Hi Folks:
I've found this on the Surplus Military Yahoo discussion group about Ansons:
Mike Graf wrote:
Quote:
As we know....
Following WWII there were a number of a/c which the powers above saw no further use for. Some were destroyed, abandoned, ferried, collected at various depot sites to be scrapped or auctioned.
In Canada most of these aircraft were trainer types utilized at a hundred(?) or so small bases scattered across the country for basic flight, nav & bomber training.
As far as I know, with the exception of a few civil aviation type pioneers who had foresight, most a/c were bought up at auction, by farmers.
One aircraft type... the Avro Anson, can still be found today... if you know where to look.
The reason for this may be that they were built in number... approx 11,000 I'm told.
And that it was not the typical prize sought by warbird collectors.
Their type were commonly utilized during the period, and thus availiable after, but with no foreseable future.
Anson a/c were homely. No sleek lines. No performance to be proud of. But at the time... they got the job done.
What I've become aware of over the recent years is what has been restored, using the barest of remains of an a/c.
Today the source of these remains is commonly what is found in a field on a farm.
Some others convinced me to met them at a very small North Dakota town. They were driving from Washington state for this sole purpose.
Tis no South Pacific recovery tale with sharks and bare-breasted natives.... so walk away now if this is what you're hoping for.
On meeting at the local bar we discused strategy in follow-up to this report of many WWII a/c in a field. We decided to go in separate vehicles... East, then North... keeping the bar as a reference point. Actually, I followed them... they had the map.
Damned if we didn't find them... the remains of 5 Avro Ansons.
I've seen other Anson remains but they were just skeletal. These had skin, they had gear, controls, and they had dried-out weathered bits of wood.
Having spent the rest of the day onsite, we regrouped later back at the bar.
Being recognized immediately by the locals as outsiders, we were approached/accepted with caution. Having convinced them we weren't there to take advantage of their women, we were told of more, and of who to talk to.
After buying many a round, this is what some of what we were told...
After the war Canada auctioned off their a/c at various airfields, hundreds at a time.
Some of the locals obtained same, in this case Ansons. Typically their interest being for the cable, hydraulics and wiring... basically anything that could be used on the farm. The rest was burnt, trashed or abandoned after.
Many locals acquired these, but they then had to get them home....
so the wings were sawed off outside the engines, the tail was lifted unto to back of their truck, tied down, and off they went down the highway.
Was also told....
First consider this is small town America(or anywhere) in the days before the Internet, before cable, before TV, before all that keeps us entertained today.
Perhaps I was sitting in the very bar that this idea was developed.
On occasion... they fueled up these wingless a/c... and raced them up and down Main St.
Was told it was a site to be seen, an incredible noise, and they were just pigs on gas.
Unfortunately I know them, and will remember them just as I saw them... abandoned in that field.
Given the chance opportunity they had..... I would have...
I've attached a few pics of this a/c type to give you a reference, of which there were a number of production Marks or versions.
-in service, reclaimed and restored
re photo credits... sourced via Net.... given where known
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