During Late September
ex North Weald based C-119 cockpit section
was rescued from the threat of potential
scrap by members of the Wings Museum
which is based at Redhill Aerodrome
in Surrey. The relic became threatened
by ongoing pressure from the local council
to ‘tidy up’ the outside
aprons around the hangers at North Weald
Aerodrome.
The effort and cost involved in moving
these relics was certainly not for the
faint hearted! but members of the Wings
Museum stepped into the breach once
again. The rescue of these otherwise
overlooked relics stands as a testimony
to the museums dedication and love of
old aircraft.
"the museums
dedication and love of old aircraft
is evident"
If only the same attitude
was adopted during the post war years
many more airframes would have survived
for future generations to enjoy. This
particular C-119 or ‘Flying Boxcar’
served with the US Air Force as 51-2700
and went to the Belgian Air Force as
CP-9. It entered the UK's civil register
as G-BLSW (after being modified from
C-119F to C-119G) and was later re-registered
as N2700. The museum is now working
on tracking down missing components
to complete the cockpit including seats
and control columns etc, any leads would
be gratefully appreciated.
