Meinen Informationen nach ist das ein restaurierter Absturz.
@TDL kann uns dazu vermutlich mehr sagen.
Danke, Torsten - ich weiß gar nicht, wie ich zu der Ehre komme...
Bei der L5343 handelt es sich um ein
wiederaufgebautes Wrack (mit Teilen von anderen Battles).
Air International 6/1990 schrieb dazu: "
A brief history of the aircraft, now restored in its old No. 98 Squadron markings, follows. Whilst on operational duties with No. 98 in Iceland, the aircraft made a forced landing on Friday 13 September 1940, following engine failure. Although only moderately damaged, the aircraft was considered to be beyond repair and the following spring a party was dispatched to recover spares and then destroy what was left in accordance with Air Ministry orders.
The destroying was accomplished with petrol and a Very pistol being fired into the cockpit, the ensuing fire completely destroying the central fuselage. The Battle remained in this condition until a team led by Flt Lt (now Sqn Ldr E. Mannings managed, with very basic equipment, to recover what was left of L5343 and return it to RAF Leeming in 1973. Whilst at Leeming, limited restoration was attempted, but progress was extremely slow, partly because of the lack of the centre fuselage, and the work wound down.
Thankfully, a centre fuselage section was then obtained from Canada, via the Strathallan Collection, and the aircraft was moved to RAF St. Athan in 1983 so that restoration could be resumed. The remains of Fairey Battle P2183 were also included in the rebuild, but whether the aforementioned centre section came from this aircraft is not known.
Restoration involved the local Community Task Force and Service personnel established in the Historic Aircraft Museum at St. Athan. Three of these individuals were singled out for their dedication and perseverance with the project before the "roll-out", Jim Henderson received a restored rudder bar from a Fairey Battle, mounted on a hardwood base, Dave Russell received an Aldis lamp, again mounted on a hardwood base, "Sid" Siddle was presented with a large montage photograph of the Battle in various stages of restoration."
Und noch etwas präziser (
Flypast 2/1995): "
However, in May 1989 Ragnar Ragnarsson sent a message to say that he had found the original propeller of L5343 which we all thought had been melted down. It was flown back to the UK, rather bent and battered but certainly recoverable. When the aircraft was finally finished it consisted of roughly 40 % L5343 from Iceland, 30 % of the Canadian aircraft (believed to be L5340), 25 % new structure and 5 % donated components. It has retained the serial number L5443 as the major identifiable parts are from that aircraft."
Anfang 2006 wurde die Battle übrigens von der Medway Aircraft Preservation Society
nochmals gründlich überarbeitet - nachdem man deutliche Korrosion in der Zelle entdeckt hatte.
@JohnSilver : Reicht dir das, Robert?
Gruß
Thomas