NASAM Update as of the 5th Aug 2022
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Updates from around the Museum
Firstly we have a note from Cliff F to all Volunteers that read the blog, that there will be a FIRE DRILL at the museum on a Volunteer Tuesday.
FIRE DRILL
There will be a Museum Fire Drill on Tuesday, the 16th of August 2022, at 1145 hrs. All volunteers attending on the day are requested to familiarise themself with the procedures and participate in the drill.
Cliff F
In the rest of this edition, we have a grand update from Michael F in the Chippies Workshop. This update firstly takes us back to the middle of June and then brings us up-to-date with the activities of the Chippies around the site.
We have more from the painters with an update from Barry. The team are still being kept busy with the Javelin and the Whirlwind in the lower compound.
Meanwhile, Malcolm G is busy modelling and working on an Electronic Intelligence display, and his update shows some of the models being prepared for that ELINT display.
Graham surfaced from the depths of the Archive with another wartime booklet, “Over to You“. This booklet was available to the public at the princely sum of nine (old) pence. The article is the first of a number that he submitted for the blog. The remainder will be in subsequent editions.
Prison Prop Part II
In the last edition of the Online Flier, I mentioned how John S from Engineering put me in touch with HMP Wayland, who had some pictures of the unveiling of a memorial on the site of the old RAF Watton in Norfolk. The memorial was constructed with the help of the Flixton Museum as we donated a propellor blade which forms part of the memorial today. The donation of the prop can be found in the blog published back in February this year, where the Chairman mentioned the donation in his update @ Prison Prop
The prison has now finished the construction of the memorial and has forwarded a number of photos of the unveiling event. A selection of those photos are shown immediately below.
(Photos) Prison Prop Part II
RAFA and Veterans Day
Don’t forget and don’t miss out; come along to the Museum on Sunday the 7th of August 2022. We will be open as usual from 1000 until 1600, but this will be a Special Events Day at the Museum.
Come along and meet members of the local Royal Air Forces Association and other Military Veterans. Enjoy talking to these veterans and spend time looking at the multitude of artefacts, the many aircraft and cockpits scattered throughout the site, in the main hangar complex as well as in the outside themed museum rooms.
In addition to the variety of things to see and do as detailed below, there will be 40s style live music in the main hangar.
Although this is a special events day, we are open to the public; there is no need to book; just turn up on the day. Free entry and free parking make this an affordable and great family day out. Bring the dog with you; we welcome well-behaved dogs, provided they are kept on a lead (but not in the shop please or in the rooms behind the shop).
Pete S
From the Archives
OVER TO YOU #1
Sometimes the most poignant finds come in the smallest of packages – un-rummaged in the Store this week was a small booklet simply called ‘Over to You’. I nearly missed it – it was recorded, put back in its box – maybe even for another 79 years, but something clicked, and it wasn’t my knees. On closer inspection, it was apparent this little booklet was gold dust – transcripts of a series of interviews with RAF personnel from all areas and ranks of the service that had actually been recorded and broadcast over the radio by the BBC between 1942 and 1943 – right at the height of the war. No names are mentioned, no station or squadron details given, but the stories are stronger for the fact they are the accounts of the everyday and not the glory conscious.
The introduction to the book speaks for itself:
THE legendary days of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain; the winged victory in North Africa; fighter sweeps over France; bomber sorties to Germany and Italy; night fighting, train-busting, intruder operations; the work of Ferry Command and the training of pilots in Canada; the remorseless harrying of U-boats; the adventures of air crews forced down in ocean or desert–these are the subjects of “Over to You”, a collection of stories chosen from over 900 broadcasts given on the BBC by R.A.F. officers and airmen between March 1942 and May 1943.
This particular tale was one of three that had been themed – and the theme was The Battle of Britain. The recordings were made two years after the battle itself. The first and second had been recorded by a Wing Commander and a Squadron Leader who had fought and survived without injury. This honest and moving account was broadcast by a Flight Lieutenant who had not been so fortunate…
The Battle of Britain – from a Flight Lieutenant
If there is any special significance in that we are the three representing today those pilots who lived, and fought, and all too often died, in the skies over Britain two years ago, it is, I think, this: The two officers whom you have just heard are a walking proof that it is possible to fight this war in the air with distinction, and to come through unscathed; unscathed, but more mature and with an experience invaluable to those who now follow them.
I on the other hand, I suppose, speak for those who did not come through unscathed, for those whom it was inevitable that we should lose in that great clash in the heavens before the invader was finally beaten off; for those who, broken in body remained unbroken in spirit, and who after a shorter or longer time, licking their wounds, are now waiting and eager to fight again.
I was not in the sky on that great day of 15th September, I was in hospital, already asking that first inevitable question of every crashed pilot – “When do I go back ?” Well, it is now two years, and though I am still not back, I know that I have very little longer to wait.
In two years one has learnt-a little patience, a little wisdom, and one has learnt to know one’s limitations. In those days it was gloriously good sport; this time it will be a job – a hard, tiring job that must be done. Then we fought with our emotions: now it must be with our reason. We who have now been out of the battle for two years know the other side of the picture, and it is not pleasant ; but go on we must – there can be no turning back.
Thinking now of those days, I find that what remains most clearly in my memory is not the sweating strain of the actual fighting, not the hurried meals, the creeping from bed at dawn, not even the loss of one’s friends ; but rather those odd stolen moments of peace in the middle of all the pandemonium – the heat haze lying lazily over the airfield while we sat munching a piece of grass, waiting to take off; that curiously lovely moment of twilight after the last Spitfire had landed, the last engine had been switched off, and before the first night fighter took the air, the first searchlight split the darkness and the first wail of the siren was heard again – that moment when the evening lay spread out against the sky, giving for a moment a mocking glimpse of stillness and peace before night fell suddenly like a curtain and the whole hideous cacophony of war broke out afresh.
But, above all, the thing that remains most clearly imprinted on my memory is the spirit which then existed – the same spirit which inspired everybody from the Station Commander to the lowest aircraft-hand. A spirit no better than that which now exists, but one which to us who then fought must seem different and rather special.
For that was the first trial, the first flush of battle, and it was a great hour.
Graham
Chippies Update
At last, an update from Chippie / WiFi land.
Where have those Chippies been? It can’t possibly be that they’re all hiding or, worse still, run away? Well, no – holidays, illness, and heat waves have all taken their toll on the Chippies’ work around the Museum. But occasionally, a Chippie crept out of the woodwork and ventured forth from the Workshop to say hallo, then disappeared back into its cool shelter.
21st June
On a hot day when staying in the cool of the Workshop was the thing to do. Dave H continued with repairing the sit-in Red Arrow, fairing in the new pieces (see Sit-In Red Arrows 03 thru 06). He also worked on some cabinets Steve B found in the Stage storage area, having decided they would make good display cabinets for the NAAFI if we could clean them up. One was in pretty good nick, and Morris sanded and brywaxed it, ready to go into service. The second was a bit more weary, lacking a door and shelves (see NAAFI Cabinets 01 thru 03 ). This would need more work. Undaunted, Dave and Morris conducted several “design” meetings as work progressed (see Chippies Design Meeting).
Unable to resist the advantages of working in the rarified atmosphere of the Chippies Workshop, the Leckies – Bryan, Dave and Pete – decided it was the best place to repair the airflow and lift demonstration model (see Airflow and Lift Model 01 and 02).
Not content with cleaning up a cabinet or two, Morris “volunteered” to clean the Phantom seats that Dave D took out of the Phantom (see Phantom Seat Clean 01). During the course of the last year, our feathered friends had decided the Phantom cockpit was a really good place to stay. Shame about their sanitary arrangements…
23rd June
As part of the WiFi installation, Steve B had asked Michael F to provide a better signal in the Hangar as at some point he wants a better terminal for card payments in the NAAFI. Paul R and Michael had decided this would be the last step as it involved running new Ethernet cables from the Shop. Today Ash and Michael took the plunge and investigated how to run the cable. Following the route of the existing Shop to Office cable seemed the best way, and we traced its somewhat tortuous path, most of it several metres (10+ feet) above ground level. For us, the show stopper was running the cable above the big Hangar doors, which, ideally, a cherry picker is needed.
Alternatively, we could use the Office cable and put a new wireless link direct from Shop to Office. Dave D thought this a much better solution, as did Steve B and Gary, so we ordered a new radio for next week.
28th June
With the new radio ready, Michael, Paul R and Ash installed it on the lamppost outside the office (see WiFi 12). A new hole through to the inside the building, plug it all in, and a new link is installed.
Dave H, meanwhile, was back in multi-tasking mode, sanding the Red Arrow, filling holes in the cabinet putting perspex into the sign for the pub entrance (see Pub Sign 01).
30th June
Gary, having pronounced that the radio link didn’t seem to make any difference to his working in the office, Michael and Ash decided to cut the Shop to Office cable and start rewiring the Hanger Ethernet network. We took some considerable time deciding just exactly which cable they wanted and where it went. After all, we didn’t want to cut the wrong one there are several cables including power and telephone on the same poles.
First cut just outside the Office, then gently pulling it. At various times Dave D leant his assistance as we negotiated awkward corners and reached for cables ties in out-of-the-way locations. Then we made a second cut, this time above the bric-a-brac stall. This allowed us to put in a temporary Ethernet switch to join it all up. Finally, we added a new cable from the temporary switch to the Donation Terminal next to the Hangar door. This means the terminal doesn’t rely on a flakey WiFi connection anymore and works reliably when our generous visitors wish to donate.
14th July
With a shortage of Chippies over the last couple of weeks, it was only Dave H and Morris holding the fort. Dave had finished off the sit-in Red Arrow, giving it a fine coat of paint. Unfortunately no markings yet, but Ash has them on order. With Ivor and Tony’s assistance, Michael delivered it back to its home outside the ASR Building, ready for Family Fun Day (see Sit-In Red Arrows 07). Then off to the Hangar to collect one of the push-along Red Arrows that lost its tailplane in an unfortunate accident one Sunday (see Red Arrows Push Plane 09).
Dave H had also been spending time on the pub sign, welding up a new upright to go in the ground, then giving the whole thing a traditional Royal Blue coat (see Pub Sign 02).
Morris, meanwhile, was giving the window boxes made by Tony several weeks ago a nice coat of paint to make them more attractive (see Window Boxes 03). These too left the Workshop , this time to go outside the shop for sale (£25 for a large one, £20 for the small).
21st July
Today Ash and Michael finished off the WiFi network. First, we changed the Hub in the Shop for a new one BT sent us a couple of months ago. This means when BT switches us to Digital Voice, our telephones will keep working. Then the old hub from the Shop replaced the temporary switch in the Hangar,. Finally, instead of a mishmash of network identities, every hub now has the same identity and password, so volunteers don’t have to set up for each hub.
Sorry, but at the moment, the WiFi network is for volunteers, except BT WiFi is available in the vicinity of the Shop.
Well, that’s it for now – a bit patchy, a bit late, but hopefully showing that the Chippies aren’t just having their Summer Siesta.
Michael F
(Photos) Chippies Update
Model Maintenance Unit
So the request was for an Anson, Wellington, Washington, Halifax and a Comet to compliment a display covering the ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) role in the RAF.
As previously said, my guide would be the history of 192(Special) Squadron, which evolved into 51 Squadron in the late 1950’s. Four of the completed models represent exact marks of the respective aircraft, the odd one out being the Comet. The example here is of a Mk.4 of Transport Command, whereas 51 Sqn used the Mk.2. Unfortunately, I believe no model manufacturer has ever released a Comet 2, so this one will at least give the viewers a general idea of what a Comet looks like. The photo of the cotton buds has been added to show how much dirt and grime was removed from the Comet before I could start the refurb process. Most models from the store go through the same process, but the Comet has been one of the filthiest to date! (see MMU ELINT 01 thru 03).
With the Halifax and Washington, I have been able to complete the refurbished models as flown in markings of 192 Sqn, the B-29 needing extra surgery to remove its gun turrets. From a photo of the Halifax’s used by the Squadron, the aircraft was not altered to that degree externally so it would blend into formations of Halifax Bomber aircraft from other units. (see MMU ELINT 04 thru 06)
If anyone is interested, the Anson, Halifax and B-29 are all Airfix dating back from the 1960s; the Wellington is 1970’s Matchbox, all 1/72, and the Comet is a Frog 1/96 kit originally dating back to 1958.
All five are expected to be delivered back to the Museum on 2nd August.
Malcolm G
(Photos) MMU
Paint Team Update
26/7/22 – Lying down on the job!
Yes folks, the continuing hot weather this week was taking its toll on the boys that were (still) sanding and grinding the Javelin. Cliff and Ian resorted to synchronised lying down on the job this week (see Javelin Repaint 23 pic). One wonders whether they were actually working, or having crafty kip in the shade! With the top surfaces prepped, attention has turned to the ‘hard to get to’ areas underneath; with the top of the tail also still to do.
Over on the Whirlwind, a small milestone was achieved this week. Barry and Mark (see Whirlwind Repaint 33 pic) finally finished off the white areas around the cockpit and fuselage spine. From a distance (see Whirlwind Repaint 34 pic) the upper surfaces now look nice and bright, thanks in part to 2 white primer coats plus 2 white top coats of Dacrylate. While the primer was a pain to put on, the top coat was really nice to work with. Next, we will be breaking out the red paint for the main part of the fuselage and light aircraft grey for the tail/lower spine. Once all the top coating has been done, we will be (experimenting with) applying a clear coat lacquer to hopefully improve the longevity of the paint job.
2/8/22 – Feel good factor!
With the forecast yet again set for another scorcher and following several weeks of painting all the white fiddly bits around the Whirlwind cockpit, Mark and Barry decided that they needed their spirits lifted this week. Therefore, they decided to ‘break out the Post Office Red’ and do some ‘big high impact’ areas. By the end of the day, they had top coated the nose, plus the starboard side fuselage back to the end of the main section of the fuselage (see Whirlwind Repaint 35 pic). Chuffed with a good day’s progress, they retired to the Main Hangar for an end-of-day cuppa.
Next door, progress on prepping the Javelin was rather limited this week due to a lack of personnel (Cliff in a Committee Meeting, Ian in the Isle of Wight); but as one would expect, Gwen soldiered on with the more accessible bits of the undersides. During the day, there was also a discussion with Roger about repairing the Javelin’s air intakes. There were mutterings about complex multiple curves and English wheels, and ultimately Roger went away to scratch his head/phone a friend. To be continued…
Barry
(Photos) Paint Team Update
The Repeat Info
The repeat information is still here I’m afraid, and I make no apologies for keeping his section in our blog. We are a charitable organisation relying on monies from the public to keep us going. Any help we receive is gratefully accepted and enables the museum to continue in our mission “To conserve, preserve and promote the history of aviation in East Anglia, whilst providing a fun, family-friendly and interactive museum, promoting education and remembrance of the events of the past“.
Would you Like to Help ??
We obtain most of our finances by donations and by membership fees. We save money by having a dedicated group of volunteers that keep the museum and the exhibits both manned and maintained. We hope, therefore a few people may consider helping in the ways below.
There are three easy ways to help: Help by becoming a Museum Member, also by Volunteering to help at the museum, or by Donating to assist in our running costs. Please click on the appropriate button below to access the appropriate information:
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