Sywell Me109 and wing ID help please

[LotusOmega375D]

Popped over to Sywell today and was amazed to find this parked outside one of the hangars. Even the adjacent museum staff hadn't seen it before, so I guess it had been tucked inside being restored. Anyone know the story?



There was also a set of wings behind it and the Pitts. Anyone know what they belong to? They have D-Day invasion stripes so obviously from an Allied aircraft.



and zoomed in:

[Eric Mc]

Technically, the "109" isn't a 109. It's a Spanish built Hispano HA112 which were Merlin powered post war developments of the 109G built in Spain. This aircraft is in the Luftwaffe colours it wore during the filming of the movie "Battle of Britain" in 1968.

I expect it's this one -

[LotusOmega375D]

Cheers Eric,

That's the one! Within the museum there is a section about the filming of Battle of Britain, some of which took place out of Sywell, so he might be an old friend of theirs!

Any idea about the wings?

[Eric Mc]

They look like they have D - Day invasion stripes on them. Or they could be Korean War wing stripes. I was wondering if they belonged to a Firefly.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

I was wondering if they belonged to a Firefly.

No Firefly project at Sywell.

Might be a spare, 2nd set of wings for their Sea Fury FB.11?

[Eric Mc]

aeropilot said:

No Firefly project at Sywell.

Might be a spare, 2nd set of wings for their Sea Fury FB.11?

Could be that then.

[The Brummie]

P47 wings according to a Facebook group.

[Eric Mc]

I read in "Aeroplane" today that this P-47 is coming back to the UK -

[Mutley]

The wings do belong to P-47 "No Guts No Glory" who has been bought and returned to the UK

[Eric Mc]

I thought they were too big for something like a Sea Fury. That's why I suggested the Firefly earlier.

Nice to see that P-47 back in the country. It was always an interesting performer at air shows.

[aeropilot]

Mutley said:

The wings do belong to P-47 "No Guts No Glory" who has been bought and returned to the UK

Aaahhhh......... didn't know No Guts was heading for Sywell on its return to UK.

I'd seen reports from a few weeks ago that it was going to be loosing the No Guts markings when it gets here. Rumours of a 9th AF marked P-47 were going around.

[Burton12]

This had just arrived from the USA where it had been since the filming of The Battle of Britain
after the stunt pilot-in the film was paid with a few of these or so I was told they have been in a warehouse since then as far as I know it is still in the new hanger where it is being restored I have not been back since as I’m in and out of hospital since last July August

[Eric Mc]

They are part of the Connie Edwards collection which was sold off a few years ago. Edwards was a Texan who bought a number of ex Spanish Air Force Buchons in 1966. The film company making the movie "Battle of Britain" had wanted to buy these aircraft but had been out bid. However, Edwards and his mates agreed to loan the aircraft for the film. Once the filming was over, they went to the US.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2014/...

[aeropilot]

Burton12 said:

This had just arrived from the USA where it had been since the filming of The Battle of Britain
after the stunt pilot-in the film was paid with a few of these or so I was told they have been in a warehouse since then as far as I know it is still in the new hanger where it is being restored I have not been back since as I’m in and out of hospital since last July August

Here's a shot of part of the legendary Connie Edwards stash in his hanger prior to all being sold off a few years ago.

[aeropilot]

Oh, and the team have got 'No Guts' assembled and engine runs have been completed, and its been repainted into its new identity of 'Nellie', a P-47D of the 492nd FS, 48th FG, 9th AF.

[Eric Mc]

Looking really nice.

[Mutley]

She does look good, can't wait to see her back on the circuit

[aeropilot]

Mutley said:

She does look good, can't wait to see her back on the circuit

Indeed.

Nice idea as well, putting her into 48th FG markings, as the 48th FG is still based in the UK operating F-15's at Lakenheath.
I sense that once it's test flown, one of its first flights might be Suffolk bound and some interesting photo opportunities forthcoming

[PAUL500]

I love the fact that facilities like this exist and that such rare aircraft are still seen as desirable by people in the UK bringing them over.

[aeropilot]

Looking good with the engine cowls now on