Fairey Barracuda Giant Jigsaw Rebuild At FAA Museum

At 10 years could this be the longest jigsaw puzzle in the world?

As a group of aircraft conservators plan to rebuild an aircraft from the wreckage of three others. All at a unique and live museum event in the UK.

Will Gibbs is just one of many conservators working on the project in public view.

This remarkable project is to reconstruct a unique Second World War Fairy Barracuda (Serial No DP872) aircraft. This has now received a funding boost from descendants of a rear gunner lost at sea in this type of aircraft.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton in Somerset have set aside an area within the building in order that visitors can watch the rebuilding. From September 22nd and then live over the next 10 years.

Called the Arthur Kimberley Viewing Gallery. Which is where the visitors can see close-up as the thousands of wrecked parts being brought together.  As the conservators to bring this aircraft back to life!

One of the Rolls Royce engines they have found.

The funding boost from the descendants of rear gunner lost at sea in this type of aircraft has helped to boost the whole project.

 2,500 Fairey Barracuda Aircraft Were Built 

Once completed this aircraft will be the only one of its type in the world. Although some 2,500 were produced not one is in any aviation collection anywhere in the world.

The Canadian family of rear gunner Arthur Kimberley, who was lost at sea in a Barracuda aircraft during the Second World War.  They have been inspired to help create a permanent memorial by donating to what is called the ‘Big Rebuild project’.

Nephew Jeremy Burge from Toronto in Canada with the cockpit section.

Staff and volunteers at the museum were given by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) permission to gather scattered parts from wreck sites across the British Isles and the world.

Recovering components such as the nose, centre section and wing parts from Barracuda DP872. Which were to be the essential building blocks for this restoration project. This has also included underwater excavation of an aircraft by Wessex Archaeology from the Solent in 2019.

Wherever possible, authentic Barracuda parts are extracted from wreck sites. Then subjected to a rigorous conservation process. In order to stabilise and de-corrode them. Thus preserving their historical significance.

A giant jigsaw of thousands of parts some reclaimed from wreckage in the sea.

Arthur Kimberley, a Telegraphist Air Gunner who flew in Barracuda aircraft was attached to 827 Naval Air Squadron during Arctic Convoy duties. At just 20-years- old, Kimberley tragically lost his life during an anti-submarine patrol over the North Sea.

With the generosity of his descendants, the Burge family have boosted the funds. Allowing the plane to once again be in the public domain.  And allowing visitors to witness first-hand the painstaking work carried out by the National Museum of the Royal Navy’s conservation team.

This clip has been collected from the seabed cleaned and preserved.

Completing The Fairey Collection

Diana Davies, Head of Conservation at The National Museum of the Royal Navy said: “The Barracuda Rebuild project will complete our Fairey aircraft collection.  It will fill a significant gap in the collection, but it is about much more than resurrecting an extinct aircraft.

A pilots seat on loan in order to obtain all the measurements to make a new one.

“The conservation of these wrecks is revealing so much information.  This cannot be found anywhere else except on the physical remains of the aircraft themselves. We want to use all this information to engage with the people who flew and operated Barracudas.  Also their families, and anyone who has an interest, to tell all strands of the story.  Plus connect with our audiences on all levels – archaeological, technical and emotional.

“I can’t think of anyone else attempting this anywhere else.  People do build aircraft and vintage ones of course.  But not from archaeological wreckage!”

www.nmrn.org.uk/fleet-air-arm-museum