Images Dated 9th June 2020

Royal Air Force Captured Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5 AX772

Royal Air Force Captured Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5 AX772 (Luftwaffe 5F-CM of $(F)/14) (W.Nr. 2177) Buit by Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG 5F-CM was based at Cherbourg and intercepted during a reconnaissance mission on 21 July 1940 and forced to land in a beet field near Goodwood racecourse. Recovered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough it was repaired with parts from Bf 110C-5 2N-EP, which had been forced down near Wareham on 11 July 1940. Given the serial AX772 she was flown on 25 October 1940 and evaluated bu the RAE before transfer to the Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF Duxford on 13 October 1941. When transferred to No. 1426 (EAC) Flight at Duxford on 5 March 1942, the Luftwaffe camouflage had been replaced with standard RAF trainer colours of Dark Green and Dark Earth upper surfaces with Yellow undersides (this dates the photo to before then). AX772 continued to be flown up to November 1945 when it was put in storage at 47 MU RAF Sealand. Date: 1941

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Cierva W.11 Air Horse VZ724

Cierva W.11 Air Horse VZ724 / G-ALCV (msn W.11/1 ), which first flew on 7 December 1948 as G-ALCV, was marked with the Air Ministry serial VZ274. G-ALCV / VZ274 crashed on 13 June 1950, claiming the lives of Alan Marsh (chief test pilot) John Jeep Cable, (Ministry of Supply test pilot), and Joseph K. Unsworth (flight engineer). The cause of the crash was due to fatigue failure of a swash-plate carrier driving link in the front rotor hub. The second Air Horse, WA555 / G-ALCW, completed around 20 hours flying before the plug was pulled and was scrapped in 1951. Date: circa 1950

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Royal Air Force Consolidated Liberator GR Mk.III (Special R

Royal Air Force Consolidated Liberator GR Mk.III (Special R.P.). The use of rockets against submarines got mixed reactions from the aircrew, but several Liberators were operated with the 8-rail RP-3 rocket installation on the lower forward fuselage. Also in evidence are the Leigh Light under the starboard wing, as well as the Air-Surface-Vessel (ASV) radar aerials on the fuselage and under the wings - Photograph date 16th July 1943. Date: 1943

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library