MARTELLO TOWER AIRCRAFT MUSEUM CELEBRATION
	The East Essex Aviation Museum is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary today 17th September 2005. Formed by a small group of aviation enthusiasts 20 years ago under the leadership of Bill Gadd, the Museum has gone from strength to strength and now has 60 members. Members have diverse interests in Engineering, Navy, and the Home Front as well as Aviation history. Sometimes our members are just keen to be involved socially. If you are interested in joining the Museum fill in and return the attached membership form, printed below. The Museum wishes to thank the Clacton Life Boat for supporting today. Donation boxes have been placed around the Museum to help the RNLI. The Museum also wishes to thank the Clacton –on- Sea Sea Cadets and the 1830 Squadron of the Air Training Corp for their help. Flying display from 3pm weather permitting. Stearman at 3pm, Harvard at 3:30pm and Mustang at 4pm. Food is available from the Ferry Boat Inn beside the Museum

	Tendring District Council's Chairman Councillor Mary Bragg being presented with a bouquet by Albert Scott on behalf of the Museum.
	A panoramic view from the Museum Tower, looking east towards Clacton-on-Sea

Point to a small picture anywhere below and click for an enlargement - then on the larger picture page click the 'back arrow' top left of your screen to return to this main page. --------------------------------------------------- PERSONALITIES & MEMBERS

THE NAPOLEONIC TROOPS

THE FIELD CANNON

THE FLYING DISPLAY

A montage with todays three aircraft over the Museum Tower with the Mustang looping the loop!

PT13D Stearman N4712V Commentary Notes. PT13D Stearman Owned and operated by Maurice Hammond, based at Airfield Farm Hardwick Norfolk. Specifications.  Wing span 32FT, Length 25FT. Engine Pratt and Whitney R985 Single row wasp junior of 450 HP. Fixed Pitch ground adjustable Propeller, Fuel capacity 46 US Gallons History Constructed by the Boeing Aircraft Company of Wichita Kansas in 1942 Boeing Constriction Number 75-5094 United States Army Air Corps Serial Number 42-16931 The early history of this particular aircraft is still being researched, what is know is that the aircraft was operated by the Army Air Corps and originally fitted with a Lycoming R680-B4E engine producing 275hp. The aircraft was finally retired and put up for disposal at Hill Air Force Base Utah on 25th July 1949. N4712V was registered on 8th December 1950 to its first civilian owner, Transocean Airlines at Minter Field California and flew for the first time in civil ownership on 4th April 1951 at which time the aircraft had logged a total of 1616.30 hours. Willett Flying Services bought the aircraft in late 1952 and operated it for 9 months before converting it to E75 status with its current 450hp engine, modified brakes and electrical system, flying again on 15th January 1956. This conversion was very popular with crop dusters at the time, however there is no evidence within the airframe or log books to indicate that it was ever used as a duster. Willett continued to operate the aircraft until 12th May 1971 now with a total time of 2198 hours and later sold it to a new owner in Singapore where it flew again on 20th August 1976. During its time in Singapore N4712V logged just 63 hours before being imported to the UK in 1985. During February 2004 Maurice Hammond acquired the Stearman and it arrived at Hardwick from its previous Lands End base on a rather cold day at the end of March, now with a total time of 2327 hours. The aircraft currently wears a basic Army Air Corps colour scheme similar to the one it would have worn whilst in it Primary Training days.

AT6D Harvard G-ELMH Commentary Notes. AT6D Harvard III Owned and operated by Maurice Hammond, based at Airfield Farm Hardwick Norfolk. Specifications.  Wing span 42FT, Length 29FT. Engine Pratt and Whitney R1340 AN1 Single row wasp of 600 HP. Propeller, Hamilton Standard Constant speed 12D40, Fuel capacity 110 US Gallons, Range 520 Miles, Max Fuel consumption 56 Gals per hour at take off. Max weight 5300 lbs. Armament 3x .30 Calibre Browning machine guns, 4x 100 lb Bombs. History Constructed by North American Aviation in Dallas Texas 1944 North American Aviation Constriction Number 88-16336 United States Army Force Serial Number 42-84555 United States Army Force Contract Number AC-29317 One of a batch of  20 ordered by the British Fleet Air Arm in 1942 eventually leaving the factory in 1944 it was flown across the States to Fort Dix via Barnsdale AAF LA, Jackson AAF MS, and Atlanta AD GA, Arriving on the 25th April 1944 where the aircraft was crated and shipped by sea to Newark NJ, finally departing the United States on the 10th May 1944 for Great Britain. Following a successful Atlantic crossing it arrived at the 46th MU RNAS Lossiemouth Scotland on the 12th July 1944 now allocated the RN serial number of EZ341. During its service in the UK it was stationed at RNAS Crail, Donibristle, Arbroath finally arriving at Lee-On-Solent on the 1st March 1956 where it was “written off charge “ and sold to Portugal to serve with the Portuguese Air Force at Granja. Now allocated the serial number of 1662 it served with the Portuguese AF until 17th December 1973 when it was stored until one ferry flight was made on 18th January 1977 to the AF Museum at Alverca where it remained until 1991 then crated and shipped to England. April 1992 Maurice Hammond acquired the Harvard and was shipped to Suffolk for complete restoration. This was a 100% restoration which took 24 months ending with  its first post military flight in April 1994 now having the civilian G-ELMH. The colour scheme is of the 100th Bomb Group (Square D) “Hack” ship used at Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk during WWII. and carries the nose art of B17 “Fools Rush In”

P51 Mustang G-MSTG  “Janie” Commentary Notes. Mustang P51 D model owned and operated by Maurice Hammond, based at Hardwick in Norfolk. Specifications:- Max Speed  505 mph, Cruise speed 250 mph. Range:- 1400 miles Weight:- 4 ½ tons. Engine:- Packard Built 1650-7 Rolls Royce Merlin of 1600 hp. Propeller:- 11’ 6” diameter 24D50 Hamilton Standard. Armament:- 6 off 50 calibre Browning Machine Guns. Ammunition:- 2000 rounds. History:-Constructed By North American Aviation in Dallas Texas 1945 North American Aviation Construction Number 124-48271 United States Army Air Force serial number 45-11518 United States Army Air Force contract number AC-2400 One of a batch of ten which left the factory on 16th July 1945 it was flown across the United States via Coolridge AAF Arizona and the Sacramento Air Technical Service Centre California, and was shipped from the port of Oakland CA on the 4th August to arrive in New Zealand on 24th August 1945. Hobsonville Air Force Base (NZ) received the Mustang and was given the new serial number of NZ2427 NZ2427 flew with the New Zealand Territorial Air Force, with No3 Canterbury Squadron, and remained in service until 1955 only flying a total of 403 hrs 35mins when all New Zealand Mustangs were struck of charge and stored at Woodburne for disposal in 1958. NZ2427 was sold from NZAAF in May 1958 for a huge sum of $150 Nz Dollars (£80 sterling.) to Barry North and Pete Colman. The Mustang remained on Pete Colmans farm until 1990, although it was dismantled in 1973 and stored under Petes house. In 1990 The Alpine Fighter Collection (NZ) Acquired the airframe and it was moved into storage at their head quarters at Wanaka. Winter 1997 Maurice Hammond from Suffolk, England purchased the airframe from The Alpine Fighter Collection for restoration making the long voyage north to arrive in the UK at Easter 97, now having the registration G-MSTG The complete airframe was restored by Maurice over the next 4 ½ years which also included overhauling to Zero hours the Packard Merlin engine! The first post Military flight was on Friday July 13th 2001. The colour scheme is of Major Bill Price who flew with 350th Squadron of the 353rd fighter group based at Raydon Essex during WWII. Text from Roger Barrell's programme with permission. Photographs: John White, Ken Aldis and Michael Talbot (webmaster)

**************************************************** EAST ESSEX AVIATION SOCIETY APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP (for the use of new members only) Please copy this form and return it to the membership secretary: Alf Wyman, “Chef-Gar” 38A Tower Estate, Point Clear Bay, St Osyth, Essex CO16 8NG. NAME ADDRESS TOWN POSTCODE DATE I wish to become a Full member* / Friend member */ Junior member* of the Society. I agree to be bound by the rules of the society and understand that, as a Friend Member I will receive the Society’s Newsletter quarterly. As a Full member (or if under the age of 16 as a Junior member) I will be welcome at any digs or sea recoveries. I may also vote at the Annual General Meeting and attend the social events. I will also receive a quarterly copy of the Tannoy. *delete as applicable. Subscriptions – Full members £12 yearly. Junior members £6 yearly. Friend Members £6 yearly. Note– if you are applying by post and require a separate receipt, please enclose a stamped self addressed envelope. Additional Information for our records Main area of interest: Are you Ex-Service? Do you collect militaria? Would you like to become more involved in managing displays? Are you handy with tools, DIY etc?