G-TEXN
G-TEXN Sporting her new 601 squadron colours for 2018!
601 Squadron – Harvard colours based on a Harvard based at North Weald circa 1948 – 601 Squadron was Imagined by an aristocrat in White’s Club, London in 1925, a part-time squadron of wealthy young men with their own private aircraft was incorporated into a newly-established combat-ready Auxiliary Air Force, first as bombers, then fighters. The pre-war years combined serious training with frivolity and mischief, but the outbreak of war in 1939 changed that. Despite their social rank the pilots were thrust into the heart of the action, with mortality proving to be the great social leveler. From pampered pre-war lifestyles to perilous front-line deployment, their career trajectories featured the kind of radical changes of pace and focus that war alone engenders. In the process, the surviving members of 601 were changed forever. Through the battles of Britain, Malta, the African desert and Italy the squadron’s
Below is an original photograph of KF 402 post war
Military History
G-TEXN was built during the Second World War, most probably as an AT-6D Model. Detailed records are unavailable because, in October 1950, the airframe was among the 1,802 T6’s to be re-manufactured as a T-6G model, bearing the Serial Number 49-3072, and Construction Number 168-176. In the remanufacturing process, the previous identity of the airframe was lost.
It was delivered to 3565th Basic Pilot Training Wing (Air Training Command) at James Connelly Air Force Base, Texas.ย Basic pilot training ceased at Connelly in June 1951. In July of that year, 49-3072 was transferred to the 3303rd Pilot Training Squadron (Air Training Command) at Bartow Air Force Base , Florida, where it remained until August 1956, when it was delivered to the Storage Branch (Air Materiel Command) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona. Here, the famous desert โboneyardsโ, with their dry climate and alkali soil, make an ideal location for aircraft storage and preservation.ย In September 1957, 49-3072 was removed from the US Air Force’s inventory as surplus.
Civilian register
1963 – The aircraft was registered on the American civil register as N2807G in 1963, based in Florida, and owned by Hoyette S. Hudson, a former Tail Gunner on Liberators with the 767th Squadron of the 461st (H) Bomb Group from October 1943.
1976 – N2807G was moved to Chicago in 1965, and then on to Virginia in 1976.
1980 – The aircraft was purchased by Jim Keen of Keenair Services Ltd, shipped to Speke (Liverpool) for re-assembly, and registered on the UK Civil Register as G-BHTH. At this stage, the aircraft flew in the paint scheme of a US Navy SNJ. In
1986ย – G-BHTH moved to Wellesbourne Mountford, where it remained for a year
1991 – Moved to Booker, until it was transferred to Thruxton in 1991.
1995 – G-BHTH was damaged on landing, and was struck off the Civil Register in 2001. ย Crashed at Bourne park – 13th March 1995 and was later rebuilt and re registered as G-TEXN
SEE FULL ACCIDENT REPORT–ย Accident report – Link
2004 – The aircraft was sold to Northbrook College, Shoreham, for use as an instructional airframe. In September 2004, the airframe was purchased by Richard Dauncey and Jon Drake, who undertook the aircraft’s restoration with Apollo Aviation at Shoreham Airport.ย In June 2005, the aircraft returned to the UK Civil Register as G-TEXN on a Public Transport Category Certificate of Airworthiness.
2018 – The aircraft is now owned by Boultbee and hangared at Goodwood
2018 – May 2018 G-TEXN was repainted to represent KF 402 a Silver Harvard based with 601 squadron N Weald during 1948
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