Biggin Hill BoB 1961 – Historic collection.

Dinah ?

EDIT sorry I was a bit slow there.

Thank you for the new pics Mark12

I’m sure there was also the Ju87, V1, V2, & a couple of the Japanese bombers, stored their at that time,
Myford

Myford,

You seem to be describing RAF Henlow.

Some shots from Whit-Monday 1968.

Mark

The only presenter I remember for the telly broadcast was Raymond Baxter.
I’m sure I Remember something big & Japanese there, ok maybe not a bomber, but bigger than a Zero, What was it?
Myford

Great pictures.

In those days, certainly up to the mid 60`s ,the BBC and ITV would transmit live pictures of the display from Biggin Hill on the Saturday ( only a one day display ,of course) to go out on their sports programmes. It is hard to believe that BBC and ITV would go head to head for such an event nowadays.
I also seem to remember that there were CND protestors, on one occasion, who had cut the tv cables and messed up BBC`s Grandstand coverage!

Ah Yes! The live transmission.

I and my pal were actually more interested in the hangar aircraft than the static and flying display.

When the guards were not looking we had already made a couple of forays behind the central roped off walkway to the dark corners of the hangar to get some of the photos above.

On one of these forays the call went out to clear the hangar for a TV broadcast. Seizing the moment we dived under the He111 and up through the entry cupola and in to the cockpit. Sitting as quiet as a mouse we watched as they closed the doors, cleared the ropes, shuffled a few of the lighter machines and switched on the flood lights from a gantry by the Ju88.

I recognised but can’t remember the commentators name, perhaps a Welshman from ITV, but he proceeded to do his bit, much to our amusement.

Mark

Great pictures.

They certainly are – and the majority of the aircraft, probably viewed as relics by 1961, were only 15 to 20 years old then. How things change – today a 15 year old warbird re-build is still considered ‘newish’.

Great pictures.

In those days, certainly up to the mid 60`s ,the BBC and ITV would transmit live pictures of the display from Biggin Hill on the Saturday ( only a one day display ,of course) to go out on their sports programmes. It is hard to believe that BBC and ITV would go head to head for such an event nowadays.
I also seem to remember that there were CND protestors, on one occasion, who had cut the tv cables and messed up BBC`s Grandstand coverage!

Just looking at Mark12’s original post, and I never realised before that the Fiat’s tailwheel is faired into the bottom of the fuselage/fin!

DazDaMan,
Don’t think I saw a reply to you, but yes, the Fw190A-8/R6 wk. nr. 733682 is in the Imperial War Museum collection in Lambeth.
Typeflyer

Cheers 🙂

I’m sure there was also the Ju87, V1, V2, & a couple of the Japanese bombers, stored their at that time,
Myford

Japanese bombers? :confused:

DazDaMan,
Don’t think I saw a reply to you, but yes, the Fw190A-8/R6 wk. nr. 733682 is in the Imperial War Museum collection in Lambeth.
Typeflyer

I’m sure there was also the Ju87, V1, V2, & a couple of the Japanese bombers, stored their at that time,
Myford

Anybody recognise any of the others?

Yes, I think I can make out Alert Ken in the background of one of those pics!
Come on AK identify yourself!

Seriously, these are great pics and as has been touched on, we are very lucky in this country when it comes to aircraft that have been saved by concious individuals, sometimes within the RAF.
We often moan about what hasn’t been saved or some aspects of our museums, but we are very lucky to have what we’ve got.

tf: http://www.scramble.nl/showreports.htm. Most lists.

If you’ll forgive the tangent, when did BoB days at RAF stations cease to take place? I remember being taken to various BoB days at Biggin Hill in the 1960s (sadly without a camera of any sort) but I don’t recollect these continuing into the 1970s, much or at all!

I went to the BoB September airshows at RAF Biggin Hill from 1972-75.

By the begining of the 1980’s there were only the 4 remaining BoB shows at St.Athan and Abingdon on one weekend with Finningley and Leuchars the next weekend. I can’t remember when Leuchars became the sole one…? The last Abingdon may have been the 50th Anniversay one in 1990 when the big flypast took place..??
I was also at Finningley in 1992 for the last RAF display by XH558, which may also have been the last Finningley one….??

Is the officer to the left of R Stanford Tuck ” Ginger Lacey”?

Cheers

Cees

Well he was certainly still in the RAF at this time.

Mark

WJ244,

“The B of B display at Biggin in 1967 was my first ever air display. My neighbour was in the ATC and got me a lift on their bus to Biggin provided I was OK on my own all day once we got there.
As an aircraft mad 12 year old it was an unbelievable sight to walk into that hangar and see all those aircraft that had only previously existed for me as photos in books and airfix kits.
As far as I remember the hangar contained the HE111, JU88, ME110, CR42, ME109 and Wellington. I am sure the Gladiator had gone by then.”

….I also went to that event, my first BoB at Biggin too. I don’t suppose that you have a list of the aircraft partcipants do you?

I probably still have the log book I used that day but it is buried in the loft and I messed up our electrics so don’t have a loft light at present. When I have light up there again I will have a look. If I have a list I will let you know ASAP. I am pretty sure there was a Beverley in the static (possibly two of them). I also recall a HS125 Domine, Beagle Basset, maybe a Victor/Vulcan and I think Mustang N6356T may have displayed but will let you know more if I can find my log.

Is the officer to the left of R Stanford Tuck ” Ginger Lacey”?

Cheers

Cees

WJ244,

“The B of B display at Biggin in 1967 was my first ever air display. My neighbour was in the ATC and got me a lift on their bus to Biggin provided I was OK on my own all day once we got there.
As an aircraft mad 12 year old it was an unbelievable sight to walk into that hangar and see all those aircraft that had only previously existed for me as photos in books and airfix kits.
As far as I remember the hangar contained the HE111, JU88, ME110, CR42, ME109 and Wellington. I am sure the Gladiator had gone by then.”

….I also went to that event, my first BoB at Biggin too. I don’t suppose that you have a list of the aircraft partcipants do you?

Hi Everyone

First post, but have enjoyed this site for sometime and have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge offered by so many.

The photos posted in this thread are great, but those of the Me 109 have me wondering. In just about everyway it appears to be a Me 109 E, but the canopy looks wrong to me. In fact if I had to guess I would suggest that it was from a late model G or possibly a model K. Is that possible? If so any idea just how this could have happened?

Sincerely

Jim Connell
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Im sure someone will come along and correct me but i seem to remember it being something to do with the canopy getting lost at some point when she was flying and a replacement being found and fitted.

Great pictures which brought back a lot of memories. The B of B display at Biggin in 1967 was my first ever air display. My neighbour was in the ATC and got me a lift on their bus to Biggin provided I was OK on my own all day once we got there.
As an aircraft mad 12 year old it was an unbelievable sight to walk into that hangar and see all those aircraft that had only previously existed for me as photos in books and airfix kits.
As far as I remember the hangar contained the HE111, JU88, ME110, CR42, ME109 and Wellington. I am sure the Gladiator had gone by then.
The ME109 had been operated by 1426 Enemy Aircraft Flight during WW2 and it may be that the later canopy was fitted as a replacement during its RAF career.

Me 109 canopy

Hi Everyone

First post, but have enjoyed this site for sometime and have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge offered by so many.

The photos posted in this thread are great, but those of the Me 109 have me wondering. In just about everyway it appears to be a Me 109 E, but the canopy looks wrong to me. In fact if I had to guess I would suggest that it was from a late model G or possibly a model K. Is that possible? If so any idea just how this could have happened?

Sincerely

Jim Connell
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada