Me-110

[turboNZ]

Heya,

Don't know if this is the correct place to ask, but in Dave's video, there's an article on the Me110 Sir Tim brought back. What's the story with this to date?


(oops, should be wartime forum)

[corsair67]

I remember seeing the remains when they were on display at the 50th Anniversary of VE Day at Wigram in May 1995, but I've never heard anymore about it since.

Maybe the project was just too big to begin?

[turboNZ]

Well I reckon if he can get 8 Poli's into the air then surely one Me-110 shouldn't be too much of a deal, but I guess it's spare parts which are non-existent..

Be great to see one fly, that's for sure.

[Bruce]

Both the 110s subsequently left NZ (I think one of Tims partners in the deal was a bit dodgy) and have been under resoration. the better preserved of them is now beautifully restored to static condition in a museum in Germany. There are no plans to fly either of them, which is understandable perhaps considering how rare they are. Still, it would be good to see one flying - I wonder what twin Daimler Benz's sound like?

[turboNZ]

What about that one that's been advertised in the CWD (came out of a lake) or is that one of the two?

[Dave Homewood]

It's a sorry tale. There were the remains of three Me110's recovered from Russia, and I believe Sir Tim also had two Stukas, three Hurricanes and I had also heard the remains of some Fw190's. The latter I am not sure about.

Of course the Hurricanes are a happy tale because Sir Tim started Hawker Restorations with Tony Ditheridge (of AJD Engineering if I remember rightly, a WWI plane specialist) and they have now restored lots of Hurricanes, including Sir Tim's own and the Sea Hurricane at Old Warden.

But as for the German planes, this idot from the USA moved out to NZ and set up a business based in the recently emptied hangars at Wigram, where he claimed to be an expert in WWII German aircraft. He wasn't, he was a total con artist from what I've been told. I don't know the full story from the horses mouths but what I have heard through the grapevine is Sir Tim pumped a lot of money into this guy's company to get one of the Me110's, one of the Stukas, and a Fw190. Every time he turned up to look at progress the guy flannelled I'm told and made up some fake bits to look like he was doing engineering.

Of course Sir Tim had his accident and money on projects dried up then, and his assets began to be sold off. So it was around this time that the crook was exposed for the conman he was, and the Bf110's were sold off, as were the Stukas.

The Bf110's went to Germany, and one was restored and is now in the Berlin Museum. One of the Stukas is now in the UK being restored to flight I believe. I think a second Bf110 (also static) is being planned I hear.

If any of this is innaccurate I apologise but this is what I have pieced together from a range of sources, some gossip, some more informed.

Imagine if the dream had come true - Bf110, Stuka, Me109F (yes, they had one of those too at the time too), Hurricane, Spitfire, Corsair, P40K, Avenger, Zero, Ratas and Chaikas, plus the OFMC's stuff now at Wanaka which i guess will be leaving now too since Ray Hanna has died. Very sad thinking what might have been, the Duxford of the south.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh, and I'm moving this into the Commemorating Past board, where it really should have been

[turboNZ]

Thanks for the info, Dave (and for moving it for me !!)

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry Bruce, your post wasn't there when i started typing my long spiel. Oh well, it backs up what I was saying anyway.

[corsair67]

Ah, I always wondered what happen to that guy (Peter?) who arrived at Wigram and had all these grand plans of rebuilding FW-190s, etc.

It really was too good to be true!

[DragonflyDH90]

I think youll find most of the OFMC stuff in Wanaka will stay, there are some things afoot, several of the aircraft have other partners (Lavochkin etc). Garth Hogan and John Lamont are both building houses there at the moment. But who knows what will happen, no point speculating to much.

Ray will be missed..

Again sorry for the thread hijack

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Ryan. I'd forgotten that John Lamont had flown for the OFMC, he's another I'll have to add to my list of great display pilots.