What's your best piece of aviation memorabilia

[F111Fan]

I have a Vampire T.11 servicing record book given to me by a kind gentleman at one point, and an instrument from an aircraft. I'm fairly well up on instrument knowledge but this particular type I have never seen before. I'll get a pic up if I can....

Edited March 14, 2012 by F111Fan

[Julien]

Print wise I have,

Gulf War 1 Tornado Print, signed by John Peters.

Russian Su-27 Aerobatic team signed by one of the pilots.

Chico The Gunfighter F-4E signed by Col Pewitt and the artist.

Robert Taylor RN Phantom launch signed by Artist and Read Admiral Anson.

Blue Angels Print signed by all Pilots.

Blue Angels fat albert signed by the crew.

Also got a lot of stamp/first day covers stuff flown in aircraft. One of the best is a flown signed Red arrows cover from 1975 signed by all the team. Also aROC Thunder Tigers first day cover from 1960.

Julien

[Paul A H]

All I've got aviation-wise is a couple of titanium fasteners from the TSR.2 production. The RAF museum at Hendon were selling them from a great big bucket a few years ago at 50p a pop, so they're hardly rare

I've also got a 30mm round from a Rarden Cannon (the shell itself is a steel dummy - didn't fancy having depleted uranium in the house...) and a .50 cal AP round. I wouldn't mind picking up a few more aviation related curiosities at some point though.

[Scratcher]

A nicely polished Spey compressor blade, a panel from a Sea Hawk with the cannon barrel ports, and a few Whitley fragments. There much more I could have 'liberated' from Williamsons scrapyard at Brumlay Brae near Elgin. I even bought a Bristol Centaurus there, but it went missing before I could arrange to collect it.

A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, has a control column he cut off of a Sea Venom at RNAS Lossiemouth when he was a kid. Unknown to him, the Sea Venom was due to be flown to a museum. It went by road....

[Paul J]

As promised, the first of my pics of my real aircraft memorabilia. To kick off:

Hunter Pilots notes and its wallet. Plus a card of a spectacular display team The Slivers!

A fold out paage showing cockpit. Unfortunately as can be seen its partly torn out.

Throughout is the comment 'N/A' written across most of its pages probably signifying 'Not Applicable' perhaps. But nevertheless handy if I want to 'borrow' a Hunter!

Pics of the Spey engine and Olympus turbine blades to come as too the Spitfire tailwheel! I note from people here having signatures too. I have quite a few on prints and in books. Names like: 'Gabby' Gabreski 56thFG, Bob Morgan pilot of Memphis Belle a print signed by him, Jim Goodson 4th FG,

Duxford airshow programme with Johnnie Johnson signature. Other signed items by Frank Klibbe 56th FG, 'Lanny' Lanowski 56thFG, Stan Skalski and several other notable Polish pilots, Liberator at War book with veteran B-24 pilot Russ Journigan(up for sale if anyone is interested!?), a number of RAF aircrew, Both the Hannas Ray and Mark very sorely missed at our warbird shows and more.....

Edited March 21, 2012 by Paul J

[ExRAF]

Secondly a print the "Dover Tour" signed by Chris "duster" Chapman and Claire "riddler" Trudby of the 492nd Fighter Squadron Lakenheath

Edited March 27, 2012 by ExRAF

[Paul J]

Part 3 of my collection of real plane parts.

Various views of Spitfire tailwheel. I wonder if its possible to find out which aircraft it belonged by the serials stamped on the hub??

Turbine blades from a Spey fitted to a Phantom. I was told by the ex-liney who gave me these that it should be possible to ID the aircraft andt the engine these blades were fitted to from these numbers!

Two views of a hefty manual for the F-86 dated Nov. 1954!! I was One and half years old!

And finally a few images and sample pages of the Sabre Manual. I have taken some others and will post up if anyone is interested.

I have still to find the blade from the Olympus fitted to Black Buck Vulcan XM597 but will find them and put up pics when I do. Meantime enjoy the above.

Edited March 19, 2012 by Paul J

[Ivor Ramsden]

Running an aviation and military museum means that I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by aviation treasures from the past 100 years. In my own personal collection the best item is a two-bladed wooden prop from a DH4.

The museum has thousands of items in its collection. Some are run-of-the-mill, others are special and I suppose I'm spoilt for choice. I might add a few of them later but to me the museum's most significant avation-related objects are simple bits of paper. They are two letters, written by a mother to the shepherd who comforted her son as he lay dying after his Anson crashed on one of the hills in the north of the Isle of Man in June 1944. They never fail to make me cry.

[ferny]

I have 27mm cannon shell complete with prac round (and FFE cert!), cracking photo of all four MPA Tornados over the Falklands.

Lots of stuff Late grand father including his "Operation Tiger" information booklet.(he was RAF MT)

Does a speeding ticket form a USAF copper count? Oh and a scar on my hand Sicard runway sweeper!

Edited March 19, 2012 by ferny

[lampie]

Some very nice collections.

I have a patch given to me at Lossiemouth in 1986, Its American from the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.

I was told it was off Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski flight suit. I have no way of proving this, Or do i even know if Gabreski flew in this squadron.

The person who gave me the patch has sadly long passed away, He served in Korea though.

Maybe someone could shed some light on the matter, Or let me know of other famous pilots with this squadron.

I will post a picture of the patch when im back home.

Link here to squadron and patch emblem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/67th_Network_Warfare_Wing

Any help or information would be great.

regards

Terry

Hi Terry.

Gabreski flew with the 4th Fighter Wing and later the 51st Fighter Wing in Korea.

The 4th were based at Kimpo when he arrived in May 1951, as were the 67th Tactical Recon Wing.

There is a photo of Gabreski talking with Col Chickering, the 67th C/O in his book. ( P-132) They were both from Oil City.

He transferred to the 51st in November 1951, and returned home in June 1952.

( information from Gabreski's book)

As regards other famous WW2 pilots serving there,

J.C.Meyer commanded the 4th during it's initial months of combat in Korea, and when Gabreski arrived the group C/O was Glenn Eagleston.

Bud Mahurin served in the 51st for a while before transfering to the 4th and being shot down.

There were plenty more but these are the ones that jumped out at me when flicking through Gabreski's book.

Nige

http://56thfightergroup.co.uk/

[Derbyeomanry]

Heres my bit of what may be from a Vulcan. Safety pin of some sort. Serviceability label from Waddington dated 5/3/82

[Paul J]

Just remembered. A couple of books with signature by avaition digniatries. Test Pilot signed by Neville Duke and Eric'Winkle'Brown, 'A Farnborough Commentary' by Raymond Baxter and signed by him, SAM Mosquito Datafile by Richard Franks(I know not really an aviation famous person but slipped this one in!).

[AndyL]

Lap belt liberated from a BoB Ju88

Navigators lamp liberated from a KG55 He111

[Smiffy]

Among my most prized possesions are a few parts from a Lancaster that my Grandfather bailed out of in 1944.

[Roland Pulfrew]

The registration number of XV260

Fortunately the other half doesn't know about it and I am not sure what she will think/say when she finds out!!

Edited April 5, 2012 by Roland Pulfrew

[Bristolhibby]

I've got a bit of a Scud middle from the Gulf War.

My Dads mate was in Saudi and picked up a bit from a strike.

J

[Drem]

Does The Merlin 45 from Spitfire AR403 count?

Then I would have to say its that.

[Hutch]

Does The Merlin 45 from Spitfire AR403 count?

Then I would have to say its that.

Hutch

[chuckb1]

Uncle's battledress with AG wings on it and medal ribbons flight sergeants stripes, also his Officers Cap, Tunic and Number one trousers after he was commissioned. Oh and his late war flying helmet with goggles. All our family memorobilia has been left to me as I was the only serving member of the clan. Dad had five brothers, all including him served in World War 2 in all service arms. Grandads stuff is in a trunk in the loft also He was a Bootneck RMA. (Blue Marine)

[Catbird]

TACAN aerial from a Lightning F6.