Warbird Information Exchange

Whilst browsing the internet and other forums I came across the following pictures of the Cavanaugh He111 (N99230):





(Pictures attributed at http://www.fag.es/sevilla/aparatos/unpedro.htm)


The aircraft was used in the film Battle of Britain, and according to some other information I have available, "returned to 403 squadron at Cuatro Vientos still bearing the two-tone green camouflage and German Squadron markings it received for the film".

Seeing the aircraft marked as N99230 but whilst still in Spain (landscape and accompanying aircraft) would indicate that these photos must have been taken after purchase (June 1976) and prior (or during) its trip to the UK (September 1977).

If the aircraft was not repainted between the making of the film, and its sale in 1976, this would tend to indicate that the aircraft was being operated by the Spanish Air Force for approximately 7 years in what appears to be a WWII German two-tone green paint scheme, rather than one of the standard Spanish paint schemes (silver or light desert brown) which appear to have been used on all other serving Spanish He111's (as per the fuselage of B2-I-103 at Duxford). I have also found no references to the aircraft being painted in Spain after its purchase, or prior to its trip to the UK.

Does anyone have any pictures of B2-I-27 when it was with 403 squadron (after 1968, until 1972), 406 squadron (1973), or 462 squadron of 46 group at Gando Air Base in the Canary Isles from 29th January 1974 until 21st January 1975, that might help me determine what colors the aircraft wore during these various periods?

Was the two-tone green paint scheme also a standard scheme used by the Spanish Air Force, and therefore, B2-I-27 did not need to be repainted after its use in the film?

Any assistance, comments, etc, would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Julian

When was the last time the airplane was flown and is there any plan to fly again anytime in the near future.

Steve,

The aircraft last flew at the end of 1995 (or may have been early 1996).

The plan to restore N99230 has been up and down on the list of priorities, but there is currently no definitive date as to when work will start.
At one point in time the work was set to start once hanger space was available at Nelson Ezells. (Jim and Doug very logically decided that there was no point in taking the aircraft to Breckenridge, only for it to stand outside, when it can stay inside a museum hanger at Addison until indoor space and restoration manpower are available at Nelsons). I don't know if this is still the plan. Doug may have more up to date (accurate!) info that he could add, but that will probably have to wait until he gets back from ICAS.

Obviously, if the aircraft is going "off-site" for restoration, a "ferry" flight would be one of the options of getting the aircraft from A (Addison) to B (restoration facility), but even getting the aircraft ready for a ferry flight might take some time, and so don't expect to see the Cavanaugh He111 in the air in the very near future

Julian