It's yes to the Elsan, the wheel covers were damaged during one of those Cornwall gales and subsequently removed and yes the engines have now stopped dripping oil. SERE = Survive, Evade, Resist and Extract.
For your interest:
Formed in 1977, The Cornish Aviation Society ( CAS ) aims to promote and encourage interest in all aspects of aviation and to further the cause of aviation in Cornwall.
A small group of dedicated members of the CAS, known as the Shackleton Preservation Group ( SPG ), work on the restoration of Avro Shackleton WL 795. Since 1989 this remarkable aircraft has been RAF St Mawgan's Gate Guardian during which time it has been converted from AEW2 variant back to the MR2 version. The project is ongoing, with care and maintenance of the aircraft occaisionally during the week but invariably taking place every weekend, come rain or shine.
The maintenance of Gate Guardians attracts no funding or additional personnel, and imposes tremendous demands upon a Unit's resources. An aircraft of this size compounds these problems but the members of the SPG are a special breed of people who are not daunted by their task. Indeed, they deem it a privilege to be instrumental in the preservation of this icon of military aviation. The result is an aircraft that belies the many years she spent in service and the two decades exposed to the elements. She remains in near pristine condition, a proud sentinel to the Station and a fitting tribute to the Aircrew that flew the type and the Ground-Crew that operated it, during both the Post War years and the Cold War period.
There is no doubt that the Royal Air Force and RAF St Mawgan, in particular has benefited enormously from this long standing commitment. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that the Station Commander formally acknowledges the exceptional and hard working memebers of the Shackleton Preservation Group, both past and present, by the award of the Station Commanders Commendation.
Signed: Station Commander Paul C Loader July 2009