Mystery chair - RAF Halifax or Hastings?

[jaybee]

flic.kr/p/2hTcr6i

I recently acquired this chair which is alloy and looks British. It swivels and seems to be a radio operator or navigator chair.

Can anyone identify what aircraft it may have come from?

I immediately thought Anson or Oxford but appears to be neither.

It does have a data plate - part number 5710550 - the last three digits might possibly be 660; serial number A8542

Looking for ideas! Thanks

[jaybee]

Now confirmed as visually identical to the radio operator’s seat from a Handley Page Halifax bomber.

Does anyone have any photos of the Hastings crew positions? Just wondering if this seat came from an RNZAF Hastings?

[Dave Homewood]

Blast, I was in the MOTAT Hastings on Sunday but did not take a photo of the crew positions.

[shorty]

Hastings is most likely, when you analyse it why the hell would a Halifax seat be here?

[davidd]

We did have a Halifax pass through about 1947 (ex UK), although it was a civilian one (British reg), brought out some Greek sailors to man a merchant ship I seem to recall. However no idea why anybody would lose a seat! However RNZAF museum did receive a Hastings captain's seat many years ago, brought to NZ by its former pilot who flew with Transport Command in 1950s!
David D

[jaybee]

Any suggestions on a good home for the seat?

I acquired it simply to figure out what it was from and make sure it was safe from being skipped.

Now I have had my fun, it needs to find a good home, preferably where it will be used in a restoration.

[saratoga]

Also had the RAF Halifax 'Mercury' in about 1946 do a tour of the commonwealth, with the Empire radio school.

[emron]

Dec 4, 2019 7:55:17 GMT 12 jaybee said:

Now confirmed as visually identical to the radio operator’s seat from a Handley Page Halifax bomber.

Does anyone have any photos of the Hastings crew positions? Just wondering if this seat came from an RNZAF Hastings?

It looks a familiar shape and colour. I'll check out MOTAT's NZ5801 tomorrow in case others haven't already.

[jaybee]

Dec 7, 2019 14:10:12 GMT 12 emron said:

Dec 4, 2019 7:55:17 GMT 12 jaybee said:

Now confirmed as visually identical to the radio operator’s seat from a Handley Page Halifax bomber.

Does anyone have any photos of the Hastings crew positions? Just wondering if this seat came from an RNZAF Hastings?

It looks a familiar shape and colour. I'll check out MOTAT's NZ5801 tomorrow in case others haven't already.

Hi Emron, that would be great.

Karl Kjarsgaard - Curator - Bomber Command Museum of Canada has confirmed that the ID tag 5710550 means that the chair was originally built for the Halifax (model 57) and then when they were building the Hastings (model 67) in 1946+ era they said lets use up all the chairs from the Halifax to furnish the Hastings.

To help nail down the orgin of this particular chair, It would be good to know if this type of chair was used in the RNZAF Hastings. If it’s a match, then I am guessing it was from one of the Hastings cut up in Lower Hutt?

Looking forward to hearing!

[emron]

That explanation makes good sense. I checked out the Hastings today and found a similar seat which was complete with green upholstery. It’s standing in for the missing co-pilot’s seat at the moment and I’m still not sure what its correct place is. I was told it could be the Air Quartermaster’s seat but when I checked out that position I found a different style of swivel chair (with head-rest) there.
If you like, please PM with your contact details and I’ll pass on to someone who should know lots more about it than I do.
BTW as mentioned above MOTAT is looking out for a cockpit seat and would be delighted to find either a left hand or right hand one to fill the gap.

[jaybee]

Really appreciate the feedback. PM sent.