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Funny, judging by this thread................

Posted by Cees Broere on Sun Mar 28, 2004 05:22:19 AM

In reply top Well, something is being done to W1048..... posted by Cees Broere on Fri Mar 26, 2004 01:03:18 PM

.... that this topic remains as strong as ever, keep it that way. However I would like to see W1048 rebuilt, I know that this is not going to happen even when you take the tight financial capabilities of the RAFM into account ever since it was founded. It is called the Royal Air Force Museum but then every connection with the RAF ends if you ask me.

I would like to see W1048 more complete than she is now though, why not fitting her with perspex replace the missing skinning from the nose, fit the cowlings (with the engines suitably propped up to avoid strain etc), then at least you have a diorama showing her as she was on the lake bed and not after she was being dismantled when on the shore of Lake Hoklingen.

If that is being done then I think that W1048 is a very strong memorial to the fallen crews, not as she is now. Also the Hampden deserves to be restored fully and not half, in that case she would have been better of with a private collector who might have ensured that she was rebuild properly. Something Mr Mahal who recovered her from the Sovjet Union could have thought about first.

Preservation is important, but doing it properly is even more important. Getting an airframe from a lake doesn't end there. The hard work only is just beginning.

Cees

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