While on the final Hamburg raid of 1943 this 405 Squadron Halifax bomber, HR871, was struck by lightning putting out the two inner engines and various instruments. The crew bailed out over Sweden and HR871 on her still running two outer engines headed out over the Baltic sea and eventually crashed into the water and sank to the bottom. On that eventful night this inner engine, put out of action by the lightning strike came to rest upside down where it would remain for the next 78 years until recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue, it remained Upside-down until reaching the RAF Snaith museum workshop.

What a golden gem of history.... Bedford QL that was in Normandy at the D day landings !

A 1938 Karrier called Rosie that was used during WW2 is a true golden gem

Three golden gems ! I don't know the full story on these but I do know the Bedford was in Normandy on D Day 1944 !
Best part is that she does run and will be seen in a video soon.

A 1930's? Karrier that saw ww2 service... Awaiting restoration

The RAF Snaith museum has its official opening Sunday 12th May.... Still very much work in progress as solely funded by donations.
Do you know of any other museums where the Squadron that served during WW2 still exist today ?

Its amazing what turns up at the RAF Snaith museum....

While on the final Hamburg raid of 1943 this 405 Squadron Halifax bomber, HR871, was struck by lightning putting out the two inner engines and various instruments. The crew bailed out over Sweden and HR871 on her still running two outer engines headed out over the Baltic sea and eventually crashed into the water and sank to the bottom. On that eventful night this inner engine, put out of action by the lightning strike came to rest upside down where it would remain for the next 78 years until recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue, it remained Upside-down until reaching the RAF Snaith museum workshop.

https://www.youtube.com/@UCXUlHfGaIpNW1poGCKb2ZhA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxXoEoiPDyM

In a bid to slow down further corrosion of this Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which sat for 80 years upside down at the bottom of the Baltic sea I have cleaned off as much sand and debris as possible and given it a good coat of Lanoguard.... Did I mess up ?
Next up is to clean the Rotol prop hub and reduction gear so they can be fitted back in place.

Please check my channel for more on this Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which was ditched by the crew in 1943 and this engine lay upside down at the bottom of the Baltic sea for 80 years!

It has to be said here in the UK days like this often feel few and far between!
No doubt the end of the day will see many lines crossing the sky and the normal grey weather will return!

When the Phillips crew bailed to safety over Sweden from Halifax HR871 after a lightning strike put the inner engines out of use and other equipment on the last of the Hamburg raids on August 2nd 1943 nobody would of thought an engine from the ditched bomber would be seen again.... However 80 years later here we are ...

While on the final Hamburg raid of 1943 this 405 Squadron Halifax bomber, HR871, was struck by lightning putting out the two inner engines and various instruments. The crew bailed out over Sweden and HR871 on her still running two outer engines headed out over the Baltic sea and eventually crashed into the water and sank to the bottom. On that eventful night this inner engine, put out of action by the lightning strike came to rest upside down where it would remain for the next 78 years until recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue, it remained Upside-down until reaching the RAF Snaith museum workshop.

After 80 years after the bottom of the Baltic sea this spark plug still works!

As I clean the Baltic sea sand from this Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which had sat upside-down for 80 years reveals its secrets....
While inspecting the valves and valve seats that remain one has half of it missing , I suspect the seat was cracked in two while in service and as the head corroded away half fell out.
None of the other seats have suffered in this way.

This Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which was ditched by the crew after a lightning strike on the last of the Hamburg raids in 1943, the aircraft coming to rest at the bottom of the Baltic sea where this engine sat upside-down for 80 years....
I am quite blown away some of the cylinders have a shine to them!

We have two engines for display at the RAF Snaith museum, a Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which was ditched by the crew after a lightning strike on the last of the Hamburg raids in 1943, this engine sat at the bottom of the Baltic sea for 80 years...
The other is a post war Bristol Hercules engine that was at some point taken out of service and stored.... eventually being a display item at a couple of museums...
At some point some clown removed the spark plugs allowing moisture into the cylinders and wrecking what could of been recommissioned to run.

While on the final Hamburg raid of 1943 this 405 Squadron Halifax bomber, HR871, was struck by lightning putting out the two inner engines and various instruments. The crew bailed out over Sweden and HR871 on her still running two outer engines headed out over the Baltic sea and eventually crashed into the water and sank to the bottom. On that eventful night this inner engine, put out of action by the lightning strike came to rest upside down where it would remain for the next 78 years until recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue, it remained Upside-down until reaching the RAF Snaith museum workshop.
Video coming soon.

Finally the Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 is the correct way up! Possibly the first time since 1943 !
Please like , subscribe and ring the bell to see the full video when it's uploaded.

Handley Page Halifax HR871 of the 405 Squadron RCAF took a lightning strike on the last Hamburg raid on August 2nd 1943, the crew bailed to safety over Sweden and HR871 flew out over the Baltic sea before crashing into the water...
This Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 came to rest Upside-down on the sea bed where it sat 79 years before Halifax 57 Rescue recovered it.... and it sat the same way on a pallet until today!

A Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 has sat upside down since 1943 , 79 years at the bottom of the Baltic sea and has remained this way since recovery....
Its time to turn it the correct way up and see what remains of the top of this iconic engine....

The Rolls Royce Merlin V12 from Halifax HR871 gets a step closer to being turned over the correct way after giving the inside the crankcase a few coats of @Lanoguard to help prevent further corrosion....
https://youtu.be/2P-LX1yg9k0?si=l2fq9bcDbrpeputJ

Slowly but surely we bring the former Officers quarters on WAAF site No.1 back to life.

So last August a Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 arrived at the RAF Snaith museum after spending the best part of 80 years in the Baltic sea!
When it arrived it sat upside-down on the pallet hiding what remains on top of the engine....
Now its about ready to turn over the correct way.

Here we have a Rolls Royce Merlin engine from Halifax HR871 which was ditched by the crew on the last of the Hamburg raids in August 1943 after a lightning strike put both inner engines out of action....this being one of them.
The aircraft came to rest at the bottom of the Baltic sea where it sat for 79 years when Halifax 57 Rescue recovered parts of Halifax HR871.
Now to be displayed at the RAF Snaith museum it needs turning over the correct way but before I can some protection is needed.... this is after two coats of Lanoguard...