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Let's put a myth to rest

Posted by Cees Broere on Sun Sep 29, 2002 01:24:13 PM

Hi all,

We all probably know about the substantial wreck of a Typhoon that was recovered in november 1979 and scrapped soon afterwards. It has been mentioned once or twice on this board as well.

Today while doing my museum duty I stumbled by chance on the Aeroplane Monthly issue mentioning the recovery as well as having the photograph of the wreck hanging upside down in a crane. Location of the wreck was the Bay of Rossas, northern Spain

When I first saw this photo many years ago having just started reading British magazines I also thought that it was a Tiffy, complete with invasion stripes. Having looked at the photograph today I think that is wasn't a Typhoon after all but a Fleet Air Arm Hellcat with invasion stripes and missing the engine resembling a Typhoon very closely, but the canopy and undercarriageleg sticking out are give aways.

I have posted the photo to Paul Millan and perhaps he can put them on webshots.

What do you think, was there a mystery and if so can we put it to rest or wasn't there any apart from in my mind?

Cees

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