Gate Guardian

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Do any of The Great Locked Down Special Measures Brigade have any memories of, or indeed know how this Halifax (WFU November 1949) ended up at Newcastle ?


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1194x721/screenshot_2020_06_07_gate_guardian_7c280c8cc6120b05f87d35ac 0c61d11899ca3f9f.png


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1090x1063/screenshot_2020_06_07_kids_at_plane_a89555ad1d457c963a5778d3 79497d74a1a83540.png


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1256x1106/screenshot_2020_06_07_up_there_a689f10bf66cb8b914f97c1431669 1d940fc9642.png

Photo credit Flickr with thanks.

[Kemble Pitts]

Looks superb, although I can't help with your question.

As an aside. It has often struck me that 'small boys' in the 1950s and 1960s all seem to have been made and dressed to some sort of Ministry Standard!

[STATSMAN]

In those times are parents did not have much money, not much choice at the shops we had every days clothes and Sunday best. Most of are clothes were produced in the UK, Chinese production and Primark were year’s away. They were expensive but M&S had signs up saying “99% of our products are made in the UK” and were good quality and well made.

Clothes could also been still been on ration. Make do and mend many clothes were hand me downs.

[VictorGolf]

Interesting one. Originally registered to BOAC, G-AHYH was transferred to Lancashire Aircraft Corporation on 29/9,48 and did 313 sorties on the Berlin Airlift. It was permanently WFU on 1/11/49 which is presumably when it ended up at Newcastle.

[Buster11]

Given that it has a pannier does that not make it a Halton?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well it was registered as a Halifax 8 even when BOAC were operating it as a Halton.

[DaveReidUK]

Given that it has a pannier does that not make it a Halton?

Round windows = Halifax (see above photos)

Rectangular windows = Halton:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x600/hp_halton_f3df8afa13fcf5ea186e9de322087ecf5786d233.jpg

[fauteuil volant]

More interesting, what happened to it after its sojourn at Woolsington?

[TEEEJ]

More interesting, what happened to it after its sojourn at Woolsington?

From search on web.

Handley Page HP70 Halifax C.Mk.8: - G-AHYH - (1334) PP261, registered 24.09.1946 to BOAC to RAF 10.47 as PP261 rest. 9.48 to Lancashire Aircraft Corporation Ltd. Bovingdon as 'Air Merchant II' C. of A. 29.10.1948; scrapped at Woolsington 28.10.1949.

[fauteuil volant]

A brief sojourn, seemingly, before the scrappie set to work.

[Shackman]

What do you mean 'before the scrappie set to work'. Those are the scrappies at work - have you ever seen a gang of kids allowed free range to play on an aircraft; it probably wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of days (although kids those days could more likely to have got it airborne in the same time scale).

[megan]

Clothes could also been still been on rationThey were at the time in Oz. Mum purchased the material and sewed the identical "uniform" as shown in the photos. Our multi engine time as lads was gained in a scrap yard Anson, much bombing practise had loading the wing root bomb bays with scrap.

[fauteuil volant]

What do you mean 'before the scrappie set to work'. Those are the scrappies at work - have you ever seen a gang of kids allowed free range to play on an aircraft; it probably wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of days (although kids those days could more likely to have got it airborne in the same time scale).

..... and today those kids would have all the parts removed on e-bay before the day is out - listed as being genuine relics from Douglas Bader's D-Day Lancaster!

[highwideandugly]

Credit to Air North....Aircraft overran the runway on departure.Stopped with wing over road and became a bit of a tourist attraction as was there for some days until removed.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

How interesting - good detective work - thank you.

[David Thompson]

Credit to Air North....Aircraft overran the runway on departure.Stopped with wing over road and became a bit of a tourist attraction as was there for some days until removed.
Air North : The North-East Branch of Air Britain (Historians) , from their April 2002 magazine ;
G-AHYH/PP261 infamous Handley Page Halifax arrived Newcastle 28/10/1949 and was noted parked outside the Aero Club the following day as the C of A had just expired. All parts were 'over time’ and the wing spar was cracked.

By 05/11/1949 it was parked by Ponteland Road (the eastern boundary of the airfield/airport, roughly at a point where the new (2002) cargo road now joins Ponteland Road.

Eventually the aircraft was scrapped at Newcastle and left by road.