Any idea what this could be?
 

Hi,

I found the following pic on E-bay and was wondering what it could be. It appears to be a biplane as there are what look like wing struts on the left of the picture. The wheel has a Gladiator look about them. There were Gladiator MkIIs in France so that could explain the prop. Belgian Gladiators had the two blade wooden prop.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Alex

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Dear Alex,

The Fairey Battle, Lysander and Blenheim had the identical-type prop blades. The wheel appears as if it could have come from a Lysander? And the Lysander also had struts.

Norman Malayney

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Hi Norman,

Thanks. I'll know and expert on Lysanders. I'll drop him a line.

Alex

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Looks like a ladder on the left, wheel looks like a Lysander one, so maybe a Lysander IIIa used by 161 Sqn RAF for agent drops?

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Tony,

Nice one. It certainly appears to be a ladder. I had to study the damn picture for, what seemed to be ages, before I caught it.

Note the year on the prop - 1940? If this wreckage is indeed that of a Lysander (I'm leaning more towards a Gladiator) was the R.A.F. dropping agents that early on?

Stephen

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Surely it is more likely to be from one of the Army Co-operation squadrons based in France in 1940?

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

If I remember right - I see another photo of this crashside several years ago from another angle, if so its a Swordfish downed in France.
regards
Khorat

Re: Any idea what this could be?
 

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I appreciate your input.

What ladder? Do you mean the two curved pieces of metal to the left? The other two almost vertical pieces I originally thought were wing struts. But on closer inspection they have framework through them and now look like wing spars.