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On left is a newer bottle, the same on both sides. On the right is an older bottle which has a distinct front and back. there are several variations on the back as it evolved. This particular version suggests this bottle is from the late 1950's or early to mid 1960's. I have not been able to date the newer bottle on the left.
A pretty famous landmark, that I have been meaning to stop and photograph for ages.
There are pics on the net of this beauty going back years, if you look at them you can see how she has slowly deteriorated over the passing of time.
Balderton, Nottinghamshire - side of A1
The Lightning, serial number XN728, served with 92 Squadron at RAF Gutersloh in Germany – on the front line between Western Europe and Warsaw Pact countries
Thanks to Gary Parsons for the full story below:
www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/2002/sentinel/sentinel.htm
Lightning F2A XN728/V (c/n 95105) was built during 1961 at English Electric's Samlesbury facility.
She first flew on 26 October of that year, piloted by test pilot T. M. S. Ferguson, and was issued to 92 Squadron at RAF Leconfield on 1 April 1963.
She was to spend her whole career with 92 Squadron, initially coded 'B', later 'F' and finally 'V'. Her career was unremarkable, except for an undercarriage collapse on 3 April 1968, during the repair of which she was converted to F2A standard, basically a Mk6 but still retaining her guns.
31 of the original 44 F2s were converted from 1968 onwards - the engines were upgraded to the Avon RA211R but the armament fit was retained.
External features were the most noticeable, comprising the cambered wing, square-cut fin and much enlarged ventral tank of the F6. XN728 went on to serve the RAF in Germany until 92 Squadron disbanded in March 1977, prior to re-equipping with the Phantom FGR2. She then made her final flight to RAF Coningsby where she served as a decoy aircraft for a number of years with the maintenance serial 8546M.
On 3 October 1983 she was purchased by G.A. Wilks, and transferred to the yard of A1 Commercial Vehicles in Balderton, near Newark. The method of transfer was brutal, the wings and tail being cut near the root, so that she would not be able to support herself once put back together - a trestle support, placed under the ventral belly tank, kept her properly poised once at the yard. The wings and tail were re-attached using large metal plates, which sadly went unpainted and proved to be a bit of an eyesore.
During the nineties the vehicle yard fell on hard times and eventually closed, falling into disrepair. Being so close to Newark, anything that had a tangible value was swiftly removed (including the fence) and XN728 eventually became abandoned and alone, available for the attention of anyone wandering by. Removal of the wheels and the radar radome hurried the collapse of the ventral tank, causing the now tail-heavy aircraft to settle back into her present attitude, as if clawing to get airborne once more.
Attacked by vandals and graffiti 'artists', she remains more as testimony to man's wanton desire for destruction, rather than a proud sentinel of the Cold War in which she played a major part at the sharpest end.
Some more of my dust collectors come bookends.
RolleiFlex 2 1/4, Olympus OM-10 35mm, Pentax Sp1000 35mm, Olympus OM-1 35mm
Pentax ME F 35mm, Pentax Spotmatic 35mm and a Six 20 Brownie Junior
The background shot is one I took 2 years ago at Gravenhurst on Lake Muskoka. (Printed on Canvas) It is the steamship Sequin, which does tours of Lake Muskoka.