Bloodhound missile

Can anyone please confirm that these are Bloodhound ram jets?

As far as I can tell nothing is meant to be secret, however as I stated earlier – “As it’s not been covered in the website text I’d prefer not to be too precise” – normal courtesy would be to check with another organisation before using their name in any PR material; I can only assume this has not been done in this case.

As I’m told that it’s all over a social media site then as far as I’m concerned it’s in the public arena!

Seems perculiar that there would be any need for secrecy in a transfer from one BAPC member to another ! The missile is indeed a MK.2 -it was a hoped for restoration project for many years until Thorpe Camp acquired a Mk.1 from North Luffenham. The MK.2 used to be on a transportation sled -its now on the old stand that the MK.1 used to be on.

I have been advised that the former location has now been posted on a social media site so I guess there is no point in further secrecy – it came from Thorpe Camp and I understand that it might be a Mk.2!

As it’s not been covered in the website text I’d prefer not to be too precise – from a Lincolnshire location, close to a former Bloodhound base is as far as I can go on this one!

Can you give any more information on where it came from ?

It’s good to report that another Bloodhound has stayed in preservation and has recently moved to Newark Air Museum – more details can be found here on the NAM website!

For the record there must be another somewhere, as when I was at Junior Leaders regiment, Old Park Barracks, Dover in the 80’s there was also one there, its closed down now but the missile has obviously been moved to somewhere else.

Graham.

Anyone else notice the last flight of a Sea Dart last year.

I did. Outstanding missile; I’d have given anything to view one launched from a Type 42 destroyer.

It would appear that tonights episode of Endeavour (‘Rocket’, ITV 8pm)is set in a fictional company that builds something that from the promo shots that looks suspiciously like a Bloodhound…

Zeb

There was the rotating assembly from an Avon engine and a rear nacelle off an airliner of some sort used as props in the background too. The Avon looked a lot like training aid I saw used at RAF Halton many many years ago.

When the Bloodhound force was scrapped of about a dozen missiles, plus some launchers and radars were held back for a classified trial (according to Avia News). Any data on what this was all about? Were they launched?

Was Bloodhound ever considered for deployment in the Falklands?

Anyone else notice the last flight of a Sea Dart last year. The last ever British designed and built ramjet to fly… Another bit of British engineering genius slips into history!

Group I work with have been looking into this, We think the missiles were used for ground based warhead trials and were not fired (though somebody I know claims to have seen what he thought were Bloodhounds fired from Aberporth in 1992). The Swiss and RAF did their last offical firings in 1986. RRSE did use an ex-RAF T86 radar in trials until the radar was given to Newark in the early 2000’s (along with some modified AD-10 radars (the Army’s version of the T86 used with the Thunderbird Mk 2)). Had Bloodhound been considered for the Falklands, the support and logistics requirements to deploy even a small battery was huge, thus the idea would have been very quickly rejected.

There’s a news article in the June edition of Aeroplane Monthly, with a photo showing the arrival of a Bloodhound missile at North Coates on the 23rd March. It came from a theme park on the Isle of Wight, the intention is to restore it for display, needs some parts..

Robert M

The missile is in quite a bad state, however the guys at North Coates have been given a lot of good information by yours truly, and hopefully they get it shipshape in the end.

It would appear that tonights episode of Endeavour (‘Rocket’, ITV 8pm)is set in a fictional company that builds something that from the promo shots that looks suspiciously like a Bloodhound…

Zeb

That’s cause it was. The missile in question was the Mucklebourgh Collection’s Mk2 which was from what I was told was going to be repainted for the film shoot. Due to the fact that it still had the 85 Sqn markings on it, I would say that it wasn’t. The missile is now back in Norfolk and is now indoors on a Type 200 series Launcher that the Bloodhound Missile Preservation Group sourced from the Swiss.

Nope, one was a green Mk 1 on a Type 100 (Mk 1) Launcher, the other was a green Mk1 with an extension to the front to simulate the extra length of the Mk2 front fuel tank / warhead bay with a Mk 2 forebody and radome on the front (known as a Hybrid, it was used for loading training, display and gate guard roles where you didn’t want to damage a real missile or take time removing the secret bits) That one was on a Type 200 (Mk 2) launcher.

222 Squadron had 32 launchers at what was left of RAF Woodhall Spa, which would have been visible from the road between Tattleshall and Woodhall Spa. The actual missile site is now the RAF Coningsby Golf Course, with one of the 2 Launch Control Posts now being used the Clubhouse.

When the Bloodhound force was scrapped of about a dozen missiles, plus some launchers and radars were held back for a classified trial (according to Avia News). Any data on what this was all about? Were they launched?

Was Bloodhound ever considered for deployment in the Falklands?

Anyone else notice the last flight of a Sea Dart last year. The last ever British designed and built ramjet to fly… Another bit of British engineering genius slips into history!

There’s a news article in the June edition of Aeroplane Monthly, with a photo showing the arrival of a Bloodhound missile at North Coates on the 23rd March. It came from a theme park on the Isle of Wight, the intention is to restore it for display, needs some parts..

Robert M

It would appear that tonights episode of Endeavour (‘Rocket’, ITV 8pm)is set in a fictional company that builds something that from the promo shots that looks suspiciously like a Bloodhound…

Zeb

The Sandtoft Bloodhounds were Mk 2s and came to Sandtoft from North Coates and were previously at North luffenham as gate guardians and are now believed to be at faldingworth, the one at Misson is a Mk 1 and has been there for about 25 years

Nope, one was a green Mk 1 on a Type 100 (Mk 1) Launcher, the other was a green Mk1 with an extension to the front to simulate the extra length of the Mk2 front fuel tank / warhead bay with a Mk 2 forebody and radome on the front (known as a Hybrid, it was used for loading training, display and gate guard roles where you didn’t want to damage a real missile or take time removing the secret bits) That one was on a Type 200 (Mk 2) launcher.

One of those very early childhood recollections on a drive out with Mum and Dad….seeing white Bloodhounds set up on an aerodrome. We didn’t used to travel far afield so my thinking is that this would have been Tattershall Thorpe.?…would they have been easily visible from the road.??

I got to play with one later too….my Cousin Stuart had the Corgi missile set.:)

Clive.

222 Squadron had 32 launchers at what was left of RAF Woodhall Spa, which would have been visible from the road between Tattleshall and Woodhall Spa. The actual missile site is now the RAF Coningsby Golf Course, with one of the 2 Launch Control Posts now being used the Clubhouse.

how are Bloodhounds identified?

manufactures serial number on a data plate located on the main body casting, should be painted on the removable panels also

North Luffenham

I remember both the meteor and bloodhound on the gate from being about 7 or 8. We used to go swimming at Luffenham from our primary school. Good to hear that they are both still around. They certainly made a big impression on me.

Carl

Speaking of which, how are Bloodhounds identified? Do they have serial numbers and/or constructor’s numbers and if so where are they located?

(and don’t anyone suggest I look for a tag on the collar or a microchip)