The Air Defence Collection

Absolute hero, last of the Few

Fantastic project, fantastic museum. THE best tribut to the Few there is. Please support and share their page

The Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge latest airframe arrived late last night Sunday 25th June 2023. Sadly too late to take any photos.

Dave, Mitch and a small team of Museum Volunteers will shortly be rearranging the Stuart-Buttle Memorial Hangar and positioning our latest exhibit into place.

The Big Reveal will take place in a few hours when we and the Head Engineer has had a chance to reassemble some of the nose section of this stunning recreation of an previously extinct aircraft!

She will be ready to be viewed by visitors from tomorrow, Tuesday 27th June 2023!

It really is one of a kind and a very very special warbird.

More to follow later today and this will hopefully be covered by both BBC South East and ITV Meridian.

For further information on the Museum please have a look at and browse through our excellent and informative website: www.kbobm.org

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Many thanks....

I thought I knew spade grips, but I have never seen this one fitted to a spit in a photo. My first thoughts were buttons for cameras (Say, a PRU spit) or maybe munitions other than guns or cannon. Spade grip guru Alan H said he had seen a photo of a spit copy with this type fitted on the net but his computer the photo was stored on has gone to silicon heaven. Any photos assembled brains trust?

My favourite aviation museum covers the subject most dear to me heart. They are creating a beautiful memorial to the Few. If you can, please donate to their fund raiser as every penny will help.

02 July 1952 Bristol Brigand RH753 was lost during a photographic sortie from Boscombe Down.

The Port engine failed on take-off. Pilot had never flown a Brigand before and was soon in great difficulty, finally crashed on the housing estate at Bemerton Heath, Salisbury, Wiltshire, causing injuries to a fireman and nine civilians. Both crew were killed: Flight Lieutenant G. Wood-Smith DFC ('D' Squadron A&AEE) and Mr D.E. Purse, photographer.
One house was destroyed and 10 more damaged.

The only surviving piece from this tragic incident was a section of propeller given to the father of a young lad which is now in the ADC. It is hoped that one day this tragic incident and loss of two flight test professionals will be marked at the at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection BDAC at Old Sarum.

Bomber Crash (1952) Salisbury, Wiltshire.GV. Damaged housing estate on outskirts of Salisbury (first 6 ft. under title). Voiceover describes it as Bermerton Heath. SV. Airmen lo...

It’s sometime since I’ve posted. Small up date on one of the smaller projects. It’s fun working on a few of the projects. like you all know, some jobs are quick, some not so. I am planning to upgrade the Mk9 Salisbury Spitfire desktop quarter cockpit to a gyro gunsight fit. The gunsight is original and all the new parts are NOS.

Photos showing the comparable sizes of the Rolls Royce Merlin piston with that of the Griffon.

P-51D panel finished for my project.

This little film covers the making of the seat for my Camel cockpit project a few years ago. Using ancient craft techniques. https://youtu.be/MNQQGzZj0L8

Sopwith Camel Seat film for the Everyday Lives in War project First World War aircraft were extremely flimsy and it was essential to save weight wherever possible to prevent the planes breaking up in flight. To this end...

This is the de-icer tank for my Hurricane. I was given it by Peter Vacher when he still owned R4118. It was originally on his aircraft but had to be replaced. At the time, we were providing our aircraft for filming the superb film for the Wing at the Capel le Ferne Battle of Britain Memorial. The external shots were of R4118 and inside cockpit shots were conducted in P3554. I have sympathetically restore the tank with replaced fittings. It should go on the cockpit in the next month.
https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/visit/visit-the-memorial/welcome/

Welcome - The Battle of Britain Memorial The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust extends a warm welcome to those who wish to show their respects to the heroes of the Battle of Britain by visiting this unique site of pilgrimage. The National Memorial to the Few is a peaceful space, ideal for quiet reflection, atop the famous White Cliffs and o...

Given this years write off and the complete failing of being able to Commemorate the Few and the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and 75th Anniversary of the War ending, we are planning a Pop Up Museum Tour of Aviation Museums and Sites next year. It will also be the 80th Anniversary of America entering the war. I have some ideas....but where do you think we should visit?

Sunday 15th September 1940
Sergeant J Hubacek in Hurricane R4087, shot down by enemy fighters in combat over the Thames. Sgt Hubacek baled out slightly injured in right foot admitted to Chatham Hospital. Aircraft crashed Walnut Tree farm, Stoke, Kent. 14:30.
The most famous and most photographed German casualty of the entire Battle of Britain was Do17Z, Werke No.2361 F1+FH of 1/KG76 which ad taken off from its base at Nivelles just south of Beauvais at 10:05 with 27yr old Oberleutenant Robert Zehbe at the controls. Picking up the formation over Cap Gris-Nez and climbing to 15000 ft, landfall with 1st Staffel aircraft at Dungeness then direct to Central London – the target. This aircraft and its crew had taken part in the first daylight raid on London on the 7th September as well as the famous raid on Kenley aerodrome on the 18th August. They avoided fighters on the way, ran into fierce flak emerging unscathed. One engine was not developing full power, hnce they dropped behind the main formation, bing some 500 yds behind when over the southern outskirts of the target area. At this point the 1st RAF fighters pounced. This came from Flt Lt J Jeffries leading B flight of No. 310 (Czech) Squadron part of the Duxford Wing who fell on the bombers at 12:05 whilst they were in British AA fire. Jeffries set the port engine on fire and effectively sealed the Dorniers fate, he pulled sharply away to allow the three Hurricanes of his Green Section to attack. Led by Sgt Hubacek, Sgts Puda and Kaucky opened fire in turn on the hapless bomber before fighters from other units joined in. Two crew of the DO17Z baled out at 3000 ft. A further attack was made by Sgt R T Holmes of No.504 Squadron at which point the badly injured Zehbe baled out landing at Kennington. Zehbe later succumbed to his wounds in hospital. The DO17Z aircraft entered a vicious spin in which the wings and tail broke off. The majority of the aircraft fell spectacularly into the forecourt of Victoria Station at Wilton Road. Hubacek was flying R4087 during this engagement, the aircraft he was to be shot down in later that day by famous fighter pilot Adolf Galland (33rd combat kill).
In the 1930s, Josef Hubacek was a successful aerobatic pilot comepting in many competitions. He rejoined the Czech airforce in 1939, with the invasion by the Germans. He joined the French Air Force and flew MS406C1 fighters With Grouppe de Chasse GC III/3 flying 60 combat hours. In May 11 1940, he was escortiong French bombers as the German blitzkreig rolled into Belgium. He shared in the shooting down of a BF109 from JG1 before being shot down. After being wounded in ths hand and hospitalisation, Josef made it to Liverpool. After training, Josef joined 310 (Czech) Squadron at Duxford flying Hurricanes. He shot down a Bf110 on September 9th. On what is now know and Battle of Britain Day,15 September 1940, Josef was defending London from Do17z bombers when he shared in the destruction of the famous Dornier (that was reputed to be heading for Buckingham palace) that crashed into Victoria Station. Later that day, Josef was shot down. After more time at 310 Squadron, Josef joined Ferry Command and regularly flew aircraft across the Atlantic including the Catalinas, Hudsons, Bostons. For the rest of the war, he was a Transport Command pilot. Josef received many decoreations for his wartime service:
From UK: Air Force Cross, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, 1939-45 Star (with Battle of Britain clasp), War Medal and Defence Medal;
From France: Croix de Guerre and Medaille Militaire. French badge for war injury. He also received decorations from Yugoslavia and Norway.
After the war, Josef helped reconstruct the Czech Air Force, and left the service (stayed as a reservist) in 1948. He became a civil transport pilot. After the events of February 1948, although contemplating exile, he decided to stay with his ill and pregnant wife. Along with many pilots seen as ‘westerners’ (for fighting in the FAF and RAF during the war), he was laid off Chief Pilot of CSA until 1950. He was interrogated many times and almost jailed as sadly happended to many brave Czech pilots who later died in labour camps. Forced out of Prague, he went home with his family and did a variety of unskilled jobs. Josef died April 9th 1988 in his native Gdynia. Sadly he probably never received the full gratuitude of the free world and free Czechoslovakia for his huge contributions.

With us being in the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, here is a relevant artefact

80 years ago today was an important Day in the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe switched to bombing London and the other major cities. The photos below show two tiny parts associated with this day. The RAF fighter pilots saw the sky darken with Luftwaffe bombers and fighters heading towards London. One brave pilot was Pat Hughes a Spitfire pilot based with 234 Squadron at Middle Wallop. In the late afternoon he shot down a Dornier 17z that blew up damaging Pats Spitfire. He bailed out but sadly his parachute failed to open. This display board shows a photo of Pat with his Squadron at Middle Wallop which is only 4 miles from where I live. There is a small plate from the Dornier and one from the Spitfire. Somewhere I have the Bosch undercarriage Horn from the Dornier.

My petition to the UK Government has finally been approved. Please sign and share widely and this could become a reality!
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/325339

Petition: Request RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to fly over the UK to boost morale Please ask the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) to conduct flypasts across the UK. This would not only boost morale, but would also be a fitting commemoration of VE, VJ days & 80th anniversary of BoB. The BBMF would normally have flown airshows so no extra cost to tax payer.

80 years ago, today, 5.29pm, Sgot Leonard Pearce's Hurricane R4106 was shot down during a dogfight with Me 109s over Canterbury. He baled out, slightly wounded, with his aircraft crashing at Rose Garden Cottage, Chartham Hatch.
Sergeant Pearce had joined the RAFVR in August, 1938 and was called up on the 1st September, 1939. He survived the Battle of Britain despite being shot down for a second time on the 13th October, 1940. Sadly on the 9th April 1941, while on operations with 46 Squadron, he was killed when his aircraft stalled and crashed when coming in to land at Sherburn-in-Elmet.
i acquired the Merlin crankcase and two blocks a few years back. i have tracked down other parts over the years. The engine was one of the best ever recovered in terms of condition but sadly was broken up by a collector to sell. The engine is slowly going back together.
R4106 was excavated by the Now defunct London Air Museum in 1979

The beautiful Photoreconnaissance Spitfire PL983 was flying around NHS hospitals. Just flew over Odstock Hospital in Salisbury, this hospital was a US Army hospital in WW2.

Before lockdown, we decided to create a mural to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 75th AnnIversary of the end of the war in Europe and Salisbury’s role in Spitfire production. It is located at a school Near Salisbury. It was finished last week.

Fitted the MFD faces from Replitek to the boxes. Fitted on of the leg guards.

Always has a soft spot for US oxygen bottles. This shows the comparison of the size of the two standard bottles. The smaller one was used on fighters etc (I have from a P38 too) and also some positions on the B17 like the ball turret. The larger is standard bomber type. Previously on this page I posted the two types of cigar shaped bottles used on the P51 and P47. My first G-1 was used as a buoy at Felixstowe ferry.

At this 80th Anniversary Battle of Britain time of year, I dig into my books to find something different. This small book was published in August 1942 shortly after the author, a 25 year old RAF fighter pilot was shot down becoming a POW in March.

The book is basically a letter he wrote to his MP 2 days after his squadron buried another young pilot. The letter concerns why he would die - specifically as he puts For this I will die.

in modern life we often say what would our grandparents say about this atrocity, stupidity or whatever. Indeed seeing Churchill’s memorial statue desecrated by recent protestors looking for any excuse, many people probably said “is this what our soldiers, sailors and airmen/women died for?“. Well this young chap put down what he was prepared to die for.

”If I have to die, I shall be dying for my country. But surely I have a right to say what sort of country is is for which I am willing to die”. Seems a very fair request.

He goes on, “Is it to be a country which allows the men who have served it so well to see matches in the street; which condones the amassing of private profit by a few while a great number of us live on the hunger line? A country which calls itself Christian and is yet willing to see thousands of its people living and dying in slums? Am I willing to die that other may live? What others? Black marketeers? Cranks and killjoys? Parasites living on the toil of others? Or is it my wife and child? My son, now 18 months, unconscious of it all, the part of me that belongs to tomorrow’s world? And if I am willing to die for them, what sort of future will I leave for them? What kind of world do I want for my son?”

Profound and valid questions. The pilot had lost his father in the Somme and had seen the leaders break faith with those who had died.

He states “greed, jealousy, social injustice, poverty and the spirit of revenge; these are the things that breed war. Until they are banished from the world there will be no peace”.
“if we can find the money to pay for war, we can find the money to pay for peace”.

He basically sets out all the things that one would think should be in the new world, many are not. The poor treatment of veterans is still commonplace. 1 in 5 homeless people are ex services - in what world is that right?

Regarding houses he wrote “we want a good clean and decent home for every family with a bit of a garden for all those who want it, common land owned by the people“
”We don’t want those blocks of houses which stand as eternal monuments t municipal munificence. They look like prisons, their gardens are concrete and they soon degenerate to the slums they were meant to replace. “

On education “let us make good use of every child born in our country, and educate him in accordance with the maximum of his mental capacity, instead of according to the depth of the parents purse”.

“I want the freedom and happiness of a home and garden, and I want my family and friends to enjoy that freedom and happiness”.

Some parts did happen as our pilot Wanted. Some did not. There’s lots more, but I have probably lost most of you now!

fitted proper dimmer switch panel, aerial covers and the clock from Replitek to ZD264

As we go through the Battle of Britain period, 80 years ago, I will share some of the parts in the collection. As with many things, these artefacts don’t tell the whole story. The human endeavour behind them, the story and sometimes supreme sacrifice was made. Today, the 12th July 1940 saw the loss of Spitfire P9502 from 610 Squadron based at RAF Biggin Hill just south of London. The pilot Sergeant Sydney Ireland lost control during dogfight practice. His aircraft DW-Q fell at Titsey Park. Sadly he did not bail out. The items here are one of his 303 Browning guns and a feed chute marked with the aircraft number P9502.

The banner went up tonight. To remember the Few.

On Weald of Kent I watched once more,
Again I heard that grumbling roar-
of fighter planes, yet none were near
and all around the sky was clear -
Borne on the wind a whisper came
-though Men grow old, They stay the same-
and then I knew unseen to eye
the ageless Few were sweeping by.

lord Balfour of Inchrye.

Trying my shopping PPE ready for Salisbury Market tomorrow!

I’m often asked where I get parts for the hurricane project. Well, here are the firewall upper mounts for the cowling rails. They came from the Hurri of a Norwegian pilot, Jens Muller, Z5145, which he baled out of On the 27th August 1941. 331N Squadron. I acquired some parts and after Stripping and straightening They will be used. Jens Muller was one of only three RAF aircrew to successfully escape From Stalag Luft III and get back to Great Britain. This was the famous Great Escape.

Spitfire day, fitting plates to the Mk1, 5, IX