627 Sqn bombing Trophy

Martin Bull · #1 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2004, 06:15 AM

Haven't been able to get to the Mosquito Museum as much as I'd like but managed to get there yesterday.

The hangars are being cleaned up and rearranged for the new season. Standing on the floor, in the corner, unloved, dirty and starting to show rust (! [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img] ) I found the historic 627 Squadron Monthly Practice Bombing Trophy.

This is a 10lb practice bomb mounted on a large wooden plinth with duralumin plates attached engraved with the names and ranks of the most accurate pilots.

627 in its short life became legendary ; it was the 5 Group Pathfinder Mosquito outfit specialising in ultra-low-level target marking techniques, operating with 617 Squadron from Woodhall Spa.

The trophy has some interesting associations ; it would have stood in the 627 Officers Mess when Guy Gibson took off for Rheydt in a 627 Mosquito, never to return. And the trophy winner in September 44 and January 45 was Flt Lt W W Topper, who was Marker Leader and dropped the first TI on Dresden. If only the trophy could talk.....

Anyjow, the restoration task is mine and the trophy is sitting right here next to me awaiting some TLC. It's great to be a temporary custodian of such a piece of history, which can be seen on p.134 of Alan Webb's classic 627 book, 'At First Sight' .

But.. IF ONLY IT COULD TALK !!

Stevin · #2 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2004, 08:24 AM

Good for you, Martin! Excellent project. Can't imagine that a trophy like that lacks the attention it deserves....Just check ebay go crazy when they put up for sale a comparable German trophy!!

Of course it is not the moeny but the story who won it...and how....and what were the stories behind those men...

A wonderful piece of history, Martin, which, I hope, will find its rightfull place in the museum...

Stevin · #3 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2004, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin Bull:
It's great to be a temporary custodian of such a piece of history, which can be seen on p.134 of Alan Webb's classic 627 book, 'At First Sight' .

But.. IF ONLY IT COULD TALK !!

[/QB]

Nice looking Trophy! Must be very special to have it on the shelf at your house and pretent you just won it!

BTW, Topper won it twice. He must have had a keen eye!
[img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img]

Martin Bull · #4 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2004, 05:24 PM

Yes - that bomb has lost some of its sparkle since the photo was taken....the paint is flaking in places, too.

I'm going to put some effort into this, my own small tribute to 627.

Martin Bull · #5 (**permalink**) February 12th, 2004, 02:39 PM

As a footnote, I e-mailed the 627 Squadron Association to reassure tham that their trophy is in good hands.

They've replied saying that some of the 627 veterans are hoping to arrange a Group visit to the Mosquito museum in the summer - so this may turn out to be quite a fun project....

Stevin · #6 (**permalink**) February 12th, 2004, 05:04 PM

Christmas is very early this year!

Can I sent you my copy of At First Sight???

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img]

Martin Bull · #7 (**permalink**) April 22nd, 2004, 07:26 PM

Finished it at last ! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Another one of those easy little tasks that takes a lot longer than you think.....

Just to give you an idea : -

The wooden plinth was sanded, undercoated, two coats of blackboard paint applied followed by a light rubbing over with wax polish to give a 'sheen' finish.

The dural name plaques ( very soft alloy ) were highly polished and then coated with lacquer.

The base was sanded down and then given six coats of wax polish - then some small cork pads were fitted to protect against damage.

And then the 11lb practice bomb itself. This was badly rusted ( especially the tail ). Hours were spent wirebrushing the rust off - but the rust had penetrated and discoloured the low-grade steel. Sandblasting would have pitted the surface so the bomb was painted with two coats of special rustproof silver paint and returned to its rightful place atop the black plinth.....

And now it's ready to go back to the Museum on Sunday. The object was to restore the trophy and help prevent any future deterioration ; I think it looks pretty

!

Stevin · #8 (**permalink**) April 22nd, 2004, 08:23 PM

Great feat, Martin! Well done!

Picture! Picture! Picture!

Martin Bull · #9 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2004, 03:54 PM

Finally put it back on display today.

When you've had your nose pressed against it for weeks, you know every imperfection - but on display, it looks really quite neat !

It's really given me a great sense of satisfaction : help your local museums/enthusiast groups, guys..... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Stevin · #10 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2004, 06:59 PM

Picture! Picture! Picture!

Martin Bull · #11 (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2004, 07:40 AM

I did take some 'steam-powered' photos before returning the trophy.

I really must get a digi camera.....

Martin Bull · #12 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2006, 10:46 AM

Well, better late than never !

I was up at the museum yesterday with my digital camera and remembered to take some photos of the 627 Squadron trophy. I'm proud to say that it still looks good, and my work of renovation and protection a couple of years back is paying off - no rust or damp damage at all. Should be good for many years to come !

camz · #13 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2006, 02:49 AM

Thanks for the pics Martin.
I have not seen the pics of it before the clean up but I must say it does look good!

Martin Bull · #14 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2006, 05:21 AM

Thanks, camz. It was really getting in poor condition but fortunately the wood hadn't started to rot. AFAIK, all the men whose names are on the trophy have now passed away so I took a lot of care over the restoration. [img]graemlins/poppy.gif[/img]

camz · #15 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2006, 08:00 AM

Just wondering is it very heavy as it looks like you where game putting it on the glass cabinet with the models inside.

Also are the models very old?

Martin Bull · #16 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2006, 08:12 AM

The whole thing weighs about 12lbs so maybe you've got a point ! [img]redface.gif[/img]

The models are really ancient - all scratchbuilt from wood by long-departed members of the Mosquito Museum modelling dept.....

Stevin · #17 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2006, 10:01 AM

Those are some great pics, Martin. And a really beautiful result for your efforts. Great that you have been able to restore such a great part of history!!!!

Well done. I think Otto can give you another star for that! And promote you from acting WC to WC!

Shack · #18 (**permalink**) August 3rd, 2007, 09:46 AM

Awsome work on the trophy, looks great. I had the pleasure of meeting Flt Lt Brian Harris DFC an Ex 7 Sqn and 627 Sqn Navigator on Friday 27th July and hosting him at the station families day. Got some awsome pictures of the mighty Stirling of 7 Sqn and Mosquitos of 627 Sqn. The latter the Museum here has little of. Today I received 3 vidoes from him, one of which he took himself and aparently is the only colour film of a wartime Mosquito Squadron.

Martin Bull · #19 (**permalink**) August 3rd, 2007, 12:32 PM

Hello Shack

Yes, I'm very proud of that trophy and it still looks as good as ever up at the Mossie Museum ! I have the video you refer to, it's historically very important as the only colour record of 627's Mosquitoes in late 1944.

There are very few ex-627 men left, I'm very sorry to say, and I'm glad you had the chance to meet Mr Harris. ( I treasure my prized copy of the Squadron history, 'At First Sight'... )