RAF Cosford

Today we visited the RAF Cosford Air Museum to look at the new exhibits.  The ones that interested me were these.

This is a Vickers Wellington bomber MF628 which as built at the end of the war and server with 1 Air Navigation Training School until 1953.  This is one of only 2 surviving aircraft.  Other remains of wellingtons are seen in some other museums as fragments and structural components.

The interior of this aircraft was very basic and the very strong geodetic frame can be seen in this internal picture.  These aircraft were built quickly and were designed for function above comfort.

 

Another rare and worthy surprise is this Bristol Blenheim IV, which was originally a Fairchild Bolingbroke bomber built under licence in Canada during the war and operated in Manitoba before being sold at the end of its service life to a private buyer in 1946.  The aircraft was purchased by the RAF Museum for $200 in 1966 and was marked for a rebuild into a Blenheim IV.  The restoration is now complete.

In  number 1 hangar is a Spitfire PRXIX.  This aircraft was built in 1945 as a photographic reconnaissance aircraft.  Over the years it has been moved around and stripped for parts to keep other Spitfires flying.  I saw this aircraft when it was in storage at RAF St Athan.  It has since been restored at RAF Cosford Museum and placed on display.

Another fun display item is this DC3 Dakota cabin.  It is a good illustration of how spartan these early wartime aircraft were.

The ME109 "Black 6" is now at Cosford.  I saw this aircraft when it was at Hendon.  Sat in the pilots seat and could not close the canopy.  I was too tall to fit!  The armoured glass on the canopy is extremely heavy and not easy to open from inside.