At the start of February 1997 it was reported in the local Press that De Havilland Type 115 Vampire T11, XD 542, gate guardian at RAF Edzell, a U.S. Naval Security Group Activity centre, was to go for auction by Phillips. This was a disappointment to the members of the Montrose Aerodrome Museum Society and Trust, as we had hoped, our RAF Montrose Museum being only 12 miles from the base, that we would be gifted the aircraft when the base closed this year. With about three weeks warning of the impending sale, efforts began to raise funds locally and chase up members for support for this effort. With reports in the Press that Phillips hoped the aircraft to raise between £1,500 to £2,000, and hints that local collectors were determined to buy the aircraft, we did not hold out much hope of success. A last-minute appeal to the MOD that we be gifted the aircraft was unsuccessful, however, local businesses and the public came to our aid, and with members support we were able to put together what we hoped was a viable offer. Member Neil Butler travelled down to London for the sale.

He reported that the sale started at £500 and quickly went to £1200, but it ended with only himself and someone in the room bidding after that. He was apprehensive as it approached our limit, but fortunately the other party dropped out, so that the Montrose Air Station Museum Trust are now owners of the aircraft. Although it will have to be transported to our Museum, no small job in itself, the members are looking forward to the task and installing XD542 at its new home.

The aircraft, construction no 15286, was built at DeHavilland's works at Broughton, Chester, and was declared ready for collection on 30 June 1954, and from there it went to the Maintenance Unit at Hullavington by 5 July 1954. It was dispatched to the Central Gunnery School at Leconfield. After a short time in service it suffered an accident beyond local repair, and on November 1 1954 a team from 60 MU Dishforth began repairs, which were completed by Christmas that year. On January 1 1955 it was allocated to the Fighter Weapons School at Leconfield. It continued there until 31 July 1956 when it suffered another accident, again requiring the work of 60 MU from Dishforth. It resumed training on 25 October 1956. XD542 remained with the FWS until it was withdrawn from service on 14 October 1957, departing to 10 MU at Hullavington for storage. Soon after arrival it was allocated to Maintenance Command as 7604M.

It stayed at Hullavington until it was allocated to 12 School of Technical Training at Melksham on 22 June 1959, for use as an instructional airframe. On July 24 1964 it was transferred to the museum at Colerne where it was refurbished and restored. When Colerne closed it was transferred to Cranwell on September 30 1975 where it remained until July 1991, when it was transferred to RAF Edzell, where it was repaired by a team from RAF Abington and RAF Leuchars and base personnel. The US Navy SeaBees constructed a plinth, and on October 2 1991 XD542 was lowered on to it to become the gate guardian at RAF Edzell. From the start of July 1997 Society members, under Chairman David Butler, started working on the aircraft to get it ready for its move to the Museum at Montrose. This involved erecting scaffolding round the aircraft to support it when it was unbolted from the stand, lowering the undercarriage from outside, and generally preparing it for lifting by crane.

On Thursday evening, July 10th, members started the job of lifting, with a hired crane being available on that night. The guy wires were removed, and strops attached. With perfect weather conditions, the lift went with little hitch, the aircraft at the last moment being reluctant to leave its perch, but a few taps with a hammer on the stand end freed the machine, and it was lowered back to terra firma in the base car park.

This enabled the Society members to inspect the airframe, where they discovered that damage caused in the gales of a year or so ago had not been repaired. This has allowed the weather to enter the damaged areas on the wing/fuselage joint and the nose, causing the skinning to delaminate. (The pod of the aircraft is built following the style of the wartime Mosquito bomber, being a balsa/plywood sandwich). This will involve repairs at the Aerodrome Museum. On Sunday, August 24, 1997, it was transported to the Museum at Montrose. If anyone in Scotland worked on these aircraft we would be pleased to hear from them.

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