All in a day!

To celebrate 40 years with the Wingman we nipped over to Amsterdam from Newcastle today. So, a view from the cabin window at 6 a.m. and our plane waiting to bring us home which touched down back in the UK just before 11 p.m.

Blackburn Beverley

As mentioned in older posts the last surviving Blackburn Beverley was acquired by the Solway Aviation Museum a while back following a fund raiser. The museum have put hard standings in place for the wheels and started reassembly but they are taking the opportunity to repaint parts whilst they are on the ground and more accessible so it will be some while before the aircraft is complete again. I was chatting to one of the volunteers about it and there is no set time line for it to be finished.

Solway Aviation Museum

I had an 'out of hours' over the fence look at Solway three years ago but today we travelled from our holiday cottage for a proper visit. This is a small but growing museum with many exhibits outside which was a shame given the intermittent rain but it kept people out of th ebackground of my shots. There are displays inside as well as a few aircraft such as a Vampire, Chipmunk and Auster under cover although they are a little cluttered. Staff were friendly and overall it was a good visit.

RAF Acklington

Acklington in Northumberlandfirst became operational in 1916 with the RFC, becoming an RAF base when they formed in 1918. It closed two years later but was re-opened in 1938 and was operational as a Fighter Command sector field during the Battle of Britain. In February 1940 a flight of Hurricanes from Acklington shot down the first Luftwaffe aircraft to fall on English soil. The airfield remained operational post war before finally closing in 1975 after which it became the site of two prisons now known as HMP Northumberland. Last month the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust erected a memorial marker stone.

Off to Hawkinge

This Fiesler Storch, seen here at RAFM Cosford, was due to be moved to the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge today. It is due to be displayed outside for the next couple of months where it should be possible to photograph it before it is moved inside, with wings folded, for a repaint.

Still in France

The Plane Sailing Catalina is unfortunately still stuck in France. The required engine change is complete but the starboard prop has a feathering problem. Parts are being gathered at Duxford and the team will return to resolve the issue. I wish them well.

Eshott Airfield Memorial

Eshott Airfield in Northumberland was a WWII airfield that was home to 57 OTU from November 1942. Between March 1943 and June 1945 it was used for Spitfire training. It is still active as a general aviation airfield for use by light aircraft.

Part of the old airfield is now in use as a crematorium and woodland burial site and on one of the old Spitfire tie down standings is a replica Spitfir 1a. the Spitfire serves as a genearal memorial to airmen that lost their lives during WWII and is marked to represent a pilot who was lost in 1944 after a collision with a USAAF P47 Thunderbolt.

Hexham Abbey

Memorial window to local RFC and RAF losses as seen in Hexham Abbey today.

Hexham RAFA Memorial garden

RAF Pinnace 1386

Pinnace 1386 was an RAF launch and whilst on excercise in 1969 it got caught in very high seas and tried to make for Amble harbour. Unfortunately the vessel capsized on approach and despite being towed ashore by the RNLI three crewman lost their lives. This was the marine branches biggest loss of life dating back to WWII. A memorial now stands near the harbour as I saw today.