Wonder if anyone can help on this one?
In August 1952 I attended an Open Day at RAF Calshot with my Dad this event and a visit to Farnborough that year fired my interest in aviation. At the time we were living in a caravan at Lepe which is just along the beach from Calshot.
Question is can anyone provide me with a list of aircraft, including serials, there that day? I remember the Sunderlands, seemed liked like lots of them, several in hangars. Also remember the Saro SR.A.1 TG263 and a Tiger Moth carrying out aerobatics, particularly balloon bursting.
The other memorable part of the afternoon was ride on the Solent on an ASR launch, no hand rails, just sat on the deckingand held on to what ever was available. Health & Safety had yet to be invented.
Any help including contemporty photographs would be most welcome.
By: Newforest - 15th January 2008 at 23:03
Had a quick google for the book and it doesn’t look as though it is readily available from the usual sources.:(
I wonder if this is the same Frank Smith who advertises every month in Flypast, our sponsor, from Newcastle?
By: howard scotter - 15th January 2008 at 22:11
Sorry I have no info on that.It was published in 1997 so it could be.H
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th January 2008 at 21:52
Howard…………….
Thank you for that, could be helpful. Do you know if the book is still available?
Thks & Rgds Planemike…………..
By: howard scotter - 15th January 2008 at 21:45
Book
Hi all.There is a book called R.A.F Calshot 1936-1961 by Chaz Bowyer
Published by Frank Smith Maritime Aviation Books. ISBN 0953102300
This is an A4 size paper back with 12 pages although it has not got anything about airshows .Some B & W photos ,one with Sunderland GR5 NJ205 TA-F of
235 OCU ? If I find anything else I will send a PM . H
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th January 2008 at 12:15
Thank you pondskater…………
Any others offers………????
Planemike
By: Pondskater - 13th January 2008 at 16:45
The Sunderlands were, of course, based at Calshot. At that time 235 OCU was the main flying boat training unit which operated out of Calshot – hence the large number of Sunderlands you saw. 235’s unit code letter was D. If you look closely at the film The Yangtse Incident you will see the Sunderland in it is D-L RN271 from Calshot which took part in the filming without even an attempt to cover up its day to day markings.
I have a couple of 235 OCU pics but nothing from the Calshot airshows.
Allan
By: Newforest - 13th January 2008 at 15:23
Just shows the age of the readers!:D
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th January 2008 at 12:33
MODS………………..Trust it is OK to give this one “bump”. Can’t believe that some of the sleuths can’t come up with anything on this one….!!!
Thks & Rgds Planemike………….
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January 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm