Spitfire in the 1957 film High Flight

Hello,

First post.

If this post is more relevant to another section, moderators please transfer.

The Spitfire used in the film High Flight has defied identification for over 30 years.

The recent release of the film in colour has assisted in narrowing it down to about three Mk 22/24 aircraft.

From these two attached film stills may I ask please if any of your learned gentleman can identify the type of hangar here from the window pattern and position, together the roof trusses?

Knowledge that this hangar could or could not be be Cranwell, North Weald or Waterbeach will further narrow the identity possibilities.

Many thanks

PeterA

Hello,

First post.

If this post is more relevant to another section, moderators please transfer.

The Spitfire used in the film High Flight has defied identification for over 30 years.

The recent release of the film in colour has assisted in narrowing it down to about three Mk 22/24 aircraft.

From these two attached film stills may I ask please if any of your learned gentleman can identify the type of hangar here from the window pattern and position, together the roof trusses?

Knowledge that this hangar could or could not be be Cranwell, North Weald or Waterbeach will further narrow the identity possibilities.

Many thanks

PeterA

Wiki states:

Photography was originally scheduled around No. 111 Squadron RAF, nicknamed "Treble One" or "Tremblers", stationed at RAF Wattisham. The squadron was in the process of, or had been recently selected as the Royal Air Force Fighter Command Aerobatics Display Team, which became known as the Black Arrows.[7] Film of the team at the 1956 Farnborough Airshow was featured.[8] When inclement weather interrupted filming at their home base, the production moved to RAF Leuchars in Fife. Scotland, home base of No. 43 Squadron RAF. RAF Station Leuchars later stood in for RAF Station Wunsdorf in West Germany. Principal photography which began on 10 April 1957, also took place at RAF Station Cranwell, Lincolnshire, utilising not only the facility but also film of the graduating ceremony of an actual training course, as well as RAF Chivenor, Devon, United Kingdom.

Not sure what type of hangars, maybe the admiralty ones at Cranwell?

Carnaby;162335 wrote:

Wiki states:

Yes, I had read that.

A poster on 'Flypast' has pointed out that the nose wheel on the Vampire is positioned 180 degrees out suggesting it is not fully fitted and is under maintenance. Note code '12' on the nose wheel door.

..another Flypsast poster that:-

Looking at the Vampire which is coded '12' and is in camouflage. At the RAF Valley BofB display held on 14th September 1957 listed in the flying display were the following RAFC Cranwell Vampire including one code '12'

Vampires: WG837/10, WA369/32, WR194/25, WX215/12 all RAF College, Cranwell. WX215 is a single seat FB9


So looks like the Vampire was a Cranwell resident and maybe the nose wheel will fully castor..but not the position for a museum display.

PeterA

In the film a Provost can be seen in one scene then soon after what I thought was the Vampire however further investigation points to these:

Looking at Wrecks and Relics for 1961 for Cranwell

Venom FB1 WE267/7190M and Provost WG503/7159M were both noticed outside the College workshops in February 1961, (these would seem to fit better than my other suggestions of previous Vampire and Provost).

A Meteor is also visible in the background darkness of the hangar with the Venom/Spitfire could this be EE549 also listed moving to Cranwell Station Museum 10/6/52 at this time before removal to Fulbeck in 6/58.

Also posted this on 'Flypast'

So looks like the Vampire was a Cranwell resident and maybe the nose wheel will fully castor..but not the position for a museum display.

Sfunny you should mention the noseleg Peter - at Biggin Hill 79 we had to push our Hawk T1 backwards a few yards for runway clearance - we did not have a towbar and were surprised when the nosewheel/fork eventually swivelled 180 degrees and ended up a la vampire - this did not seem to harm the u/c leg and we straightened it up - the leg appeared undamaged and we flew back to Brawdy (me backseat) on the monday : )

rgds baz

The Hawk T1 has no nosewheel steering,steering via differential brakes - so the leg will fully castor until weight comes off the leg and as the oleo nears full extension the wheel is straightened up to neutral by the centering cam,although this may not work if the wheel is 180 out LOL !

bvs;162439 wrote:

Sfunny you should mention the noseleg Peter - at Biggin Hill 79 we had to push our Hawk T1 backwards a few yards for runway clearance - we did not have a towbar and were surprised when the nosewheel/fork eventually swivelled 180 degrees and ended up a la vampire - this did not seem to harm the u/c leg and we straightened it up - the leg appeared undamaged and we flew back to Brawdy (me backseat) on the monday : )

rgds baz

The Hawk T1 has no nosewheel steering,steering via differential brakes - so the leg will fully castor until weight comes off the leg and as the oleo nears full extension the wheel is straightened up to neutral by the centering cam,although this may not work if the wheel is 180 out LOL !

Baz ,

I am advised today that the Vampire nose wheel will fully caster 180 degrees. The suggestion is that this Vampire has just been pushed backwards in to position for this fake 'Cranwell' museum.

PeterA

Here is an extract from a pic taken at Cranwell in 1937 which shows the building in which the High Flight pic was taken:

[IMG]/community/162481=23544-Cranwell 1937 AiX.jpg[/img]

The pic is a Supermarine Southampton which was being used for training in aircraft skin repairs. The building does not match the window pattern of an Admiralty hangar and it appears to be at least two bays. From the High Flight the 5 x 3 pane sashes seem to be able to be opened. Indeed, in the pic above the third sash from the left seems to be partially open. Could this be the exact position where the Spit was located?

The only thing I'm not yet sure of is the exact building depicted in the pics. I don't have any immediate access to aerial imagery of Cranwell for the wartime or later to plot where it might be. Anyone got a link to an on-line aerial view?

Regards

Bill

Very many thanks Bill.

Another piece in the jig-saw.

PeterA