A small museum in a little country town in New Zealand has two propeller blades to hold the doors open, which they claim to be from a Bristol Beaufort.
The museum is devoted entirely to local historical artefacts and has no other aviation content.
The previous owners were a nearby, now closed, Masonic lodge which used them for decoration.
That is as much as I can find out about their history.
Each blade is 1270mm from base to tip, and 195mm across at the widest point. Around the base is stamped the following..................
Change AD L3451 ACH 43631 DLOG-No 6095 A-B MFG 64480 ATC 301
I am sceptical about the claim because as far as I can establish the RNZAF never had Beauforts.
The RAAF had several hundred so it is possible the blades came from a visitor, though I cannot think why they would leave behind apparently serviceable blades.
The reason I doubt their origin is that they do not look large enough to be from the 3 bladed propeller of a 1200hp engine.
What does the team think ?
