Identify this aircraft and some history

[Mavourneen Cart]

We have at our Moth Hall a beautiful wooden propeller with the following details
PEGASUS VI - DRG No 228928 1.
On one of the spans is a very faint carved swastika.

can you tell me what aircraft this is from. And a bit of history so I can put it up on the wall next to the prop.

many thanks

Mauvs

[Bob Gardner]

Hello Mauvs,

This is a preliminary answer, off the cuff. I'll do some research so I can give you a definitive answer, anon. The Bristol Pegasus was a 9 cylinder air-cooled radial engine which was developed from the Bristol Jupiter and developed into the Bristol Phoenix. It was first used in the early 1930's in the Handley Page Harrow and the Vickers Wellesley with the Mark X engine. Mark XX, XXII and Mark 29 engines were used in the Vickers Wellesley, the Harrow 2 and the early Short Sunderlands.

With kind regards,

Bob

[Bob Gardner]

Mauvs,

This was a difficult task that you set me. But I have an answer. The prop was initially used in a pusher configuration in the Supermarine Walrus Marks I and II, powered by a single Bristol Pegasus II engine at first, and later by the Pegasus VI engine.

The aircraft was designed to act as a spotter for the large warships of the Royal Navy following an initiative from the Royal Australian Navy. It was launched by catapult from the ship and when its sortie was complete it landed alongside the ship and was lifted back on board by crane.

During WWII it was also used by the RAF as a search and rescue aircraft and saved the lives of many aircrew who had ditched in the sea; (British, German, Canadian, American and Commonwealth.)

I have seen two or three of the propellers from this aircraft in the past few decades and I believe that two 2-bladed propellers were used at right angles to each other to form a 4-bladed propeller. The diameter of each of the these 2- bladed props was ten feet. I believe the hubs were notched to allow them to be married to form a four bladed prop. This made the carriage of the props and their storage on board much easier. Is your prop two-bladed and ten feet long?

With kind regards,

Bob

[Bob Gardner]

This research took about an hour and a half but MAUVEREEN CARTS did not answer; no thanks nor recognition.

[Dbahnson]

It's sad that people aren't more appreciative of something that they get for nothing and likely would not get in any other way. I feel for you, Bob.

Dave,

This person appears to run a museum in South Africa. I have communicated with museums on every continent who are always professional and grateful when I answer a query for them. In particular the two major museums in Berlin and München have been a delight to work with and helped me a great deal when I was researching for my books on German WW1 props. It is almost unknown amongst professionals interested in the same subject to be rude.

With kind regards,

Bob