Identity of crashed aircraft, Trucial States, 1947

[l.garey]

Also posted on another forum:
I have been asked by the Al Mahatta Museum in Sharjah if I can identify some parts in their possession. They were recovered from the desert at Dhaid (now in the UAE) and are said to be from an aircraft that crashed in 1947, from which the two occupants walked away. I cannot vouch for the circumstances, and as I am not too good at identifying bits, I hope someone on the Forum will be able to help.

I was informed by a very knowledgeable chap that the black ring is a surround from a bomb release button, so that might narrow the field.

Any ideas of the type, or the circumstances?

I apologise for the small pictures: they are all I have at the moment.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/Frame_email_zps2bc1ad58.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/Frame_email_zps2bc1ad58.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5128_Email_zps71a8d871.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5128_Email_zps71a8d871.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5130_email_zps531aba60.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5130_email_zps531aba60.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5138_email_zpscb243990.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5138_email_zpscb243990.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5145_email_zps52fe3b3d.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5145_email_zps52fe3b3d.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5147_email_zps32c9436e.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5147_email_zps32c9436e.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5157_email_zpsda3adf4b.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5157_email_zpsda3adf4b.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5160_email_zpsc4b6ea98.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5160_email_zpsc4b6ea98.jpg.html)

[brokenlink]

Can you let me have the Air Ministry Reference Number of the black ring please, might be able to narrow it down to aircrfat types for you.

[l.garey]

As far as I can read it is AM REF No 55/534, although the second "5" is not very clear. It may be 5 followed by a letter, as mentioned in
http://www.cpearce.orconhosting.net.nz/AM_REF_NUM_LISTING.html

I don't have the pieces, only the photos.
Thanks.

Laurence

PS: I just saw a photo of bomb selector 5D-656 on http://aircraft-cockpits.com/ww2uk/5D-Armament-Bombing-Equipment/5D-656-Bomb-Selector.jpg
It has a number of small rings around the switches. Could it be that? If so, which aircraft?

[Lightning Mate]

Blenheim or Beaufighter maybe.

[Lordflasheart]

Is that a bullet hole in the second pic down ?

[Tony Mabelis]

I wouldn't get too excited about the bullet hole, the locals have a habit of shooting holes in anything to releave the boredom!
Another possibility, there are various old military ranges out by Al Dhaid, the wreck could have been bought in as a target.
Tony

[l.garey]

LM: 1947 would have been a bit too late for a Blenheim. They were based at Sharjah in 1942. Beaufighter, maybe, but what about that frame in the first photo?

Tony: interesting idea, but where would it have come from? And there is the story of the two crew surviving the crash. I am still trying to find out more about the circumstances.

Laurence

[l.garey]

Just received a few more photos: any help?

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5115_Email_2_zps2b089eb0.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5115_Email_2_zps2b089eb0.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5121_Email_2_zps37464f9f.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5121_Email_2_zps37464f9f.jpg.html)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/IMG_5124_Email_2_zps848645b3.jpg (http://s215.photobucket.com/user/apollo-fox/media/IMG_5124_Email_2_zps848645b3.jpg.html)

Laurence

[l.garey]

To add to the mystery, there was a note in Arabic with the remains, which has just been translated for me:

It had three people in it. None died in it. They were carried to Sharjah’s Al Mahatta on camels. Pots and pans were made out of it. 1947. Civilian plane coloured white. 52

Interesting!

Laurence

[l.garey]

I think there is little doubt that the black Bakelite ring is from a bomb release (AM 5D/534). So, maybe Blenheim, but not in 1947.

Laurence