RAF Colerne Photos?

Hello, I’m afraid I’m coming to this thread a bit late but would like to ask if anyone has information about Hurricane LF686’s time at Colherne. The aircraft left RAF Bridgnorth where it was a gate guard, in 1963. It was transported to RAF Colherne, overhauled and placed into storage until flown in an RAF transport to the USA in 1969. This was a trade for Typhoon MN235. Who overhauled the aircraft and are there any photos while on Colherne or during the work?

I had my first flight in an Anson from Colerne in the 1950s with the ATC. There were Balliols there too I recall….probably got some notes in my “Eagle” Diary of the period !
Later I visited numerous times with a camera both before and after the Herks arrived and especially recall one visit when the Avro 707 was lying dismantled on the edge of the airfield ,presumably after the museum closed.
Unfortunately my photos of those times are b/w and many only negatives or on a disc….and I have no idea how to put them up on here!!
However the originator of this thread is welcome to PM me and visit to see/copy what I have if he PMs with me contact details.

Does anyone have any info on Hawker Typhoon IB, EJ947 175 Sqdn. Colerne.
Overshot Colerne on landing. 13.04.1943?
Apparently the squadron had only arrived there about five days previously.

Better late than never! (Taken in 1976)

Thanks for that. This particular Hastings (or what was left of it) is fondly remembered by me as my parents drove into Cambridge for fish and chips when i was a nipper. And whilst driving along Coldhams lane i could always see this poor old girl on her belly through the car window – but gradually her fuselage roof being completely burnt through :(.

Rob

Slight drift :Anybody know why Duxford didn’t apply the City of Bath arms on TG 528 on its last repaint? The silver doesn’t look right either!

I flew many flights on this particular Hastings, including the Zambia oil crisis, when on 24 Squadron at Colerne in the mid-60s. Sorry. no photos to hand (dreaded computer crash, etc :mad:).

I believe that the repaint was to portray it as it was during the era of the Berlin Airlift, ie pre-dating the granting of the coat of arms. As for the shade of silver paint, I agree, but it seems a common problem.

DD

Cambridge Hastings

A little of the RAF Colerne topic,but was the Cambridge Hastings TG510???

The engine bearers from the Hastings were still to be found along with the Cockpit section of Canberra WJ863 until a couple of years ago lurking in the long grass at the Cherry Hinton/Coldhams Lane end of the Airfield.

Any one got a pic of the Hastings while at Cambridge?

Better late than never! (Taken in 1976)

My father David Hitchins was the CO of 24 Sqn from 1957 to 1959, when it was the Commonwealth Squadron and the command rotated through Commonwealth countries. We are Aussies! We lived on Base and my sister and I ( aged five and six when we arrived) caught the bus down Bannerdown Hill to the school in Bath. Dad travelled all over the world with the Hastings crews. Not one of his favourite planes. But he loved the posting and the people they met.

Jenny1

I lived, as a nipper, just down the road at Lanhill from 52 to 61 and the Hastings from Colerne were a constant aspect of my life back then, as well as the Valetta’s and Varsities from Hullavington doing circuits all day. A few years later I went to Colerne to attend a ATC camp at about the time that the Hastings were just being retired, their replacement in the form of a brand new C-130 was parked on the airfield, it seemed rather modern by comparison.

Richard

I worked as MT Fitter here in 1970. The group of three hangers to the left. The top one. Oh and there was the Bannerdown Gliding club.

Here’s a station defence plan from 1953.

Bombgone and jayemm74 – thank you for your individual accounts.

Surprised i’ve never heard of this incident before, and obviously a tragic loss however it happened.

Rob

Alvampman, thanks for the pic.

waghorn41, I wouldn’t mind seeing your photos too please, the cockpit of WJ676 is currently sitting on my front lawn.

Cheers Paul

XV198 September 73, 12:10.
Aircraft carrying out rollers with No1 shut down for asymmetric training. No2 failed on climb-out and it crashed into the wood near the end of the runway almost vertically, left wing and nose first.

Never heard about that one. What happened?

Rob

It is believed that on the landing approach at Colerne the pilot may have throttled back to far through the control gate and went into reverse pitch while still airborne a few hundred yards from the runway. Diving straight into the ground. I understand that none of the crew survived.

Got a picture somewhere of the Hercules crash in the woods at Colerne…1970`s ??

I remember it. Happened just after I was demobbed from the RAF. Friend of mine saw it go in. Tragic.

Never heard about that one. What happened?

Rob

Got a picture somewhere of the Hercules crash in the woods at Colerne…1970`s ??

I remember it. Happened just after I was demobbed from the RAF. Friend of mine saw it go in. Tragic.

I have some pictures of WJ676 but they were taken at Wroughton.

Also, Colerne in 1974 was the host to the RAF Model Aircraft Championships – r/c, control line and free flight.

316 Squadron Colerne, July 1941. In background Hurricane SZ-E, Z2805. Polish Squadrons Remembered website.

Got a picture somewhere of the Hercules crash in the woods at Colerne…1970`s ??

Just an aside, but I think Duxfords Hasting is a former Colerne aircraft. It came from the Skyfame Museum at Staverton, and if memory serves displayed the City of Bath crest on the cockpit side, when it arrived at Staverton/Duxford.(Colerne Squadrons received the freedom of the City in the 60s, hence the crest on the aircraft.)

Slight drift :Anybody know why Duxford didn’t apply the City of Bath arms on TG 528 on its last repaint? The silver doesn’t look right either!

I flew many flights on this particular Hastings, including the Zambia oil crisis, when on 24 Squadron at Colerne in the mid-60s. Sorry. no photos to hand (dreaded computer crash, etc :mad:).

Great thread this. I was stationed at Colerne 1970/2. It was C130 Maintenance then. Went for a test flight in one. Fantastic! And a member of the Bannerdown Gliding club. We had 2 winches and 2 jags. I was also a member of the Aircraft museum and the motor club. Loads to do not enough time to do it all in. Brilliant posting. Some really great times there. Sadly never took any photos.