Ysterplatt Cape Town
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I was in the Erection Unit 1950 working on the Harvards.I have several photos at the airfield and in the area
I was just leaving the RAF in 1955.
Nice view from Table Mountain.
It really was called that.
I was just leaving the RAF in 1955.
Nice view from Table Mountain.
It really was called that.
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Gilman,
Welcome to the forum.
May I ask if you have any shots of the Spitfires or the Spitfire wrecks at Ysterplaat.
Quite a number of the Spitfire wrecks gravitated to the scrap yard of 'S A Metals' in Cape Town and have subsequently been recovered with half a dozen or more being the starting point for airworthy restorations. RAF serials - TA805, RR232, MH603, BR601, SM520, TD314 etc.
PeterA
Spitfire Survivors
Welcome to the forum.
May I ask if you have any shots of the Spitfires or the Spitfire wrecks at Ysterplaat.
Quite a number of the Spitfire wrecks gravitated to the scrap yard of 'S A Metals' in Cape Town and have subsequently been recovered with half a dozen or more being the starting point for airworthy restorations. RAF serials - TA805, RR232, MH603, BR601, SM520, TD314 etc.
PeterA
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This was taken at an open day at Ysterplaat, I would guess it was about 1976 or 1977. If anyone needs to know I can find the orignal photo and it may have the date on the back.
Last edited by Capetonian; 24th Jul 2011 at 12:55.
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Spitfires at Cape Town Scrap Yards
Sorry Mark but I never visited any scrap yards while I was at Ysterplatt.
We were very busy getting the planes out of the crates and into the air.
Any spare time I had was spent sailing in Cape Town harbour (by courtsey
of the SAAF who were fine friends) and sailing out to Roben Island for a snack in the cafe there before it became a prison.NO!! I never went into District 6. When I have found out how to post pictures I will do so
We were very busy getting the planes out of the crates and into the air.
Any spare time I had was spent sailing in Cape Town harbour (by courtsey
of the SAAF who were fine friends) and sailing out to Roben Island for a snack in the cafe there before it became a prison.NO!! I never went into District 6. When I have found out how to post pictures I will do so
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NO!! I never went into District 6.
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"Sorry Mark but I never visited any scrap yards while I was at Ysterplatt."
Gilman
It was the pile of scrap Spitfires that were clearly building up at Ysterplaat, prior to sale to the scrap yard, that is my interest.
Mark22/PeterA
Gilman
It was the pile of scrap Spitfires that were clearly building up at Ysterplaat, prior to sale to the scrap yard, that is my interest.
Mark22/PeterA
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Sending photos
Thank you so much henry. There is always someone to help you when you need it you are worth your weight in gold!! You may soon be getting some pictures now that I have read that article.
Last edited by gilman; 30th Jul 2011 at 11:10. Reason: Who is on the Stb wing? Yes it is gilman aged 22 !!
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Ready to go to Ternhill
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h355/wdorman/ysterplatt1246-2.jpgSorry, to THORNHILL. Ternhill would have been a BIT far for a Harvard!!
Last edited by gilman; 6th Aug 2011 at 18:41.
Harvards to 5 FTS (RAF Thornhill. S. Rhodesia)
As I mentioned in another thread:
And here's what they looked like when lined up at RAF Thornhill - 'F' Flight. 5 FTS. c.1951-53.
As I mentioned in another thread:
...From my notes recorded whilst at 5 FTS, Harvards for the Rhodesian Air Training Group were shipped from the UK to Cape Town in South Africa and assembled at the RAF Erection Unit located at the South African Air Force base at Ysterplaat near Cape Town.
After assembly they were flight tested and then flown up to Rhodesia by instructors sent down from R.A.F. Thornhill to collect them. Standard procedure was for the pilots to travel down in an R.A.F. Thornhill based 3 Aerial Navigation School (3 ANS) Anson to Ysterplaat. Collect the newly assembled Harvards and fly them up to S. Rhodesia accompanied by the Anson for navigational purposes. From my notes the Harvards and Anson flew via Beaufortwest, Bloemspruit, Pretoria (Zwartkop) and R.A.F. Heany (4 FTS) and then on to 5 FTS...
After assembly they were flight tested and then flown up to Rhodesia by instructors sent down from R.A.F. Thornhill to collect them. Standard procedure was for the pilots to travel down in an R.A.F. Thornhill based 3 Aerial Navigation School (3 ANS) Anson to Ysterplaat. Collect the newly assembled Harvards and fly them up to S. Rhodesia accompanied by the Anson for navigational purposes. From my notes the Harvards and Anson flew via Beaufortwest, Bloemspruit, Pretoria (Zwartkop) and R.A.F. Heany (4 FTS) and then on to 5 FTS...
And here's what they looked like when lined up at RAF Thornhill - 'F' Flight. 5 FTS. c.1951-53.
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Thornhill Harvards
Last edited by gilman; 8th Aug 2011 at 13:36. Reason: Description of scene
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http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...vards060-1.jpg
What a nice line up of Harvards. I prefere the plane aircraft without the numbers and letters. By the way how did F Flight become G Flight. We used to go up to Thornhill when I was at Heany for the inter-unit sports' I still remember the human chariot races.
What a nice line up of Harvards. I prefere the plane aircraft without the numbers and letters. By the way how did F Flight become G Flight. We used to go up to Thornhill when I was at Heany for the inter-unit sports' I still remember the human chariot races.
gilman
If you're referring to the letter G on the Harvard's fuselage, the G was the code for 5 FTS-based aircraft. G possibly because Gwelo was the nearest town (but why not T for Thornhill?). Heany based aircraft sported H as thier fuselage letter.
See below for Thornhill-based aircraft wearing letter G as their fuselage codes.
By the way how did F Flight become G Flight.
See below for Thornhill-based aircraft wearing letter G as their fuselage codes.
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Spitfires at Ysterplaat
Mark 22,
Will be pleased to see this shot of the Spitfire at SA Metals. I wonder how many Spits finished up here?
namrod.
Will be pleased to see this shot of the Spitfire at SA Metals. I wonder how many Spits finished up here?
namrod.
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Yes indeed.
It is BR601 and I photographed it there in 1981.
It was being restored to fly in NZ for a UK customer until recent times.
Ten Spitfires emerged from the SA Metals yard in Cape Town with identity provenance and all are listed in this directory. Spitfire Survivors
PeterA
It is BR601 and I photographed it there in 1981.
It was being restored to fly in NZ for a UK customer until recent times.
Ten Spitfires emerged from the SA Metals yard in Cape Town with identity provenance and all are listed in this directory. Spitfire Survivors
PeterA
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Spitfires in Cape Town
Mark 22
What a marvelous photo of the Spitfire at SA metals. I like the way you have set the scene with Table Mountain in the background. Classic.
What a marvelous photo of the Spitfire at SA metals. I like the way you have set the scene with Table Mountain in the background. Classic.