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, Canberra and CF-100 all suspended from the ceiling over an array of former Military and Civilian aircraft. Mark took time to photograph every aircraft in the building these will be published at some future juncture on both the WAG and RHAG web-sites.

 

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 American Air Museum was the final stop on the visit; the last time Mick came to Duxford there hand been no American Air Museum - yes it had been that long. It was incredibly warm inside the building so much so that they'd opened the emergency exits to try and get some fresher and cooler air into the building. It never ceases to amaze me at the size of a B-52D the first exhibit you see as you enter through the normal entrance. Getting so close to an SR-71A where once upon a time you'd have been incarcerated for just thinking of looking at it let alone photograph the underside - sadly as far as we know there are no more flying examples of the SR-71 .... But then what do we as "Spotters" know?

 

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, Wales

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 Leeds'

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

Oxford

I

G-AHTW

V9300

Lysander

IIIA

MA-J, G-LIZY, 'V9673'

BB661

Magister

 

A, G-AFBS

KB889

Lancaster

BX

NA-I, G-LANC

NF370

Swordfish

III

NH-L

TA719

Mosquito

TT35

56

ML796

Sunderland

MR5

 

MW232

York

C1

G-ANTK

VN485

Spitfire

F24

7326M

WH725

Canberra

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

Wessex

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

Pilatus P-2

-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, 'Brooklyn Bum 2nd'

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

Bristol F.2

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

Po

 

 

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, Essex

 

 

 

 

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

Bristol F.2

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

Hastings

C1A

 

ZD487

Pucara

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Air Museum

 

 

 

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

Bell 205

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(UK)

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