ex Battle of Britain Film Casa 2.111 returns to Duxford

[duxman]

Duxford Thursday 22nd January

Arriving today at Duxford ( albeit by road ) was an aircraft not seen at Duxford since the summer of 1968. Casa 2.111 previously registered G-AWHB was a veteran used in the filming of the Battle of Britain movie. The length of its stay is currently unknown as is its future destination.

G-AWHB by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWHB by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWHB by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Duxman

More on Flikr at -- https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

[MarkL]

Thanks for the heads up on this. The only time I saw it was when it was jammed in a hangar at North Weald so will be good to get a proper look at it. I assume NW is where it's come from ?

Mark

[duxman]

Thanks for the heads up on this. The only time I saw it was when it was jammed in a hangar at North Weald so will be good to get a proper look at it. I assume NW is where it's come from ?

Mark

I believe it has been in storage up in Norfolk since it left North Weald some 10 years ago

Duxman

[duxman]

Following its arrival back at Duxford today perhaps its appropriate to briefly record its known history to me since 1968.

Previously in use by the Spanish Airforce as DB.21-37 it arrived at Duxford in the early summer of 1968 along with sistership registered as G-AWHA.

It was notoriously difficult to identify which aircraft was which during the filming so below are a few images taken during 1968 at Duxford thought to be or include G-AWHB

G-AWHB DX Aug 68 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWHB DX Summer 68 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWH. 17th Sept 68 by https://www.flickr.com/people/64209520@N05/, on Flickr

Heinkels DX Aug 68 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

After featuring in the film and a period of storage it formed part of the Historic Aircraft Museum Collection at Southend from 1972 for some years. Seen below in 1973

G-AWHB Southend HAM 1973. by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWHB Southend HAM 1973 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

With the closure of the museum it was briefly displayed in Paul Raymonds London War Museum before eventually being acquired by Aces High at North Weald early 1988 as seen below.

G-AWHB N. Weald April 88 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

… and again in 1990

G-AWHB N.Weald May 90 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

By 1992 it was noted outside at North Weald devoid of its paintwork

G-AWHB N. Weald April 1992 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

In November 1994 it was on its wheels again

G-AWHB North Weald Nov. 94 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

.. and finally in 2002 painted for presumably part of a film set

G-AWHB N. Weald Sept 2002 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-AWHB N. Weald Sept 2002. by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

It was subsequently sold and left North Weald for storage somewhere in East Anglia for its new owner ( until now !)

Duxman

Flikr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

[Wes_Howes]

Is it too much to hope that she returns to the air? I'd love to see one flying, yes I know it's not a real He-111 but just like the Buchons, it would be far better than nothing at all.

[timuss]

Would love to see that flying how cool would that be

[capercaillie]

Would love to see that flying how cool would that be

Looking at the state of it, terrifying

Its rubbish anyway, not a real Heinkel

I'm guessing its being put back together for some BoB anniversary events this year.

[Arthur Tee]

Having not been fortunate enough to see one fly - I presume it sounds like a Mosquito?

Arthur

[neilos]

Going by the state of the one they've got/had ( is it still at DX), ?.... lost track....

Then, this airframe has no chance.......

[Pen Pusher]

It's sitting outside ARCo. What makes anybody think it's got anything to do with the museum?.

Brian

[TomG]

It's sitting outside ARCo. What makes anybody think it's got anything to do with the museum?.

Brian

I may be missing something but where has anyone said that it has?

Nice to see an airframe surfacing following time out of the public eye.

[FarnboroJohn]

Having not been fortunate enough to see one fly - I presume it sounds like a Mosquito?

Arthur

Something to do with speed, or lack of: it sounds more like half a Lancaster.

John

[MarkL]

It's sitting outside ARCo. What makes anybody think it's got anything to do with the museum?.

Brian

I may be missing something but where has anyone said that it has?

Nice to see an airframe surfacing following time out of the public eye.

You have to remember Brian is a Duxford expert. He may expect that, as aviation enthusiasts, we recognise it's outside ARCo's buildings (a private company that reside in the out-of-bounds buildings on the eastern end of the airfield) and likely therefore to be nothing to do with The Imperial War Museum. On the other hand, if you didn't know that, that's where it is and unlikely to be anything to do with the museum.

[MarkL]

Thanks for the heads up on this. The only time I saw it was when it was jammed in a hangar at North Weald so will be good to get a proper look at it. I assume NW is where it's come from ?

Mark

I believe it has been in storage up in Norfolk since it left North Weald some 10 years ago

Duxman

Thanks for the potted history of this 'frame Duxman, very interesting,

[Pen Pusher]

Doubt it will be at Duxford long as GINFO has it as in 2001...

'De-registered Transferred to another country or authority
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.'

I should imagine that a couple of rather large shipping containers will rock up at ARCo in the next couple of weeks.

Brian

[Arthur Tee]

Having not been fortunate enough to see one fly - I presume it sounds like a Mosquito?

Arthur

Something to do with speed, or lack of: it sounds more like half a Lancaster.

John

I like it!

[Irishaernut]

Having not been fortunate enough to see one fly - I presume it sounds like a Mosquito?

Arthur

Something to do with speed, or lack of: it sounds more like half a Lancaster.

John

You mean a Manchester?

[AndyXH558]

Nope the Manchester had Vulture Engines..

[LAHarve]

Dud an, out of interest were your shots taken during the Battle of Britain filming taken during an airshow/open day or did you have access during filming?

[duxman]

Dud an, out of interest were your shots taken during the Battle of Britain filming taken during an airshow/open day or did you have access during filming?

Taxying and Flying shots of the Casas during the filming at DX in 1968

[warferry]

Thanks for your potted history of the Casa Tony ,up to your usual standard. Brought back the memories of the 'Bushe invasion.Having been lucky enough to be able to get to same many times around that time. Better still was my sighting of Neil Williams doing a mock attack on Potrsmouth dockyard in one on its delivery flight. I was working in a upstairs drawing office with a handy fire excape and on hearing a different aircraft sound dashed on to it . If only I had the camera gear I use now! Maybe it was this one. cheers TerryFile0002 by warferry, on Flickr

[Irishaernut]

Nope the Manchester had Vulture Engines..

Dann it I thought I knew something

[duxman]

[quote="warferry"]Thanks for your potted history of the Casa Tony ,up to your usual standard. Brought back the memories of the 'Bushe invasion.Having been lucky enough to be able to get to same many times around that time. Better still was my sighting of Neil Williams doing a mock attack on Potrsmouth dockyard in one on its delivery flight. I was working in a upstairs drawing office with a handy fire excape and on hearing a different aircraft sound dashed on to it . If only I had the camera gear I use now! Maybe it was this one. cheers Terry

A couple of further pictures of 'your' Casa G-BDYA when at Blackbushe in 1976/77. Sadly it later crashed in 2003 whilst with the CAF when operated as N72615.

G-BDYA Blackbushe Sept 76 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

G-BDYA Blackbushe circa Oct 77 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Duxman

Flikr== https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/