
|
|
|
F3556 |
RAF
RE.8 |
|
|
N4877 |
Anson |
I |
G-AMDA |
V3388 |
|
I |
G-AHTW |
V9300 |
Lysander |
IIIA |
MA-J,
G-LIZY, 'V9673' |
BB661 |
Magister |
|
A,
G-AFBS |
KB889 |
|
BX |
NA-I,
G-LANC |
NF370 |
Swordfish |
III |
NH-L |
TA719 |
Mosquito |
TT35 |
56 |
ML796 |
|
MR5 |
|
MW232 |
|
C1 |
G-ANTK |
VN485 |
Spitfire |
F24 |
7326M |
WH725 |
|
B2 |
|
WM969 |
Sea
Hawk |
FB3 |
Z-10 |
XG797 |
Gannet |
ECM6 |
277 |
XJ824 |
Vulcan |
B2 |
|
XK936 |
Whirlwind |
HAS7 |
62 |
XM135 |
Lightning |
F1 |
B |
XR222 |
BAC
TSR-2 |
|
|
XS576 |
Sea
Vixen |
FAW2 |
E-125 |
XS863 |
|
HAS1 |
304 |
XV474 |
Phantom |
FGR2 |
T |
XV865 |
Buccaneer |
S2B |
9226M |
XX108 |
Jaguar |
GR1mod |
|
XZ133 |
Harrier |
GR3 |
10 |
ZA465 |
Tornado |
GR1 |
FF |
1133 |
Strikemaster |
Mk.80A |
ex
RSAF |
18393 |
Canuck
CF-100 |
4B |
393,
18393, ex RCAF |
Unknown |
Typhoon
|
Mk1 |
(Cockpit) |
|
|
|
|
The Fighter Collection Hangars |
|
|
|
183 |
Nord
N.1002 |
|
G-ASTG,
ex AdlA |
99+32 |
Bronco
OV-10 |
B |
99+32,
G-BZGK, ex GAF |
A-125 |
|
-5 |
A-125,
G-BLKZ, ex SwiAF |
A8-324 |
Beaufighter |
21 |
Wears
'A19-144' |
B.2I-103 |
He.111 |
2-111B |
Wears
'B.2I-27', ex EdA |
S1581 |
Hawker
Nimrod |
I |
573,
G-BWWK |
N-250 |
Hunter |
F6 |
(C),
ex KLu |
N5903 |
Sea
Gladiator |
II |
G-GLAD |
X9381 |
Leopard
Moth |
|
G-ACMN |
EP120 |
Spitfire |
VB |
AE-A,
G-LFVB, 5377M, 8070M |
FE695 |
Harvard |
IIB |
94,
G-BTXI, 42-892 |
ML407 |
Spitfire |
T9 |
OU-V,
G-LFIX |
SM969 |
Spitfire |
FXVIII |
D-A,
G-BRAF |
TD248 |
Spitfire |
LFXVIE |
CR-S,
7246M, G-OVXI |
VX653 |
Sea
Fury |
FB11 |
G-BUCM |
WB569 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
R,
G-BYSJ |
XN239 |
Cadet |
TX3 |
8889M
(On Queen Mary Trailer) |
XP281 |
Auster |
AOP9 |
|
XT581 |
Shelduck |
D1 |
|
XX543 |
Bulldog |
T1 |
F,
G-CBAB |
121714 |
Bearcat |
F8F-2P |
B-201,
G-RUMM, ex USN |
1564 |
Expiditor |
|
64,
'1164', ex RCAF |
225068 |
P-47G |
|
N47DG,
|
2542 |
Falco |
CR-42 |
Ex
Swedish A/F |
6316 |
Ju.52 |
Amiot AAC1 |
4V+G,
ex AdlA |
80141 |
Hellcat |
F6F-5 |
19,
40467, G-BTCC, ex USN |
80425 |
Tigercat |
F7F-3P |
WT-4,
80425, G-RUMT, ex USN |
86711 |
Wildcat |
FM-2 |
F,
G-RUMW, ex USN |
88297 |
Corsair |
FG-1D |
A-130,
'KD345', G-FGID |
132036 |
L-39
Albatross |
ZA |
136,
G-CCWB, ex FAR |
42-19993 |
Airacobra |
P-39Q |
219993,
N793QG, ' |
42-8476 |
Thunderbolt |
P-47D |
'Little Demon' |
48-0173 |
Grasshopper |
L-4J
|
57-H |
|
|
|
|
Hangar 3 |
|
|
|
96+21 |
Mi-24 |
D |
Ex
GAF, DDR |
D7889 |
|
b |
|
X7344 |
DH.89
Dominie |
I |
G-AGJG |
DT989 |
Firefly |
I |
SE-BRG |
TE184 |
Spitfire |
LFXVIE |
G-MXVI,
D |
WB604 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
G-AOTR |
WK522 |
Chipmunk |
T10 |
G-BCOU |
WZ590 |
Vampire |
T11 |
19 |
XG613 |
Sea
Venom |
FAW21 |
|
XS567 |
Wasp |
HAS1 |
E-434 |
19 |
|
|
|
53 |
Criquet |
MS.505 |
DM+BK,
'1827', G-BPHZ, ex AdlA |
5711 |
Hurricane |
XIIa |
HA-C,
'Z5140', G-HURI, ex RCAF |
10201 |
Bolingbroke |
IVT |
UX-N,
'R3821', G-BPIV, ex RCAF |
44-80480 |
Grasshopper |
L-4J
|
44-E,
G-BECN, Privately owned, Rayne, |
|
|
|
|
Hangar 4 |
|
|
|
338 |
Criquet |
MS.502 |
CF+HF,
EI-AUY, ex AdlA |
501 |
MiG-21 |
PF |
Ex
HuAF |
1190 |
Bf.109 |
E-4/N |
4
white, ex GAF |
3349 |
North
American Yale |
Mk.1 |
G-BYNF,
ex RCAF |
100143 |
Focke-Achgelis Fa.330 A-1 |
|
ex
GAF |
E2581 |
|
b |
13 |
L7151 |
Hind
1 |
|
|
Z2315 |
Hurricane |
|
JU-E |
HM580 |
Cierva C.30 |
A |
G-ACUU,
KX-K |
LZ766 |
Proctor |
III |
G-ALCK |
WK991 |
Meteor |
F8 |
|
XE627 |
Hunter |
F6A |
T |
XH897 |
Javelin |
FAW9 |
|
42-52983 |
Schweizer TG-3 |
A |
252983,
N66630, ex USAF |
|
|
|
|
Hangar 5 |
|
|
|
57 |
Mystere
IV |
A |
8-MT,
ex AdlA |
108 |
Ambassador
2 |
|
G-ALZO,
ex RJAF |
3685 |
Zero |
A6M3
-22 |
76,
ex JAF |
59-1822 |
Thunderchief |
F-105D |
ex
USAF |
TG528 |
|
C1A |
|
ZD487 |
Pucara |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4513 |
Hispano |
|
|
69327 |
Avenger |
TBM-3E |
X-3,
'46214', CF-KCG, ex RCAF |
41-8169 |
Stearman Kaydet |
PT-17 |
25,
'42-17786', CF-EQS, ex USAF |
43-15509 |
Dakota |
C-47A |
W7-S,
315509, ex USAF & ex EdA |
44-31171 |
Mitchell |
JTB-25J |
31171,
N7614C, ex USAF |
44-61748 |
Superfortress |
TB-29A |
Y,
461748, G-BHDK, ex USAF |
44-83735 |
Flying
Fortress B-17 |
G |
IY-G,
'231983', F-BDRS, ex USAF |
44-51228 |
Liberator |
EZB-24M |
EC-C,
493, ex USAF |
45-49192 |
Thunderbolt
P-47 |
D |
UN-Z,
'226413', N47DD, ex USAF & FAB |
51-4286 |
Shooting
Star |
T-33A |
ex
USAF |
54-2165 |
Super
Sabre |
F-100D |
VM,
165, ex USAF |
56-0689 |
Stratofortress B-52 |
D |
60689,
ex USAF |
56-6692 |
Lockheed
U-2 |
CT |
66692,
ex USAF |
61-7962 |
Blackbird
SR-71 |
A |
17962,
ex USAF |
67-0120 |
F-111 |
E |
UH,
ex USAF |
72-1447 |
F-111 |
|
(Escape
Pod) |
72-21605 |
|
UH-1H |
0-21605,
ex USAF |
76-0020 |
Eagle |
F-15A |
BT,
76-020, ex USAF |
77-0259 |
Thunderbolt
II |
A-10A |
AR,
77-259, ex USAF |
FE984 |
Harvard |
IIB |
42-12471 |
ZE359 |
Phantom |
F-4J( |
AJ-114,
155529 |
4513 |
Spad |
XIII
(Replica) |
1/S/G-BFYO |
|
|
|
|
Building 63 |
|
|
|
9893 |
Bolingbroke |
IVT |
ex
RCAF |
XG743 |
Sea
Vampire |
T22 |
597 |
|
|
|
|
Building 66 |
|
|
|
|
Blenhem |
1 |
(Cockpit) |
V9312 |
Lysander |
IIIA |
G-CCOM |