I have been to the RAF Museum a number of times in the past.
2018 was the 100th. anniversary of the formation of the RAF and some millions of pounds have been spent on refurbishing it the Museum for the occasion.
I thought it worth a further visit.
Entry is free and to anyone interested, a full day can easily be spent there.
For part 1 see blog published 10/11/2018.
This time I am looking at just some of the aircraft that were part of the RAF’s armoury* during the Second World War.
* Indicates that the aircraft in question is in the colours of an overseas airforce but that the type also served with the RAF.
R5868 Royal Air Force ‘PO-S’. Avro Lancaster B1
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Built in 1942 by Metropolitan Vickers in Manchester.
Delivered to No. 83 Squadron at RAF Scampton, Lincs. where it stayed until September 1943 then joining No. 467 Squadron at RAF Bottesford, Leics.
After 139 operational flights over enemy held territory, it finished the war flying former prisoners of war home.
Variously stored and displayed it eventually arrived at Hendon in March 1972.
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial no. R5868.
ML824 ‘Royal Air Force’ ‘NX-Z’ Short S25 Sunderland MR5
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Launched in June 1944 at Belfast as a Mark 3 and converted there in 1944 to MR5 standard.
It served with No. 201 squadron from February 1945 until April 1945 when it transferred to
No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron where it served until May of that year.
Stored until being overhauled in 1951 and then transferred to the French ‘Aeronavale’ with whom it served until 1961 when it was withdrawn and preserved.
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial no. ML 824
KN751 ‘Royal Air Force’ Consolidated B-24L-20-FO Liberator
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Built in December 1944 at ‘The Ford Motor Company’ factory at Willow Run in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
It was allocated to the RAF and went on to serve with No. 99 Squadron based on the Cocos Islands attacking Japanese targets in Burma.
At the end of the war, It was transferred to the ‘Indian Air Force’ initially as a heavy bomber but for most of its time in the Maritime Reconnaisance role.
It returned to the UK for preservation in July 1974 where it initially went to RAF Cosford.
I have a slight connection with this aircraft in that a friend, the late Mr. Arthur Showler was a regular navigator on the aircraft in its 99 Squadron days.
When he made his connection known to the RAF, he and I as his guest were both invited for a visit to RAF Cosford for a guided tour round the aircraft and the Museum.
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial no. KN751.
44-83868 ‘United States Army Air Force’ ’N' Boeing B-17G*
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Built by Douglas at Long Beach, California in July 1945.
Converted to a PB-1W for the ‘United States Navy’ for Airborne Early Warning duties. (The early form of AWACS).
Sold in 1957 as N5237V and converted to being a fire bomber with ‘Butler Aviation’ being retired in 1982.
Purchased by the ‘United Sates Air Force’ (USAF) museum and restored to the colours of 332 Bomb Squadron, 94th. Bomb Group. ‘USAF’.
It was exchanged in 1983 by the American museum for an Avro Vulcan.
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial 83-AF-1374.
A16-199 ‘Royal Australian Air Force. Lockheed Hudson lllA*
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Built by Lockheed at Burbank, California in 1941.
Shipped to Australia in early 1942 and issued to No. 13 Squadron RAAF at Hughes Airbase, Northern Territories.
Transferred to No. 2 Squadron in May 1943 and then to No.3 Communications Unit for Experimental duties in April 1944.
Sold into civilian service as VH-SMM in 1950 then became VH-AGJ in 1966.
Sold into preservation with the ‘Strathallen Collection’ (SC) (Scotland) as G-BEOX.
The ‘SC’ closed in 1988 and A16-199 was sold to the RAF Museum for £16,000 in 1981.
The gun turret in the image has nothing to do with the subject and is part of the museums habit of obstructing a view that would otherwise be perfect.
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial A16-199.
TJ138 Royal Air Force. De Havilland Mosquito B.35
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Built in late 1945 and stored at RAF Shawbury with No. 27 Maintenance Unit. (MU.)
Then to No. 98 Squadron At RAF Celle in Germany in 1950. It returned to the UK in 1951 for further storage.
In 1953 the aircraft was converted to TT35 (Target Towing) standard.
From then until 1959 it did a number of jobs when it was returned No. 27 ‘MU’ to become Maintenance Airframe 7607M for exhibition purposes.
Eventually stored, it came to the RAF Museum Hendon for display in 1991.
A sad story really. Built too late to see any wartime action, overtaken by jet technology and seemingly not wanted by anybody.
It is a minor miracle that this ‘plywood plane’ survived at all when a lot of others just rotted away!
For a more detailed history, Google a/c serial TJ138.
