WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

Hello,

The ID of this lozenge hatch puzzles me a bit.
It is said it was dug out from a former German WWI aerodrome in Belgium but certainly not historically linked.

Indeed, there is any "40-45" crash recorded in the area.
Moreover the metal sheet and the paint point - most probably - to a WWII aircraft. The outside is painted in brown, the outline is covered with red fabric. Trace of zinc chromate primer.

Some figures and stamps :

329454 9 LBC 52

329450 LBC 68 AID
8.U.E.

Does it come from a WWII british aircraft?

Thank you for your attention.

ClinA-78

Re: WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

The AID stamp immediately marks this out as British, as does the dark earth camouflage paint.

The prefix 329 is a prefix associated with the Spitfire IIa and IIb, but in this context I am not sure it is telling us this is Spitfire. I don't recognise what it could be, or recognise the fitting attached to it.

Re: WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

Thanks for your attention.

I don't know why I think about a Wellington...

Do we rule out WW1 or interbellum period ?

ClinA-78

Re: WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

Is it possible that that kind of cover was used on RFC/RAF aircraft as some Sqn's occupied shortly this airfield just post-WW1 ?

Best regards

ClinA-78

Re: WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

http://www.colorserver.net/history/h...c-chromate.htm

Zinc chromate primer means mid 30's or later.

Mark

Re: WWII (?) lozenge hatch
 

I agree but this piece leaves me still puzzled.

ClinA-78