18 FLYPAST January 2018
briefi ngs
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Douglas C-47A Skytrain 42-92139 (CF-
TES) is being restored to static display
condition in Winnipeg, Canada.
The aircraft, used post-war as anairliner by Trans-Canada Airways, had
been in storage with the RCAF’s 17 Wing
for many years. The unit’s heritage
offi cer Capt Gordon Crossley undertook
some research into the machine’s history
and discovered it had been used by the
Polish Air Force during World War Two
to transport exiled Polish government
offi cials.
The Skytrain had been earmarked forscrapping, and although the wings have
already been removed from the fuselage,
it will now be saved. Its provenance was
brought to the attention of Poland’s
present government which is keen to
have it returned to Europe after it has
been restored.Volunteers are currently painting the
nose section and applying roundels in
time for a ceremony at the base in the
presence of Polish offi cials early next
year. The aircraft now carries the name
Spirit of Ostra Brama. WITH THANKS TO
PAUL COLLINSPolish Skytrain is saved in Canada
The fuselage of Douglas C-47A Skytrain 42-
92139 ‘Spirit of Ostra Brama’ in Winnipeg.
COURTESY PAUL COLLINS
DHC-1 Chipmunk WB549 (G-BAPB), the
fi rst Chipmunk built in the UK, will
return to the skies next spring.
Displayed at the 1949 FarnboroughAir Show in the hands of de Havilland
test pilot Pat Fillingham, ’549’s use
as a trials aircraft was followed by
a long period with the Empire Test
Pilots’ School at Farnborough before
joining the civil register in 1973.
Now owned by Roger Brookhouse,
it has been extensively rebuilt
by Touchdown Engineering at Old
Buckenham, Norfolk.
The aircraft will be operatedby Bicester-based Finest Hour
Experiences and will be available
to the public for air experience
fl ights. “Placing her with Finest Hour
provides the perfect future for this
historic machine,” said Roger. “Its
pilots are of the highest calibre and
its ground crew display a passion for
both their aeroplanes and customer
care. WB549 will be in the best
possible hands.”
Chris Thompson, Finest Hour’s
chief pilot, adds: “We’re delighted
to be taking custody of this special
aeroplane and look forward to
offering the opportunity for many
former air cadets [among others] to
re-live their fi rst aviation experience
in the Chipmunk. We’re growing
a fl eet of unique and historically
signifi cant aeroplanes, all of whichwill be operated from the wonderful
setting that is Bicester Heritage.”http://www.fi nesthourexperiences.co.uk
WITH THANKS TO CHRIS THOMPSONHistoric Chipmunk to fl y again next year
DHC Chipmunk WB549 will fl y from Bicester next year. COURTESY CHRIS THOMPSONNew light has been shed on the history of
Short Sunderland T9044 after relatives of
former 210 Squadron air gunner Henry ‘Jack’
Hillyer visited the Pembroke Dock Heritage
Centre where parts of the fl ying boat are
preserved. Jack’s logbook lists several ‘ops’
not previously recorded. The aircraft sank in
a gale on November 12, 1940. VIA JOHN EVANSThe graves of pilot Lt Leonard Cameron Kidd MC and observer 2nd Lt Fenton Ellis Stanley
Phillips MC were rededicated with full military honours in a service on October 12 at the
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in France. Both graves had previously been marked as ‘A
British Airman of the Great War’. The airmen were killed on October 12, 1916, exactly
101 years previously, while fl ying from La Houssoye in a 3 Squadron RFC Morane Parasol
reconnaissance aircraft. For a century their whereabouts remained unconfi rmed, but
research by Lt Cdr Steve St Amant, a retired Royal Canadian Navy offi cer, has revealed
that the two plots at the cemetery do indeed belong to Lt Kidd and 2nd Lt Phillips. RAF