RAFM Reserve Collection

Wolverine · **Posted:** Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:09 pm

Can anybody tell me what's all there (airframes, s/ns etc)? I'd especially like to know if there's a Beaufighter, Hamilcar, Hotspur, and Horsa. I had read in a book by Bob Odgen that these were their. The book was c1986.

Robbo · **Posted:** Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:44 pm

According to Wrecks and Relics (19th Edition - 2004) by Ken Ellis, the contents of the RAFM reserve collection at Stafford are:

Dragon Rapide (G-AHED)
Morane BB (A301)
Proctor III (Z7197)
Hawk Major (DG590)
Swordfish IV (HS503)
Spitfire F.21 (LA226)
Spitfire F.22 (PK664)
Spitfire PR.XIX (PM651)
Spitfire XVI (RW393)
Spitfire XVI (SL674)
Sedbergh TX.1 (VX275)
FE 2b (Cockpit nacelle only)
PT-19a Cornell (15195)
Vampire FB.6 (J-1172)
Demoiselle replica
Fi 103 (V1)

I have the same book and it looks like many ofthe airframes are either now in the main collection at Hendon/Cosford or have moved on. The Bob Ogden book doesn't give the serials, but I'd assume that the Beaufighter's the one at Hendon (although there is another "elsewhere" in the UK besides the East Fortune example (ex S Africa if I remember correctly) and the gliders are possibly at Middle Wallop.

Rob

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Isn't the Beaufighter the one now in storage and up for sale with Tim Moore at Skysport?

Robbo · **Posted:** Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:59 pm

Mike, that's the "elsewhere". How long has the one at Hendon been there?

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Ah, of course, that must be the one rotting quietly away at the Ottawa museum. Exchanged for the RAF Museum's Bolingbroke, although that was some time before the 1986 date quoted in the first post though.

The Hendon one's been there since the museum first opened in the early 1970s, I believe.

TonyA · **Posted:** Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:08 pm

Col. Rohr wrote:

Sedbergh TX.1 (VX275)

With out offending our English friends what is this type of aircraft never heard of it.

Thanks for any enlightment

RER

Courtesy of airliners.net:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?codesearch=WB935&distinct_entry=true

Robbo · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 2:41 am

Mike wrote:

Ah, of course, that must be the one rotting quietly away at the Ottawa museum. Exchanged for the RAF Museum's Bolingbroke, although that was some time before the 1986 date quoted in the first post though.

Mike, I think that's the type of deal that the RAFM should be thoroughly ashamed of. It was an outright con to display theBeau complete with engines and cowlings etc prior to the sale and then strip it once the deal was done. Am I correct in thinking that these parts were transferred to the airframe shortly before the viewing?

Rob

Wolverine · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:52 am

I think maybe I'll start a company, make a few million (or billion), then buy all existing Beaufighters, return them to flying, and then sell 'em to you guys. Only problem is I don't have any money to begin with. :lol:

J-F St-Pierre · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:32 pm

Quote:

Mike wrote:
Ah, of course, that must be the one rotting quietly away at the Ottawa museum. Exchanged for the RAF Museum's Bolingbroke, although that was some time before the 1986 date quoted in the first post though.

Mike, I think that's the type of deal that the RAFM should be thoroughly ashamed of. It was an outright con to display theBeau complete with engines and cowlings etc prior to the sale and then strip it once the deal was done. Am I correct in thinking that these parts were transferred to the airframe shortly before the viewing?

Rob

The beaufighter of the RAF museum was obtained from Portugal in 1965.I dont know if it was complete or not. I found this information in "Beaufighter in action" of Squadron/Signal publications (#153). There is also a picture of the Ottawa museum exemple at the page 41, before is arrival in Canada and with his powerplants installed.

Jeff

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:04 pm

J-F St-Pierre wrote:

There is also a picture of the Ottawa museum exemple at the page 41, before is arrival in Canada and with his powerplants installed.

Where did those power plants go?

Mike

Hatton · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 10:53 am **Posts:** 3

Robbo wrote:

Mike wrote:

Ah, of course, that must be the one rotting quietly away at the Ottawa museum. Exchanged for the RAF Museum's Bolingbroke, although that was some time before the 1986 date quoted in the first post though.

Mike, I think that's the type of deal that the RAFM should be thoroughly ashamed of. It was an outright con to display theBeau complete with engines and cowlings etc prior to the sale and then strip it once the deal was done. Am I correct in thinking that these parts were transferred to the airframe shortly before the viewing?

Rob

Robbo, surely it cant have been this simplistic. The RAFM and Canadians must have exchanged some sort of contract/paperwork for this exchange that would have stated what was to come with the aircraft and what was not ?

any further info on this?

best regards,steve

Robbo · **Posted:** Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:57 am

The Ottowa example was complete with engines/props/cowlings etc when viewed - that's probably when any pictures were taken. I believe that's what the Canadians thought they were getting in exchange for the Bolingbroke that's in the Battle of Britain Halls at Hendon.

When delivered, the Beaufighter had been stripped of these parts and it's sat outside for thirty years or so ever since.

I'm going on what I've read - here's some material on the affair:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11652&highlight=Beaufighter+canada

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=778&postcount=14

Rob

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