Liverpool's DH.98 Mosquito TT.35 TA634/G-AWJV

[ronturner]

THE 'LIVERPOOL' MOSQUITO TA634

I am interested to know if anybody has any colour photos of TA634 at Speke, maybe the day it was delivered, and especially any photos taken in the hangar where it was housed for a while.
Thanks in advance.
RT

[John Jones]

sorry no colour just a few b/w






yes that's me in the pic.



img048 (5) by john jones, on Flickr

john j

[viscount]

From a MAS publication of 1977 'British Museum Aircraft' compiled by Ken Ellis, it is possible to contribute a good 'potted' history of the aircraft.

DH.98 Mosquito TT.35 TA634

TA634 was built at Hatfield in early 1945 as a Mk.B.35 bomber variant. It was issued to No.27 Maintenance Unit at Shawbury on April 14th and was remain in store for the rest of the War and well beyond.

In 1952 it was flown to Sywell for conversion to a target tug (TT.35) by Brooklands Aviation. After conversion it was sent to No.22 MU at Silloth for storage pending allocation to a Unit. It first joined No.4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (CAACU) at Llandow, only to end up in storage with the resident No.38 MU!

It then moved to West Germany for a period with the Armament Practice Station at Sylt, followed by Ahlhorn APS and Schleswigland APS, until returning to No.27 MU in June 1957 for storage. In September 1959 it was delivered to No.3 CAACU and was coded '53'. It was to serve with No.3 CAACU until being retired from active service in 1963. TA634 was retired to No.23 MU at Aldergrove in May 1963. At this time in silver colours with alternating black and yellow diagonal bands underneath.

It was bought by Liverpool Corporation for £720 and flown to Speke on November 6th 1963. There were plans to display the aircraft, but these did not come to fruition, and the aircraft languished in a hangar. In 1968 it was picked for stardom in the film 'Mosquito Squadron' and was registered G-AWJV for the purpose, this registration being allocated on May 31st. In the film TA634 masqueraded as a 'solid nose' fighter version and carried the bogus serial HJ896 with the codings 'HT-G'. After a brief test flight G-AWJV left for Bovingdon on 17th June 1968. After the film, G-AWJV returned to Speke on 16th July with about 10 hours additional flight time amassed. Now camouflaged and still carrying its fictitious film markings, it was taken inside and again became a hangar queen. There were big plans to keep the aircraft airworthy and for her to earn her keep as a film-star.

The airworthiness of the aircraft was allowed to slip, and it was decided in 1970 to donate the aircraft to the Mosquito Museum. It left Speke for London Colney by road on September 29th 1970. It was subsequently painted up in the colours of the aircraft flown by Group Captain P.C.Pickard, who led the 1944 Amiens prison raid, with the code marks 'EG-F', but retained serial TA634. Displayed with a pale grey underside and period dark green/mid grey camouflage colours.

In the mid 1990s (I think), the aircraft was stripped of paint and underwent a long period of repair and restoration. The aircraft was then finished in 571 Squadron colours, with code '8K-K' A story from this period is that a spotter from Liverpool declared an interest in the aircraft, only to be harangued about the damage done by being kept in a heated hangar!! Neither No.50, No.39 or indeed No.2 hangar in which it was kept at various times offered such a luxury.

The Mosquito Museum has since become the De Havilland Aircraft Museum and is regularly open to the public with a large collection of aircraft (including the prototype Mosquito) at Salisbury Hall near St.Albans. www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk

Hope this provides interest. and for younger or non-Liverpool based enthusiasts the background to Ron's request for photos relating to this particular Mosquito.

[Deleted]

There's a colour shot of it on here but don't think its at Speke.

forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91842 (By mid 2021 this is a dead link), but with a google find it is archived and now:
www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/94088-mosquito-a-c-at-liverpool-speke (in mid 2021 rediscovered the post)

The colour shoot is indeed at Speke, from the perforated hangar is taken inside No.39. The b&w is also at Speke in the period immediately prior to the repaint into camouflage and being reflown for use in Mosquito Squadron. Great photos. If "Scouse" still looks in NWAN Forum, could he post these two pictures on here, please.


She's also one of these three seen here flying whilst filming Mosquito Squadron. She appears nearest to the camera 1 minute 55 seconds in.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC5A8GxGVdc

[ronturner]

Thanks to everybody who responded to this post. The colour photos especially are of help.
The Mosquito currently under construction in France, in which I have contributed a very small part, will fly this year. Its ready to be moved from its construction hangar in Lucon to the aerodrome at Fontenay le Comte but the hangar there was damaged by the storms in February and is itself under restoration.

See:- bogaert.jimdo.com/

RT

[williamleece]

It's a bit late, but FWIW the two pictures of TA634 in the Key Publishing thread were both taken by me and yes, the colour one was at Speke, dated May 1968. The black and white was a year or so later, in the days when a young lad armed with a camera could wander round airside pretty well freely as long as he didn't get in the way!

[viscount]

Although it has taken some time since Ron Turner's original request for colour photos of TA634, Phil Butler has looked up a colour photo of TA634 sitting in No.2 hangar while still in its No.3 CAACU Target Tug colour scheme. The C-47 nose is that of former Starways aircraft G-AMPY whilst stored for Aviation Overhauls 11.66 to 4.69 in Irelfly colours.



While looking for other photos, he also found this shot of G-AWJV landing on 08 on 16th July 1968 at Liverpool on return from "Mosquito Squadron" filming. Despite what it looks like, MAS 'Flypast' confirms that the squadron code applied by the film people is 'HT-G', with the serial HJ896. A visual difference, apart from the application of camouflage paint, is that the nose cone now appears 'solid' rather than Perspex, instantly converting it from a bomber to a fighter in appearance.


My great thanks to Phil Butler for sending me these shots as e-mail attachments, and my apologies to him for holding onto them for a number of weeks before creating the time to post.

[viscount]

Hard on the heels of the two Phil Butler shots in the post above, come two from the Bob O'Brien collection.



This first one, shows TA634 temporarily stored in No.50 Hangar, retaining the yellow and black diagonal markings underneath and silver top of No.3 CAACU.



Clearly after application of the camouflage scheme, G-AWJV engine running outside of No.2 hangar, sometime very shortly before departure to star in "Mosquito Squadron". She left for Bovingdon on 17th June 1968, returning from there a month later, as noted in the caption on the post above.

Two further TA634 photographs at Liverpool while in No.2 hangar, 1968:





Two shots on the same day that catch TA634 during the respray from Target Markings into glossy RAF WWII camouflage. The main camouflage is on, the markings, such as the Roundels and Fin Flash have had the masking removed and are ready for the detail to be applied.

[ronturner]

Thanks again, to everyone for these photos.
I am sure my mates in the Mosquito 75 project will enjoy them.

For those interested, the Mosquito .75 will be at Sywell this year, and also at an event at Cranwell

[viscount]

How come the Mosquito TA634 came to Liverpool?

Thanks to an (incorrect) mention on another forum regarding 'our' Mosquito TA634 being a gate guardian at the Airport in the 60s, I have been in touch with Don Stephens, whose project it was to preserve an aircraft at Liverpool Airport. Don was a founder member of the MGAE in 1956 along with the likes of Phil Butler, Peter Cherry, Alan Roach, Dave Smith and others. By the early 60s the group had started to share their collective knowledge with a monthly magazine and a series of pioneering monographs eg French Civil Register, British Isles Airfield Guide and Wrecks and Relics. The first two editions of 'W&R' in 1961 and 1963, both compiled by Don Stephens created quite a stir, remember this was long before any major aviation museums in Britain were established. During 1963 it was published in 'Air Pictorial' (the only across the counter aviation magazine for the enthusiast) that all the CAACU Mosquito aircraft would be scrapped once retired. This rather alarmed Don, who set about not only making sure that one of the aircraft was preserved, but that it would be at Liverpool. Letters started to fly, and a great supporter found in local Conservative (as all the wards in Liverpool were then) MP Mr Richard Bingham, who lived in Mosseley Hill, around the corner from Don. Working together, with the authority of Richard Bingham and the enthusiasm of Don to see the project to fruition, it was not long before the Airport Director and Airport Committee Councillors were also 'on board'. The Daily Post came out in support of the project too. The Mosquito was acquired by the City Council for £720, delivered in full flying condition. On the day of the arrival of the Mosquito, Don's Head Teacher volunteered to take his classes for the day, without even having been asked, so permitting Don to attend the hand-over ceremony!

On 6th November 1963 the Mosquito arrived from No.23 MU at Belfast Aldergrove, preceeded by Vickers Varsity T.1 WF325 marked as '18' of the CFS. This aircraft later left for Little Rissington with the delivery crew. Don does not recall any choice of aircraft being offered, it was Mosquito TT.35 TA634 still in silver colours with diagonal black and yellow 'target tug' bands underneath and code '53' from her days with No.3 CAACU that turned up on the day.

There was no real plan in place for her conservation and preservation, other than a vague scheme to place her on display at the Airport. She was however kept indoors throughout the time she was kept at Liverpool.

Clearly without Don Stephen's actions and support of Richard Bingham MP, the preservation movement in Britain would certainly be one Mosquito less today. Even though the purchase of her by Liverpool City had no thought-through long-term plan, she undoubtedly left Liverpool for exactly the right place, beside the prototype Mosquito at Salisbury Hall, St Albans with people who could display and cherish her properly.

My thanks to Don for sharing his recollections. Even two of the numerous letters have survived the passage of time:

[acklington]

I've read the above with interest, but remain puzzled by a different version of the TA634 story that I was told.

Elsewhere on this forum (year 2010) there is a thread about the late Gordon Sweetapple, who was Operations Manager at Liverpool, prior to becoming Manchester Airport Director, and then Isle of Man Airport Director. I got to know Gordon when I moved to the Isle of Man in 1989, and this is what I recall him saying about TA634.

He says that he helped to buy it (from the RAF, or later?) and considered himself to be a substantial part-owner of it. His son describes (in the 2010 thread) how Gordon assisted in the restoration of it at Liverpool, and Gordon described to me how Friday afternoons were TA634 time, when he would regularly take it out of the hangar for engine runs. Gordon was apparently an ex-RAF pilot, so would have had the expertise to perform engine runs. He said that these engine runs always attracted a crowd.

However, a large part of his decription of events to me, was his strongly held complaint that the aircraft was eventually sold (he didn't say to whom) by 'one of the part-owners', without any reference to Gordon, or indeed any recompense for his part-share ownership. He said that he considered taking legal action to recover his money, but eventually didn't do so, perhaps (my impression) because the original purchase/ownership arrangement had been somewhat informal?

Whilst I can not verify Gordon's version of the TA634 story, there is no doubting his very strongly held view that he was a part owner of it, and that it was disposed of without his involvement.

[viscount]

Interesting, however I see no conflict at all between the two accounts.

After the Mosquito arrived at Liverpool during 1963, Don found his life too full of work with promotion, courting and then marriage for aviation (sound familiar?). As a result after the Mosquito was acquired he had little more to do with it. At the time of the acquisition negotiations, Harry Andrews was Airport Director; Don cannot recall the Deputy he mainly dealt with, other than it was a relatively short name.

The 2010 thread 'Acklington' refers to: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5043/gordon-sweetapple . His son states that Gordon Sweetapple joined Liverpool Airport as Chief Operations Manager during 1965 - which is several years after the Mosquito was acquired and arrived, by which time Keith Porter was Airport Director. Equally his son (and other sources) state that Gordon moved to Manchester as Deputy Airport Director in 1969 - the year before the aircraft moved to the Mosquito Aircraft Museum in 1970. However, Mr Sweetapple was most certainly personally involved with the Mosquito at the time it was prepared for 'Mosquito Squadron' film work and after her return. The Friday work parties and engine runs as recalled by 'Acklington' definitely fit this period in 1968, there would certainly have been costs involved in returning the aircraft to flight, then initially keeping her flight capable after return from filming (mid-June to mid-July 1968), which would be when he put time and money into the aircraft. As he was working at Manchester at the time the Mosquito left Liverpool, it would explain how it could be disposed of without reference to him and he only found out after the event. As G-AWJV, the CAA record the owners rather grandly as 'The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and citizens of the City of Liverpool' while registered 1968 to 1970. I know nothing of the terms of TA634 moving to the Mosquito Museum, or indeed the people involved in the move. It may well be that a consortium had quietly acquired it from the City Council sometime in the period after returning from film work, summer '68. Thinking about it, I cannot recall any Civic handover to the Mosquito Museum (but see a few posts further on and also an image of a display board at the Moquito Aircraft Museum).

As stated at the start I see no conflict between the two accounts, indeed are quite compatible, as there are three different time episodes, Don Stephens in 1963, Gordon Sweetapple 1965-69, but particularly in 1968, and the move to the Mosquito Museum 1970 involved.

[acklington]

Thanks Viscount, the dates do help considerably to clarify matters.

My own speculation had come to a rather similar conclusion, namely that at some point someone or some group had 'bought' or obtained the aircraft from Liverpool Council.

This does not necessarily mean a 'cash sale', and my own experience of civic-run airports (Blackpool, Bristol, and the Isle of Man) is that if an aircraft was at a publicly run airport, then someone was going to have to pay rent, hangarage, or parking charges. The inference from when the aircraft arrived at Liverpool, is that the Council may have agreed to provide free accomodation for it, assuming the hangar it was housed in was under their control. But eventually such 'hangar-queens' become an embarrasment, especially if there are paying-aircraft waiting to be hangared. That is when a deal may have come about, with the aircraft being 'gifted' to new owners, in return for them agreeing to meet the costs of accomodating it.

I can think back to the saga of the Vulcan at Blackpool Airport. Accruing massive parking charges, but with the airport desperate to avoid taking the machine in exchange for outstanding fees. Who wants a Vulcan, and even worse, who wants the bad publicity of being the 'guilty party' who eventually has to call in the scrapman!

So, returning to TA634, may I suggest that (if someone can be so inclined), a root through the Council / Airport archives might prove illuminating, as any acquisition / disposal decision will be properly minuted, as befits a public body. Such an enquiry might even fall within the ambit of the "Freedom of Information" Act.

[thepaperplane]

In the 1990's I got to know 'Bunny' Brookes (he of Hoylake Spitfire fame) and whilst chatting to him one day he said that at one time (it must have been in the 1960's) he was offered the Speke Mosquito for £100. He had nowhere to take it so declined the offer.

thepaperplane




Added in much later by Admin:

Much more regarding the activities of 'Bunny' Brookes at Hoylake 1965-1969 on thread:
derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/37592/hoylake-spitfires-rm694-nh904-auster

[viscount]

First there has been discussion regarding TA634/G-AWJV and her markings during the 'Mosquito Squadron' filming of 1968 which is relevant to this thread and adds to it. Link:

derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/32926/mosquito-hj614


Coincidently, while working on another project and going through the 1970 MAS 'Flypast' movements section came across coverage of a period of G-AWJV's history which I was not really aware of as I was not a Liverpool resident at the time.

On 19th September 1970 Hawker Siddeley Aviation HS.125 demonstrator G-AXYJ flying from Woodford brought Grp Capt John Cunningham (Rtd) to Liverpool Airport for an official hand-over ceremony of Mosquito G-AWJV to the Mosquito Preservation Society. The HS.125-400B departed later the same day for Hatfield. The dismantled Mosquito G-AWJV left by road 29th September for Salisbury Hall.