The Hawker Tempest Page

Survivors » MW404

Tempest Mk. II MW404

	Summary of History
Date	Note	Code/Serial
1945	Built at Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Langley (Contract ACFT/2438/C.23(a))	MW404
Aug 1945	No. 247 Sqn, Chilbolton	MW404
May 1948	Bought by Hawker Aircraft Ltd from RAF stock at 20 MU, refurbished	MW404 --> HA557
1948	Delivered to Indian AF	HA557
1979	Recovered by Warbirds of GB Ltd, Blackbushe.	MW404
1988	James Horsley, UK	MW404
2012	Chris Miller, TX USA	MW404

Do you have more information or is something wrong? Any corrections to this list are most welcome.
Please send me an e-mail./ Christer Landberg

In February 2005 Ian Wilkinson reports:

These photos were taken by Ian Wilkinson in 2005 in the yard of a small fabrication company which is located (he believes) in what was the cinema of the former RAF Hemswell airbase. This is located north of Lincoln just to the west of the A15 road to Scunthorpe (both in Lincolnshire). The airfield is north of RAF Scampton. The identities of these Tempests are not absolutely certain, but it's most likely MW404 and MW758.

In November 2011 Trev Davies reports:

Trev Davies reports MW404 has appeared in Parkhouse Aviation's yard at Booker on 25th November 2011. The serial & Indian Air Force roundel, albeit faded, can still be seen on the fuselage.

In March 2012 Trev Davies reports:

A chance taken to get an uncluttered shot of MW404/HA557,in the process of being moved around from inside Parkhouse Aviation's yard, prior to being crated for onward shipment.

On 24 March 2012 Chris Miller reports:

MW404 is now confirmed to has been sold to Chris Miller, TX USA. Trev Davies reports that MW404 on March 23 still was in the yard at Booker.

Chris Miller reports:

The Tempest has been bought and is in England awaiting shipment to Houston, TX. We wish to restore the aircraft to airworthy. We have many parts already! We will give you detailed updates as information becomes available!

Sincerely,

Chris S. Miller

You can also read Chris Miller's comments here at Warbirdz' Forum!

In October 2012 Chris Miller reports:

We are really excited to report that restoration of Hawker Tempest II s/n MW404 is underway to airworthy condition.
Tempest II S/N MW404 arrived safely into the hangar in a 40' shipping container on June 15th 2012 after taking 1 month to clear customs after entry on May 18 2012. After aircraft was delivered to hangar disassembly has begun. The plane overall is in excellent condition, some surface and intergranular corrosion is present.

More information, history and photos are shown on Chris Miller's website. Please check it out for latest news!:

(Click the image below.)

Photos:

Chris S. Miller

Trev Davies
Ian Wilkinson

Redspan Solutions Ltd

Text:

Chris S. Miller

Trev Davies

Ian Wilkinson

This page was last updated 16 Oct 2012