wwrsimon

Many thanks for the quick reply Richard, much appreciated.

Simon

Hello again everyone

Can anyone ID this WW2 YMCA van, photographed in the Western Desert:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P08802.008/

Many thanks

Simon

Cheers Johnny, that's the one. Found another photo of an RAF one in India here, with a Matador refueller:

Regards

Simon

Hello everyone

Can anyone tell me what make this RAF refueller is?

Many thanks,

Simon

 

This selection of aircraft debris on OTA is not a target but is the unfortunate remains of RNAF Starfighter D-8337 flown by Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema which crashed 3 mile west of Alwinton in the lea of Crigdon Hill in March 1983 during the Mallet Blow 1983 excercise. Lt Sasbrink-Harkema was killed he was 26 years old.

 

Most if not all of the aircraft is still there and several articles have been written about the crash -including one that states that the remains of the RNAF Lt. was found in the wreckage- which is strange as according to witnesses the unfortunate pilot ejected at very low altitude which tends to be supported by this photo of the canopy which shows the effect of the 1st stage of ejection -blown out perspex. The pilot was taken to hospital in Newcastle and pronounced DOA -the body was then under the 1958 NATO Act returned to the RNAF and repatriated.

 

You don't really worry too much about the destruction of range wrecks when you come across this sort of thing:-(. RIP Lt Sasbrink-Harkema your plane is still where you left it.

Just to update the news on the Starfighter, the wreckage was cleared from the range last year by the RNLAF (Dutch Air Force). Seeing as it had been there since 1983, it seemed a bit strange.

I did have the opportunity to visit the site a couple of years back while the Range was closed, and it was strange to walk over the brow of the hill and see a crashed plane in exactly the same place it had been for high on 30 years. As Steve says most of the plane was still visible, although the state of the large pieces show the effects of a low-level high speed crash.

Simon

Hello everyone

Just a quick hello to all the existing members from a newbie in Northumberland (near Morpeth, to be precise). I'm mostly interested in Historic Aviation (sorry...!), but I'm also interested in Historic Military Vehicles too, so I hope that makes me a bit more acceptable...:angel:

Cheers

Simon