USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
Article about: Hi all Well, I've been back to 'my' airbase for a bit of a poke about. I spent a couple of hours at the dump then, when I got knackered, moved over to another area for a bit of relaxing meta
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USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
Hi all
Well, I've been back to 'my' airbase for a bit of a poke about. I spent a couple of hours at the dump then, when I got knackered, moved over to another area for a bit of relaxing metal detecting.
I had some good finds, and one or two bits that are intriguing.
Before cleaning
Odds and ends first. A nice US padlock and a key, but not the one for this padlock....BAH !!! A couple of barrel brushes (an odd find here), a Merlin exhaust stub lock washer, a cap off a petrol can, a couple of electrical items that I'm not sure of and a Carlisle Model 1st aid kit, (in bad shape though)
Close up of the padlock and key....
And a close up of the Carlisle model tin.....
The dump is full of bottles. I took these home as they were nicely marked. The comb was in the dump so, although not marked, I know it was used in wartime.
'Jergens Lotion'
You can read this one yourself....
And lastly a 'Parker' ink pot, made in USA
An almost complete mug....just missing the handle. Dated 1944
A couple of shaving cream tubes, a Bakelite razor handle and, (this one is just for Whitehunter), a toothbrush, not only marked with the WD arrow, but also dated 1941 Second example of one of these I've now found
Close up of the toothbrush.
It was a bit of a day for tea ration tins, as you can see Only one minor point that disappointed me a smidgen, they are all marked as filled in August 1945 Oh well
The usual 50cals and 303 cartridges
Headstamps off the 50s
These last three items have got me puzzled. They were found near the bottom of the dump, 5 feet below ground level. These items were together in the dump, along with lots of shards of airframe skin. Both appear to be made of aircraft alloy. This first item is about ten inches across by six wide.
It has one stamp on it which I first though might be an aircraft serial number. I am still checking on that theory. Another idea is that it is a part number. Can you help ??
These two were, as I've said, found with the bit above. The cartridge is a 50cal so you can get an idea of size. Both are very lightweight alloy and have been 'folded' to form the tube, VERY accurately. This isn't an amateurs attempt and making a tube. They are very precise and have the remains of iron clamps on the end. I suddenly realised that the pipes fit snugly through the hole in the mesh in the above item. What are they off ????? No visible markings.
Hope you like the finds
Steve T
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Re: USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
Nice items, Steve! The bottom two look like .5 blast tubes from a fighter wing. The grill is for an intake but don't know what yet... are the ends of the tubes rounded? Carb grill?
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Re: USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
Have a look at P47s, Don't think Mustangs had them. I'm sure there's a pic on the forum of that grill, I think it's inside a Packard Merlin carburretor
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Re: USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
I think the grill and tubes are from a sump filter, you might be missing the actual fibre filter or paper depending what they made them from then
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Re: USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
Nice finds Steve,not your usual rubbish finds.Not rubbish,you know 'discarded items'
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Re: USAAF airbase - January 25th 2012 - Base dump and MD session :)
I wasn't going mad, joy unbounded! Not sure about the blast tubes though, P47s definitely have rounded ends. Interesting pic Paul, were they really blue? That said I've found yellow painted bits of Merlin.
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