Aircraft restoration at IWM Duxford

One of my true passions is obviously aviation, but not just those amazing aircraft that take to the air or can be seen immaculately restored (or not so as the case may be) in museums around the world. I also am fascinated by the process that gets historic aircraft that have seen better days back into the air or on display in the museums for us all to enjoy. One great place to see a very diverse collection of such aircraft is in the UK at the Conservation in Action section of the Imperial War Museum Duxford  (their aircraft restoration hangar). I had the privilege of visiting this fantastic museum in June 2012 and saw aircraft from World War Two, the Cold War and the Falklands Conflict.

Conservation in Action

The Falklands Conflict occurred in 1982. Although in a far off place, the UK was victorious over Argentina in a battle for the Falklands Islands that lasted 74 days between April and June of that year. Argentina in a long running dispute over British sovereignty of the islands invaded them; the UK then sent a naval fleet including two aircraft carriers: HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible (with helicopters, a small number of Harrier GR.3’s and a 2 squadrons of Sea Harrier VTOL jets – although potentially outnumbered by the Argentine Air Force the Sea Harriers soon proved their worth and established air superiority over the Islands) along with troops (including regular infantry, Commandos and the SAS) to conduct an amphibious assault and retake the islands. This counter invasion was supported by long-range Avro Vulcan bombing raids known as the “Black Buck” raids conducted over a 15,000 kilometre/ 9,200 mile round trip from Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean that were completed with the aid of air to air refuelling. These raids had the task of taking out the paved airfield at Stanley to prevent the Argentines from flying combat aircraft there and also their air defence radars on the islands.

Avro Vulcan in the AirSpace hangar at Duxford

Although the runway at Stanley was too short for  fast jets (which had to fly from mainland Argentina) they were never truly incapacitated and the Argentines could operate the FMA IA-58 Pucara ground attack and counter insurgency (COIN) aircraft from there. At the end of the conflict 6 of these aircraft were taken to the UK as war trophies and one is currently being restored at Duxford. While I was looking at this aircraft I started to talk to a British man next to me, he just happened to be a veteran of the conflict. His comment about the Pucara was simple: “a bloody pest“!

FMA IA-58 Pucara

FMA IA-58 Pucara

One aircraft nearing completion in the restoration hangar was a recently retired British Aerospace Harrier GR.9 that was used in combat over Afghanistan (this one will be displayed in the IWM London). The GR.9 also known as the Harrier II was the last variant of VTOL jet that was first tested in action over the Falklands.

British Aerospace Harrier GR.9

There were a number of World War Two era German aircraft in various states of restoration. A Junkers Ju-52 transport, Fieseler Fi-156 Storch liasion aircraft and a Spanish built Casa 2-111B which was a licence built version of the Heinkel He-111 medium bomber (with different engines and guns). The latter still has a very long way to go to being fully restored.

Junkers Ju-52

Fieseler Fi-156 Storch

Casa 2-111B

Casa 2-111B

Another aircraft once used in Germany that was tucked away at the back of the restoration hangar was a Mil Mi-24 Hind D helicopter gunship. This example was a survivor from the former air force of the German Democratic Republic (GDR i.e. Communist East Germany).

Mil Mi-24D Hind

Amongst the various restoration projects was a Japanese World War Two era Mitsubish Zero A6M3 fuselage. This is another long-term restoration as the aircraft appears to have been a wreck and the wings have been crudely cut off at some stage!

Mitsubishi Zero A6M3

There is more to see than just aircraft in this hangar. While I was there they also had  on display General Bernard “Monty” Montgomery’s 1941 Humber Super Snipe staff car and a 1950’s Czechoslovakian communist era Praga M53/59 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (an armoured truck fitted with an anti-aircraft gun). Montgomery’s staff car was used to transport him while he commanded the British Eighth Army in North Africa and Italy during World War Two (over the period of 1942-1943). He was later to command the British ground forces in the 1944 Allied D-Day invasion of France (Operation Overlord). The car remained in Italy  to be used by the new Eighth Army commander, before being returned to the UK and being presented back to Humbers parent company. It was then given to the IWM in 1997.

Montgomery’s Humber Super Snipe Staff Car

Praga M53/59 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

Don’t miss this hangar if you visit Duxford as it is a fascinating insight in what goes on behind the scenes. The amount of work it takes to get these aircraft and vehicles back into their near original condition is a credit to the museum staff.

Restoration at work