1942 headstamp

A clear close-up view of the ACP cartridge case found at the Norseman site on Shining Tor, clearly showing the (19)42 headstamp which proves it can't be from the 1941 Defiant crash

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NOT Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.III BJ652 coded Z

Reports have reached us from a number of relevant museum staff that this is not in fact part of Wellington BJ652, contrary to what we were told over on the Aero Parts Identify Board, and reported previously.

We are happy to go with the new information, unless someone has an informed alternative opinion?

Millom "Museum" Closes

We hear that the "museum" pictured where bits of unrecognisable scrap dug pointlessly and amateurishly from crash sites by "enthusiasts" were piled up ("exhibited" would be too generous, as the quote below shows) is to close.

A local resident is quoted as saying:

"is that a museum on devenshire road? i thought it was some sort of scrapyard or dumping ground for old planes and rusting junk. its an accident waiting to happen with no fencing around it to stop kids getting in and hurting themselves! its also a bloody eyesore and ruins a good walk in what used to be a beautiful part of millom"

So that's a result, then! The only problem now is what will happen with all of the stuff the anoraks dug up?

We know the answer to that - just the same as always happens - it will be lost, and neither scientific knowledge nor permanent exhibits will remain from these saddoes playing at archaeologists. Why don't they just leave things alone?

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22491

A buzz around with Pat C today yielded a few new sites, though being all in the lowlands, nothing too spectacular.

First up is this memorial plaque erected recently on the Upper Tean cottages hit by a US Thunderbolt in 1944.

Location: SK 00786 39584

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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-74728

Despite previous excavation by enthusiasts, there are still scraps of aluminium to be found amongst the trees alongside the Greenway Hall Golf Club where a pilot-less Thunderbolt hit the ground.

Baling out hadn't helped the pilot in this instance , as he opened his parachute prematurely, and was killed by the sudden deceleration.

Location: SJ 91936 50646

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Handley Page Halifax Mk. 2 BB320

What appears to be an inspection cover found at the site of the crash of this Halifax, despite a previous amateurish excavation by Macclesfield's enthusiasts.

Crash date 7th February 1944-due to icing and engine failure, compounded by the pilot's inexperience with losing engines

Location: SJ 97409 47408

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De Havilland Venom FB Mk.1 WK390

Pat with some scraps found at the Caverswall (Staffordshire) crash site of this test version of the Venom, which was essentially an uprated Vampire.

Location: SJ 95188 43844

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