BoB survivor
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:19 pmI took these at the Shoreham RAFA show last month. First of all the 'Messerschmitts' that play the bad guys in the WWII BoB scenario.
Two Bf 108 Taifuns. These are actually the post WWII French-built Nord 1002 Pingouin II.
G-ETME with Lycoming O-540-E4A5 in its new markings. Built in 1951.
G-ATBG with Renault 6Q10B engine. Built in 1945. First time I've seen it.
The Real Aeroplane Company's Hispano HA-1112 Buchon. The nearest thing to an airworthy Bf 109 in the UK right now. I can never seem to get a decent shot of this aeroplane.
Last time I checked it was still sitting on the tarmac at Shoreham awaiting return to its home at Breighton. (It appears to have gone now.)*
As well as the BBMF Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 & the Vacher Hurricane Mk I R4118 (still languishing in the Real Flying Company hangar minus prop) there was another genuine BoB survivor on the airfield. I was pleasantly surprised to see that an old friend had brought his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E1/7 along for static display.
Built in September 1939 by Arado GmbH at Warnemunde this aircraft (Werke No: 3523) was known to have flown in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain as an E-1. It was recovered in August 2003 by warbird recovery specialist Jim Pearce from a lake bed somewhere in Northern Russia where it had lain since force-landing on the frozen surface on 4th April 1942. The pilot, Lt. Wulf-Dietrich Widowitz, was uninjured but killed a year later in another crash. Jim told me that the aircraft is complete & in surprisingly good condition. It's for sale if anyone is interested. http://www.warbirdfinders.co.uk/aircraft_BF109E_wn3523.htm
*PS. The Buchon was apparently recently sold to Tom Blair's Spitfire Ltd & based at Duxford. This is the same company that owned Hurricane BD707 that crashed during the display killing the pilot Brian Brown.
Two Bf 108 Taifuns. These are actually the post WWII French-built Nord 1002 Pingouin II.
G-ETME with Lycoming O-540-E4A5 in its new markings. Built in 1951.
G-ATBG with Renault 6Q10B engine. Built in 1945. First time I've seen it.
The Real Aeroplane Company's Hispano HA-1112 Buchon. The nearest thing to an airworthy Bf 109 in the UK right now. I can never seem to get a decent shot of this aeroplane.
Last time I checked it was still sitting on the tarmac at Shoreham awaiting return to its home at Breighton. (It appears to have gone now.)*
As well as the BBMF Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 & the Vacher Hurricane Mk I R4118 (still languishing in the Real Flying Company hangar minus prop) there was another genuine BoB survivor on the airfield. I was pleasantly surprised to see that an old friend had brought his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E1/7 along for static display.
Built in September 1939 by Arado GmbH at Warnemunde this aircraft (Werke No: 3523) was known to have flown in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain as an E-1. It was recovered in August 2003 by warbird recovery specialist Jim Pearce from a lake bed somewhere in Northern Russia where it had lain since force-landing on the frozen surface on 4th April 1942. The pilot, Lt. Wulf-Dietrich Widowitz, was uninjured but killed a year later in another crash. Jim told me that the aircraft is complete & in surprisingly good condition. It's for sale if anyone is interested. http://www.warbirdfinders.co.uk/aircraft_BF109E_wn3523.htm
*PS. The Buchon was apparently recently sold to Tom Blair's Spitfire Ltd & based at Duxford. This is the same company that owned Hurricane BD707 that crashed during the display killing the pilot Brian Brown.
