Supermarine Walrus

[Julien]

Supermarine Walrus L2301 at the FAA Museum, pics thanks to Merlin101.

This is a composite aircraft, using the fuselage and engine of Walrus L2301. It was built in 1939, for the Irish Air Corps, who flew it during World War 2 carrying the Irish designation N.18. During its delivery flight, on 3 March 1939, it suffered engine failure and later hull damage from ditching in the high seas. The aircraft was towed to the former launch strip at the US Naval Air Station, Ireland. On 9 January 1942 it was stolen by four Irish nationals who intended to fly to France to join the Luftwaffe. However, they were intercepted by RAF Spitfires and escorted to RAF St Eval; the aircraft and its occupants being returned to Ireland. After the war, it was transferred to Aer Lingus and given the Irish civil registration EI-ACC. However, the Irish airline never flew it and instead sold it to Wing Commander Ronald Gustave Kellett in 1946 for £150 It was given the British civilian registration G-AIZG and flown until 1949 by members of No. 615 Squadron RAF for recreation.[38] In 1963, it was recovered from a dump at Haddenham airfield (formerly RAF Thame)[40] by members of the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society. They presented it to the Fleet Air Arm Museum who restored it between 1964 and 1966, it has been an exhibit at the Fleet Air Museum since then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Julien]

Additional pics Mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Julien]

Seagull V A2-4. One of an original Australian order, built in 1934, it arrived in Australia in early 1936 where it was allocated to No. 101 Flight RAAF. Before the war, it had various duties, which included survey work, and flying from HMAS Sydney. It served for most of the war with No. 9 Squadron RAAF. In 1946, it was sold to civilian owners and allocated the civil registration VH–ALB. During the 1950s/60s, it was flown by several private owners before being badly damaged in an accident in 1970. The vandalised, derelict wreck was subsequently acquired from its owner by the RAF Museum, it was resorted and has been on display since 1979. Pics mine.