Birkenhead Vampire

[Biggles]

I was chatting with a contractor I use today who was explaining how he had broken his back in three places moving an RAF Jet from the owners home (Ian Morrison) in Vyner Road to his new home in Noctorum and produced a paper clipping from the Wirral News dated February 2 2011.

The article showed a picture of a semi dismantled Vampire T.11 Jet which had been in a garden in Vyner Road South Birkenhead and was being dismantled by my friend and others, whilst being jacked up to allow the wheels to be removed it slipped and my friend became crushed. I am hoping to get a proper picture of the aircraft in location with a reg. It was subsequently removed to a scrap yard in Liverpool (Mitchell Bros) for terminal destruction.

[davecalveley]

Biggles
It was WZ514 which I think was the same one that was in a car port type structure in Irby at a house just as you turned left from Irby towards Heswall....
regards Dave

[Biggles]

ukserials web gives this info about WZ514

d/d 31/03/1953, sold to HSA 07/01/1969, scrapped Bootle circa 1986

I will check with Mike if the Irby one and Vyner Road South one are the same as he knows the owner well despite being nearly killed or crippled helping him.

[davecalveley]

Biggles
Wrecks & Relics #8 entry reads thus.......

IRBY

Mr Ian Morrison moved to Irby Hall,in Irby Rd in 1980 from Bidston,his Vampire is kept in the grounds of the house

WZ514 Vampire T11 ex Bidston,Woodford,Hawarden,27 MU,5 Sqdn,98 Sqdn

hope of use to you
regards Dave

[Biggles]

Thanks Dave for nailing the correct information. will see if I can get any pictures of the aircraft in the local locations.