That incident with the Evergreen Spitfire TE356

[PeterA]

BigGrey

Post subject: Re: Evergreen, Erickson, and Collings Foundation in the news

When did they quit flying those warbirds and park them for good? I was at the El Toro Airshow in 1996 when Spitfire TE356 had the gear collapse. I don't remember seeing any of them at airshows a year or two after that.
The registry lists the gear collapse as Long Beach CA but I'm sure it was MCAS El Toro.

Les

I am intrigued by this report.

El Toro, Long Beach or as I have reported to me, 'Point Magoo' (probably Mugu) Ca, some time in 1996.

I have it being repaired by Darrell Skurich at Fort Collins during 1996/7.

Can anybody please shed any light on this with a press report and/or an image?

I go a long way back with TE356...1959 as a Gate Guard at RAF Bicester.

PeterA


Image:-Ron Cranham

[D Hansen]

It was definitly El Toro....Saw it happen, and I know the pilot took alot of heat as though it was his fault. Unfortunate

[BigGrey]

Thanks Dave for confirming that. At least I have some memory left. After spending the night on the El Toro ramp with the Chino gang, things weren't too clear the next morning but I remember the gear problem delaying the show.

Les

[Triplane102]

Thanks for the info D. Hanson, & Thank You Peter A. For posting that photo, when I was a kid, I thought "Low Back" Spits were not "True" Spitfires, as I got older I think the Low Back XVI is the Sexiest of All the Spitfires! But that's just my opinion, too bad several Low Back MK XVIs have been restored to High Back, for the owner$ to HAVE the more "Classic " Spit Look. I know many XVIs came from the factory as High Backs. I have to ask, Peter, when a Low B. is converted to High B., are the Whole frames replaced, or just the top part of the frames ? & "spine?" ( of course the Canopy, etc.. Also). Thanks again, Tony

[levier]

Here is a photo I took of TE356 when it was in Marana, not long before the incident. I spoke with the pilot regarding the incident at a later date, and he indicated that it was his error that caused the mishap. I think this falls into the category of "there by the grace of God go I..." does not take much distraction.

[PeterA]

Thanks for the info D. Hanson, & Thank You Peter A. For posting that photo, when I was a kid, I thought "Low Back" Spits were not "True" Spitfires, as I got older I think the Low Back XVI is the Sexiest of All the Spitfires! But that's just my opinion, too bad several Low Back MK XVIs have been restored to High Back, for the owner$ to HAVE the more "Classic " Spit Look. I know many XVIs came from the factory as High Backs. I have to ask, Peter, when a Low B. is converted to High B., are the Whole frames replaced, or just the top part of the frames ? & "spine?" ( of course the Canopy, etc.. Also). Thanks again, Tony

Well firstly many thanks for the replies. El Toro it is.

Low backs converted to high backs. Depending on the condition of the airframe, the usual route has been to replace and fit new high back quarter frames above the datum longerons with a doubler for which I believe there is an approved Battle Damage repair scheme. All frames bar one behind the cockpit are two piece, split top and bottom, back to frame 19 the tail mate aperture.

During the Battle of Britain Film TE356 was converted to a high back taxier known as a 'Markaddie', after the aircraft procurer Grp Capt Hamish Mahaddie. Not a structural conversion, just a two piece single curvature cap lightly affixed and taped.

PeterA


TE356 North Weald 1968 Battle of Britain film

[Triplane102]

Thanks Peter, I guess there's hope that someone will "Correct" one of these current High backs back to it's original Low Back. Thanks again, Tony

[JohnH]

Yes it was definitely El Toro and remember hearing about it as I was there on Friday. I also know who was flying and that he was fired for it. Maybe not ok to name names. Mistakes happen.