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Re: Failsworth Scrap Yard

Posted by Tim R Badham on Sun Feb 24, 2002 08:02:20 AM

In reply top Failsworth Scrap Yard posted by Steve on Sat Feb 23, 2002 05:21:43 PM

I visited and photographed the contents of this yard a few months before it was cleared. At that time a JCB had been used to "sort" the airframes into piles by type ! There was too much to list comprehensively here but to give you a flavour it included :

Brigand RH746 (now at Kemble), Swifts WK198 (World air speed record holder - now at Usworth) and WK214, mountains of Balliols (some just cockpit sections) two of which are now at Wolverhampton with the Boulton Paul folk), numerous piston Provosts, at least 7 Fireflies - 4 of which were just cockpits + engines, Vampire T11 pods, a Meteor nose, several noses off Shackletons, the wings off at least 1x USAF F-84F, parts from a Sea Hornet (1x wing at least), the nose and other parts off an ex RAF Neptune, varous gun turrets etc etc. Of this lot some Firefly parts were if I recall obtained by Nick Grace (who incorporated them I think into the ex-Strathallen Firefly which is now in the US). Other Firefly parts (including cockpit sections and at least one rear fuselage) were rescued by a saviour from the NEAM. One cockpit section was displayed for a while in Manchester museum but I believe is now off site with its private custodian. I believe some of the surviving items mentioned are still owned by the scrapyard proprietor on some kind of loan arrangement. Much, sadly was scrapped - truly one of the last great yards - Lasham was another I recall with nostalgia !

To save me providing a list - I recommend you see Ken's article in June 1977 "Military Aviation Review" which outlined yard contents over the last 15 years of its existance.

Regards, Tim


: Do any of you guys recall a scrap yard near Failsworth in
: Manchester UK during 1970/80's. I think it contained the r
: emains of former RN Firefly's. Any information on which ai
: rcraft were stored and what happened to them.

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