Calling 1950's RAF Tangmere experts

….and an even sadder end for the Chivenor Vampire, VV619, when it crashed on 24 November 1953 after the pilot became lost in cloud and it dived into the ground near Chard, Somerset.

sad end for 731 that Meteor…Written off 22.09.1966 when shot down over Cardigan Bay by a Bloodhound SAM during a flight from Llanbedr.

Interesting to see the detail of ‘Johnny’ Kent’s personal Meteor. I have photo somewhere, but his daughter will be thrilled. Interesting detail which seems to show his rank pennant, pointing downwards, on the nose wheel door. Unless I’m misreading that?

…and take photographs of most of it, despite the ban.

Ever tried enforcing that, flew into Fleetlands to the airshow there and they had a Phantom on display with the nose open showing of the radar, with a piddling little sign saying no photography , one thought then, if you do not want people to photograph it because it is still classified, then do not put it on show, it was rather like a do not walk on the grass sign and was ignored by many.

I am indebted to Chris Michell for making available the ‘spotters log book’ of the late Peter Foote for the Tangmere September BoB display.

Simply amazing detail, bordering on the OCD scale I suspect.

How you could take down and note all those details then write it up afterwards is unbelievable.

…and take photographs of most of it, despite the ban.

Mark

Mark

I can’t locate the original at the minute but this scan from one of my Tangmere books shows the same display line-up. It is what confirmed it as Tangmere for me.

The scan is very poor because I couldn’t get book completely flat without breaking the spine – but it serves its purpose.

PS – sorry, no idea why image is flipped. Was the correct way when I saved it!

No, 1953 is the correct year.

Year query.

The types serials and codes in the images match precisely the Tangmere 1953 listing in Scramble :- http://www.scramble.nl/?option=com_showreports&view=article&ct=GB&id=2541

Mark

The only thing I would query is the year. I believe prior to 1956 photography was actually banned at all RAF displays. How each station carried this out with zeal could vary. I certainly remember ready about the lifting of the ban in old magazines. of course the FAA and USAF had no such ban. So the date might be a few years out, still great photos.

Andy and Steve,

Many thanks and not the answer I had anticipated.

The party that took the image was pretty sure it was Biggin Hill, where he was a regular visitor as a schoolboy in the 1950’s.

This Air-Britain shot from September 1959 Tangmere BoB confirms the location with the trees behind the hangar putting on a few more feet of growth since 1953.

Mark

Yes, I concur having checked.

Was slightly thrown by the trees in the background.

Definitely Tangmere.

Not sure, but it could be Tangmere and the buildings visible beyond the trees make sense as this would be Tangmere Village. Certainly, the hangars are correct for the period and the big apron looks right, too.

Let me check what I have.

South eastern edge of North Weald where the market sits now?