OUR LADIES ARE TUCKED UP FOR THE WINTER!![]()
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It’s a sure sign that winter is on the way when the Museum volunteers gather for the last big ‘workshop day’ of the year!![]()
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As is traditional, our unique 1954 Hawker Hunter F2 WN904 ‘Heidi’ dons her special yellow and black ‘onesie’ from our friends at Cambrai Covers to help protect her from the weather over the closed season and our 1969 Handley Page Jetstream 200 G-RAVL ‘Jenny’ dons her original RAF green cockpit cover ‘cap’ courtesy of our friends at East Mids Aero Park. We have a set of engine covers for her too – also original issue but experience has shown us that all they do is collect water round the Astazous and are pretty useless so we no longer fit them – no wonder you never see photos of them fitted in service and there are plenty of NOS sets available second hand!![]()
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With all external exhibits wrapped up our thoughts turn to 2024….![]()
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We plan to have another Book and Model Sale in the New Year and with that in mind welcome the donation of aviation books and in particular model kits and accessories, diecast models etc to sell to raise funds for our Jetstream restoration (remember, the Museum doesnt charge an entry fee and relies on donations to survive!) – huge thanks to all those who have donated items so far but we welcome more to make the sale viable – drop off or pickup available for larger collections – thanks folks!![]()
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We then look forward to our traditional Grand Opening on Easter Saturday which next year is 30th March 2024 – so don’t forget to add the date to those new diaries! We’ll be announcing some new winter talk dates soon too!![]()
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In the meantime, thanks again for your support this year from the SAM Team!
‘RB’S SISTER – AUSTERING AT SYWELL IN THE 1960S ![]()
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This excellent photo from Museum regular Brian Berwick shows Auster J/1 Autocrat G-AJDW at Sywell after he had just swung the prop! ![]()
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Owned by Brooklands Flying Club, Les Hillditch the Chief Flying Instructor is in the right hand seat. Brian had just completed a major service on her and a respray.![]()
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Built at Rearsby in March 1947, she was used by Brooklands Flying Club from 1958 until 1971. After passing through several owners ‘DW remained airworthy until an accident in 1996 near Cardington grounded her. By repute her fuselage frame still exists at a private airstrip at Mavis Enderby near Spilsby, Lincs.
Very occasionally we receive feedback which makes what we do as volunteers totally worthwhile. ![]()
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We received out of the blue this letter from one of our younger visitors who took the time and trouble to write to us – a rare thing in this day and age ❤️![]()
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Thank you Elliott, we’re so glad you enjoyed your visit and we love the drawings – we’ve decided that you deserve a bunch of Museum ‘swag’ which will be on its way to you in time for Christmas!🙂![]()
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Thanks so much we really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you at the Museum again next year 🫡
NORTHAMPTON’S MASTER MODELMAKERS AND THEIR WARTIME CONTRIBUTION ![]()
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Bassett-Lowke was founded in Northampton by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899. The company specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets. ![]()
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The firm combined the production of detailed scale models for public purchase with contracts with commercial manufacturers and the military for prototype and training aids.![]()
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During WW1 the firm made many models for the Royal Navy of the ‘waterline’ type for recognition purposes together with precision measuring equipment for munitions factories.![]()
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With the start of WW2, Basset-Lowke performed unsung and secret work essential to the war effort.![]()
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In 1939 Churchill himself ordered a 1/22 scale model of the ‘Cultivator No.6’ a huge 130 ton tracked vehicle designed to excavate trenches. Only one was built and the project was dropped in 1943.![]()
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Bombing training aids were also produced such as dioramas of ships with hidden bulbs which would produce puffs of smoke when the operator ‘dropped’ a bomb to help practice accuracy! Many thousands of cast waterline ship models were made for recognition purposes for RAF and RN units all over the world. ![]()
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Other examples were scale models of submarines to teach seamen how hydroplanes worked, or ships to teach anchor deployment. A huge 1/48 model of the battleship HMS King George V (over 15ft long) was used in a watertank to simulate damage control. Individual compartments could be flooded and pupils would be taught how to counteract list by controlling balance and flooding others to compensate.![]()
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Perhaps the two main projects that Bassett-Lowke was perfect for was the development of the Bailey Bridge (and earlier Inglis Bridge) and Mulberry Harbour.![]()
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Donald Bailey worked for the Civil Service and tinkered with model bridges as a hobby. He designed a portable, pre-fabricated bridge in 1940 and Bassett-Lowke prepared models to his designs to prove the concept and to teach bridging units in their use. A superb design, the bridge was used by most Allied armies during WW2 and afterwards. Many are still used today – indeed following the 2023 floods and the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand, Bailey bridges were installed to reconnect communities.![]()
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When planning the invasion of Europe it became clear that the Germans would heavily defend any deep-sea ports which were essential for the off-loading of supplies and materiel. The Allies’ solution was to bring with them pre-fabricated harbours to do the job. Designed in 1943, Bassett-Lowke again, in great secrecy, prepared models of all elements of the Mulberry including the cassions, ‘Spuds’ and ‘Whales’ to ensure that they worked in harmony and to assist in training those who would erect them. By repute, Churchill himself visited Northampton several times to see the completed models prior to D-Day.![]()
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In 1953, the Arromanches Museum commissioned Bassett-Lowke to construct a model of Mulberry for display, It took some 3 years to build, cost £6000 and was some 75ft long taking 18,000 man hours to complete. It was paid for by subscriptions from France and donations by the British building contractors who made the original.![]()
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The Arromanches Museum has just been extensively rebuilt and reopened on 1st April 2023, the Mulberry model remains the centrepiece of its exhibition, built in Northampton in memory of those who in the dark days of wartime helped to contribute to victory.![]()
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musee-arromanches.fr/en/![]()
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The company closed in 1965, with its brand acquired by Corgi Toys (who then ,owned by Mettoy, had a factory in St James End, Northampton). When Corgi was taken over by Hornby in 2008, it secured rights to the Bassett-Lowke brand, which it still uses today.![]()
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For more on Bassett-Lowke readers are encouraged to visit the newly expanded 78 Derngate Museum in Northampton. In 1916-1917 the Bassett-Lowke family commissioned famed architect and designer Charles Rennie-Mackintosh to redesign their home and it has been lovingly restored and is open to the public. The Museum has recently expanded with a new extension opened on 7th July 2023. Contained within is also a history of the Bassett-Lowke company and their modelmaking prowess.![]()
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www.78derngate.org.uk/
A brilliant visit today by our members to the former Royal Ordnance Factory Weedon Depot Visitor Centre – it’s fabulous and it’s local! ![]()
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Sincere thanks to all at the Visitor Centre for a superb tour of the amazing site! Why not check out their Facebook page and visit yourself?![]()
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m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100057186231688
USAAF THUNDERBOLT CRASH AT SYWELL – REMEMBERING 1ST LT RG PHILLIPS 80 YEARS ON![]()
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As an RAF training airfield, Sywell was fortunate not to have many wartime crashes. Those that did take place usually involved RAF aeroplanes but there was only one incident involving an American aircraft, in 1943.![]()
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1st Lt Raymond Glenn Phillips DFC was born on 26th July 1917 in Lowder, Sangamon County, Illinois.![]()
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He was a mechanic living in Audubon, Iowa when he enlisted in the USAAF on 2nd January 1941 and after flight training was assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group, 328th Fighter Squadron, USAAF.![]()
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The 352nd Fighter Group was activated on 1 October 1942 and served in the United States as part of the air defence force while training with P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. The Group moved to RAF Bodney in Norfolk England on 5 July 1943 and was assigned to Eighth Air Force, VIII Fighter Command. The group flew bomber escort missions, counter-air patrols, attacks on airfields, trains, vehicles, troops, gun positions, and other targets. ![]()
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On 16th November 1943, he was injured upon landing at Sywell in P-47D-5-RE ‘razorback’ Thunderbolt serial number 42-8384. It must have been a serious crash as the aircraft was written off as damaged beyond repair.![]()
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In April 1944 in anticipation of the D-Day landings the unit transitioned from the Thunderbolt to the P-51 Mustang by which time Phillips had been promoted to 1st Lt and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. On June 10, 1944 he was piloting a fellow pilots machine – P-51B-15-NA Mustang 42-106756 PE-W in support of the Allied advance through Normandy after D-Day. His aircraft was shot down and crashed at 1150hrs without him being able to parachute to safety. He was listed as missing but in 2003 his aircraft was found by French aviation archaeologists.![]()
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His remains were interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He was 27 years old. He was single at the time of his death and none of his family have been traced.![]()
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A P-47 returned to Sywell in 2018 when P-47D Thunderbolt ‘Nellie B’ (G-THUN) took to the air again after a restoration with specialists Air Leasing. Now a regular sight at the aerodrome, the next time you see her, take a moment to remember Lt Phillips. ![]()
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Photos: San Diego ASM, Wikipedia, IWM.
“When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
Looks like our neighbours at Air Leasing have a new P-51 shaped early Christmas present! ![]()
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Speaking of which if you’re thinking about Xmas presents for the warbird lover in your life why not check out their website- everything from warbird flights and experiences to ‘merch’! And help keep em flying! ![]()
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www.warbirdflights.co.uk/shop-1New arrival 👀