Wealdon Aviation Group

[Spanferkel]

Does anyone know if this organization is still in existence? Some of you may recall they recovered or excavated quite a few WW2 aircraft wrecks in the UK, German and Allied, in the 1970's and beyond and were featured quite frequently in the "Then and Now" books.

In addition if they do still exist what became of the recovered items Museums?

Cheers

Jeremy

[Chris Goss]

The Wealden Aviation Archeaological Group (WAAG) is no longer in existence even though its main members are. The recovered items ended up in a number of museums and private collections

[Spanferkel]

Thanks Chris,

Next question is how I might contact any former members?

To be specific the WAG excavated a crash site of an Me. 410 of 15/KG2 which went down on the night of 8-9 Nov.. Lost were Stflkap. Wilhelm Schmitter and his wireless operator/gunner. Though the aircraft, according the "Then and Now" Vol. "completely disinegrated due to it hitting the ground w/its payload what was recovered by WAG and what interests me is the Wknummer plate for the Me.410. If I could get a copy or image of the plate it would be helpful.

All the best.

Jeremy

[Chris Goss]

Send me your email address and I will forward your email to Andy Saunders

[gasiorowska]

Hi, I hope it's not too late to contact someone from the Wealdon Aviation Group.

My grandfather's Hurricane was unearthed in 1979 at Saddlescombe farm by this group after he was shot down on 9th September 1940. He was injured but survived.

He died a few months after I was born and I am desperate to find out more about him and his life. The RAF have been v. helpful, but I would like to find out what happened to the remnants of his plane after it was recovered. Please can someone help?

[Franek Grabowski]

My grandfather's Hurricane was unearthed in 1979 at Saddlescombe farm by this group after he was shot down on 9th September 1940. He was injured but survived.
Slightly off topic, but are you awared of photos of the aircraft still in one piece at Northolt?

[Chris Goss]

Andy Saunders was instrumental in WAAG-he is a member here so send him a PM

[Tony Jones]

Many recovered parts from unearthed wrecks can be found in the small museum at Lashenden Airfield, Headcorn, Kent.

The museum is free but only opens on Sundays. They also own a complete piloted version of the V-1 rocket plus an Angelis submarine towed glider and these are generally on show

There is another similar small museum where you have to pay at Hawkinge, Kent. But if you write down any Bf 109 serial or w/n they will throw you out so on principle most people don't bother to visit.

Tony

[John Vasco]

There is another similar small museum where you have to pay at Hawkinge, Kent. But if you write down any Bf 109 serial or w/n they will throw you out so on principle most people don't bother to visit.Tony

Tony,
The reason being that in the past people have made written notes of items and their placement in the museum, and have then stolen items. It's a simple security matter that the owners have seen fit to put in place. It should deter no one, so to say "...on principle most people don't bother to visit..." is misleading and a slur on the museum and those who run it. Perhaps you can provide some hard evidence (i.e. numbers) of those who don't visit on principle because of the camera/notes embargo. Or is this just a load of bullshit?

[Andy Saunders]

Gasiorowska

Hello! I was a founder member and one-time Secretary of the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group which existed from 1971 - 81.

I was not present when parts of the Hurricane were unearthed, but I can put you in touch with people who were. As far as I know my friend Pat Burgess still has some parts from that aeroplane. Only a few shattered parts were found and I believe the propellor hub is still in the ground. Contact me and I can help you!

John

I do not think I am alone in my belief that the measures at Hawkinge smack more of paranoia than security. It cannot be considered normal for visitors to be relieved of cameras, notebooks, mobile phones, pens or recording equipment. Indeed, it is not unknown for notebooks to be confiscated and "offending" pages ripped out or cameras to have film removed. In the case of mobile phones I understand that images have been deleted if anyone has been foolish enough to defy the ban. I accept that the owners of the museum have a right to set their own terms and conditions. Equally, if those are the conditions then they need to be respected. But even so.....!!! Not only that, but any visitor who is known to have an interest in the subject above normal Joe Public level is viewed with suspicion and watched...or even followed! There are also a considerable number of fellow enthusiasts/researchers/historians who are "banned" from admission. I can think of several who are prominent members of this forum, in fact! As to the claim that the reason for these measures is to prevent theft to order, that can only be described as nuts. A considerable part of the collection is listed (or even photographed) in at least one publication. In any event, would not a potential thief be able to remember what he had seen and either come back later or report back to his potential "buyer". Or maybe there is a metal detecting screen on entry to find hidden recording equipment which, on exit, emits an electronic smog to expunge ones brain of the memory of all that has been seen.

Sorry, but if you are a serious researcher and want to use this museum as one might expect with other museums (ie an information, research and learning resource) then forget it, really.

Look at their own Guestpage or other forums to see that I am a lone voice amongst very many!

[Tony Jones]

John

I am a member of Air-Britain Historians and they have a private member only Forum AB-IX. A member posted that he with others visited Hawkinge, was followed by the lady at reception. He made a note of a Bf 109 citation and the whole lot of them were thrown out, no discussion,no compromise at all. There was then a flood of comments on the forum from other people that had got ejected for staring too hard at an exhibit and many members voiced the opipion that they were going to visit but would now boycott the place and hit them "in their pocket"

I personally couldn't care a less and have no vendetta against the place but was just issuing a friendly warning as anyone using ToCH would ber "persona non grata" if they showed too much interest in anything. Vist Lashenden instead, very friendly with 2 very interesting/unique original a/c on site. It is claimeD that Hanna Reisch flew the V-1.

By the way, great music!!

Finally there are also recovered parts in the USAF Museum at Parham, Suffolk, this seems to only open in the Summer but operhaps a local can give more data on opening times

Regards

Tony

[Andy Saunders]

Tony's experiences are far from unusual. It really is a great shame. I understand that it is otherwise a very fine museum.

Quite apart from the published rules for visitors, there are others that enthusiasts ought to be aware of before calling there:

1) Do not take too great an interest in any of the exhibits
2) Do not reveal that you have any knowledge of the subject
3) Do not reveal that you know ANYONE in any sphere of the historic aviation world
4) Do not ask any intelligent questions about exhibits
5) Expect to be ejected if you breach 1-4
6) Anticipate the possibility of summarily being refused admittance

Now, back to the question about Sgt Wunsche. I have dug out my file and if you care to send me a pm I can help you a good deal, I think!

[John Vasco]

Tony & Andy,

I fully respect your views about the stance taken by the those who run the Hawkinge museum. Their approach to what visitors can and can not take into the museum is not acceptable to all, but it is their decision. Andy, I know you started a museum from scratch and built it up into a simply superb museum, with an input of your time that hardly any that passed through it during your tenure could really appreciate. I genuinely hope nothing was ever 'lifted' from it. I see the stance of those running Hawkinge simply as a safety measure which they consider necessary to safeguard the contents. I have been there several times, have gone around all of the exhibits and not seen anyone 'policed' heavily, and have seen the museum staff explain things to visitors in great detail. I suppose one can only speak as one finds. If I may give a tenuous analogy. I still gig regularly, and always take two guitars, which are quite expensive (two Gibson Les Pauls, for those interested). Sometimes there are little or no stages in the venues, so the guitars are within easy reach of anybody. If someone goes to look at them (albeit innocently), I'm always up alongside them within a couple of seconds, asking of their interest, and if they'd like to see them close up. Most are simply fascinated at seeing rare left-handed Gibsons. Having had a Gibson Les Paul stolen in 1980, I am aware that the possibilty exists of it happening again, so I always watch my gear like a hawk when I'm offstage. If I have to leave the room, I always make sure one of the other members of the band is on watch over the gear. A sad state of affairs, I know, but necessary.

Tony, thanks for your comments about the music - they are appreciated.

[Nick Beale]

I still gig regularly, and always take two guitars, which are quite expensive (two Gibson Les Pauls, for those interested).

You have now officially "out-cooled" everyone else on this forum!

[John Vasco]

Nick,
And here are the two beasts that I guard over when gigging:

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8922/dscn00131vt3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
and the grand's worth of amp that they go through.

[Nick Beale]

Nick,
And here are the two beasts that I guard over when gigging ... and the grand's worth of amp that they go through.

You'll be sorry to learn that I don't have photos of my collection of designer suits.