Open Day Saturday 14 October
My name is Eric Watkiss and I am a volunteer at the Lytham st Anne’s spitfire visitors centre Blackpool airport . I am project lead of a group restoring a world war 2 airplane, an airspeed
10/10/2023
Saving Amy
Airspeed Oxford
Airspeed Oxford Mk.V EB518
The substantial remains of Airspeed Oxford Mk.V EB518 were delivered to Hangar 42 at Blackpool Airport, Lancashire in early 2020, where the Lytham St Anne’s Spitfire Ground Display Team and the Lancashire Aircraft Investigation Team are restoring it to static condition.
The exhibit will ultimately represent Oxford Mk.II V3540, the machine in which famous aviatrix Amy Johnson was lost on January 5, 1941, after departing from RAF Squires Gate (today’s Blackpool Airport), but it’s also intended to be a permanent memorial to all RAF and Commonwealth crews who flew the type during World War Two.
EB518 was built in 1943 and was sent to 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford in Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It was struck off charge in August 1946 and stored outside until recovered by the Midland Aircraft Recovery Group during the late 1990s. We don’t know much about EB518’s time in Canada, but we are keen find out.
We have a lot of fundraising to do, as we are reliant on public donations. On inspection, it became evident that the airframe’s wooden structure was beyond economical repair and would need to be replaced.
Some of the remains of EB518 which will be restored to represent Oxford Mk.II V3540
We are currently looking for any Airspeed Oxford components and assistance with construction of the airframe. The aircraft can be viewed at Hangar 42’s open days and further information can be found on the Lytham St Anne’s Spitfire Centre Hangar 42 or Saving Amy Facebook pages.
Eric Watkiss
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Saturday 14 October 2023 Our resident Saving Amy Airspeed Oxford project is proud to announce a day of celebration of Amy Johnson on Saturday 14th October at Hangar 42 Spitfire visitors centre Blackpool airport .
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Sandcasting
Volunteer Eric Watkiss and project manager of the Saving Amy Project which aims to restore a original WW2 Airspeed Oxford Trainer aircraft in memorial to Amy Johnson tells us about one of the skills he
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