We
started in the Restoration Hanger, not usually open, so it was pretty
busy with interested and knowledgeable visitor and the
Volunteers/Museum Staff doing the restoration work.
Our
immediate attention was drawn to the Vickers Wellington Bomber – in
pieces – being lovingly restored. The Wellington has a special
significance for our family as it was the plane our Father flew
towards the end of the war when he was with Coastal Command.
Surprisingly,
there are only 2 remaining Wellingtons left – this one is the Mark
T.X MF628 which first flew in May 1944 and was later converted in
1948 to a navigation trainer hence the T.X designation.
The aluminium wing section – minus it's fabric covering
The fuselage section with some repairs to the covering
Rear gun turret
Nose gun turret
For
those interested, check out this link to a visit by an enthusiast.
To
my delight, there was also a boat (!) in the shed.
RAF Range Safety Launch 1667, built in 1956
Timber framing
Twin screws – no engines to be seen though!
Another
plane in restoration that caught our eye was the sister WW2 medium
bomber to the Vickers, a Handley Page Hampden.
Hampden P1344 – shot down in Finland in September 1942
Bullet holes still in situ
Part of the tail – shot through
A new section fabricated in aluminium
After
a well-earned coffee and buttie, we went onto the War Planes hanger.
The iconic Spitfire
My brother stands next to a Consolidated PBY Catalina Flying Boat.
Our Father, having learned to fly in the USA, flew one of these from
Newfoundland to Ireland, I think in 1942/3
The amazing Harrier Jump Jet
We
also saw the Dornier Bomber that has recently been lifted from the
sea and is being washed down in tunnel tents – unfortunately, my
camera ran out of battery power!
See this link for interest.
See this link for interest.
It
was a really good day out – albeit wet and cold! It was good to
spend time with my brother Mike as well. There is still more to see
and hopefully a further visit next year?!
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