WIX Archives
UK Recoveries
Posted by Dave Robinson on Sun Jul 21, 2002 03:49:10 PM
In reply top Dave, your'e right, but....... posted by Cees on Fri Jul 19, 2002 04:27:53 AM
Cees,
Off the top of my head I can think of only 2 major recoveries in recent years. The main one is R7708. This was shot down by friendly fire but the pilot (Roy Payne) escaped. The remains came down in Pegwell bay and were found by accident. The Battle of Britain musuem took on the recovery and managed to get the complete Sabre (looking remarkably complete and relatively undamaged considering going in from 600ft). Peter Smith currently has all these parts (a gentleman that has the remains of three cockit sections and 2 sabres but will not let any of the 'spare' parts he has go or be used for replicating!!!, notice the frustration here?) and has taken the identity of R7708 for one if the unknown cockpits. He is completing this as a MK1A even though the pilot himself tells me that it was armed with cannons.....hence it was always a MK1B.
The other recovery was completed in various phases and was most of a complete aircraft. I am told that it was sitting in some marshes on the coast. A number of teams recovered different parts at times and the wings seem to have disappeared. Can't remember the serial number of this one but I do know that it was in the DN range....making it an early one (2nd production batch!!).
Hope this helps Cees....
The other recovery