Aeroplane Monthly 1974-07
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Personal album
A favourite method of rendering the abandoned aircraft unserviceable was to set off a charge behind the engine. The victim here is a Stuka.
Operational aircraft in a hangar at Celle. Three Avro Ansons, including PH775, and Supermarine Spitfire XI PL836, in natural metal finish with anti-glare panel on the nose and what appear to be a Flight Lieutenant’s stripes on the fin, suggesting that it was someone’s personal "hack".
The Unit’s only serviceable Savoia Marchetti SM.82, ex Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), in British markings as VN158. It was christened "the pig" for both its looks and mechanics, but was still flying in September 1946.
On arrival, the RAF found Celle littered with the skeletal remains of Savoia Marchettis and Junkers Ju87 Stukas, which had been captured when the airfield was over-run. This sequence shows their fate. 1. Placing a charge on the port engine of an SM.82.
The explosion and the results.
A wrecked SM.82 provides its only possible remaining service for our contributor - a leaning post.
Another SM.82, dearly showing the results of strategically-placed charges.