Vickers Vildebeest.
 

I have recently been shown a photo of a slightly 'bent' Vildebeest.

The photo was taken in the Malaya/Singapore area either late 30s or very early 40s. It shows the aircraft having come down in what could be a rubber plantation with damage to the right mainplanes. There is a recovery crew at work on the aircraft. Unfortunately, there are no serial/identification markings visible in the photo.

The one thing which is confusing me, as well as the person that emailed the photo, is the fact the aircraft is fitted with a three-bladed propeller which very closely resembles the type of prop fitted to the Fairey Swordfish. The aircraft in the photo does not appear to be a Mk IV version which had the Perseus engine and three-bladed prop, but is more likely a Mk III. AFAIK, all the aircraft operated by the two Vildebeest squadrons (36 & 100) in the area at that time only had two-bladed props fitted.

Is anyone aware of any trials which involved the fitting of a three-bladed propeller to Vildebeest aircraft in the Far East? Have done a pretty thorough search on the Net but not turned anything up.

Would be grateful for any assistance.

laurieb,

I can't help you but I just wanted to say that your question is one of the things I love about PPRuNe. Someone asking an arcane question about an 80 year-old aircraft with every expectation that someone will be able to answer it.

I'm on the same wavelength as someone who used to be able to state the significant differences between every mark of Spitfire and all the diffent versions of the Avro 504. :ok:

Someone on here:

Britmodeller.com



may be able to assist.

Possibly 101 Squadron?

100 Squadron Association - Royal Air Force

I F T,

Since I first connected to this wonderful world-wide-web some 12 years ago, I never cease to be amazed at the level of knowledge/expertise there is out there in deepest cyberspace. Particularly on forums such as this. Truly amazing.

This request was simply a shot in the dark but, hopefully, something might materialise.

CB 09, HH,

Many thanks. I'll follow-up on those links.

Have a read of this - might be a bit of a clue:
German bomber parts for sale in NZ [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

RNZAF Vickers VILDERBEEST 1930s Aircraft PROPELLER | Trade Me

L T,

Thanks for that steer.:ok:

Just been given the go-ahead to add the photo.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8...7a5c72ab_c.jpg
Vildebeest down01 by Janner88, on Flickr

Interesting - but the description of the prop on the RNZAF...

So it doesn't sound like the prop on your photo - maybe a local modification - didn't the Gloster Gladiators at Malta modify their props to improve the performance...?

according to Masons "The British Bomber" the Mk II served with 100 Sq at Seletar from December 1933

it was replaced by the Mk III, introduced in 1935 and these only served in the Far East with 100 Sq and with 36 Sq at Seletar - 10 survivors of the war in Malaya were withdrawn to Java in 1942

no data on what sort of prop the Mk II and III had but the Mk IV (only 18 built) had a cowled engine and only served in the UK

pity we can't see th e cockpit area - the Mk II carried two crew, the III 3 crew

looking at the gubbins between the wheels under the fuselage it looks as if this was a bomb equipped plane and therefore more probably 100 Sq. - the torpedo installation was very clean under the fuselage

Photo of Vildebeest Mark ll

photos as Seletar

Collections listing for "part of "MAGER ROY"" | Imperial War Museums shows 100Sq Mk III's with spats

Vildebeests in Singapore and Ceylon

torpedo dropping!!!

some were apparently in Ceylon with 273 Sq when the Japanese attacked - see link above

The one thing that strikes me about this superb old photo is what a bloody good job the pilot did in landing his kite - it looks as though he pancacked it in!

L T,

As you point out, the description in that quote does not bear any resemblance to the prop on the aircraft above. I don't have any info on Gladiator props so can't answer that question. The prop fitted to the aircraft above looks very similar indeed to that fitted to the Fairey Swordfish which, I believe, was of all-metal construction.

H H,

I have enlarged the photo sent to me as much as I dare, up to around 400%. It looks as though there is another cockpit behind the pilot's. There seems to be a coaming pad in that area. If it were a two-seater, I would not expect to see that. I think it is a Mk III but cannot be absolutely certain.

O Ops,

I thought the same.

With the exception of the area immediately in front of the aircraft, there seem to be trees all around the frame yet the only real, visible, damage seems to be to the outer parts of the mainplanes on the right-hand side. Amazing!

Many thanks for all the pointers so far.

For the three bladed Gladiator props - apparently one ('Faith') or several Malta Gladiators were fitted with Blenheim engines and thus the Hamilton three blade prop. Which again doesn't look anything like the Swordfish type prop in your picture. I'm erring towards the prop must have been a local modification or a trial.

L T,

Both the chap who emailed the photo to me and I think it could have been some form of trial fit. Swordfish were in service with 4 AACU from around 1939 onwards I believe. That unit also operated Vildebeests.

Taking that a stage further, and referring back to Heathrow Harry's earlier comment (Post #10) about the "gubbins between the wheels", I am now wondering if that "gubbins" could be some form of winching aparatus for a towed target.

Further to my target towing comment above, I have been looking at the area of the photo behind the local labourer wearing a turban.

There appears to be a piece of equipment jutting horizontally out of the area where the Lewis gun would normally be. There also seems to be a fan-like object mounted on that.

Or, am I seeing things?:confused:

Could it be one of these?

http://spitfirespares.co.uk/Website%...ng%20Winch.jpg

It certainly looks to be the same contraption to me.

21-Oct-34 Vilderbeest K2931 of 100Sqn crashed in Malayan jungle.

See the following newspaper report for recovery story


Newspaper Article - R.A.F. PARTY'S TWELVE-MILE JUNGLE TREK TO FIND WRECKED BOMBER

Thanks Paul. Quite a trek there.

Paul has also come up trumps with this link:

Newspaper Article - R.A.F. PLANE DOWN ON RUBBER ESTATE

Let's face it - bleedin' amazing what PPRUNE can achieve innit...now we just need to know why they tried the three blade prop...