Bristol Brigands at the ATDU

Right next question. In his log book it just says Bristol Brigand. But would anyone have any idea what mark it would be? I’m guessing it would be a TF.1? But I’m probably way off the mark.

Thank you Dave. I’ll do some Googling re: RH747, as I already have pictures of WR971.

There are pictures of RH747 on the web and the fuselage of the shackleton still exists at the Fenland Aviation Collection in Norfolk

Thanks chaps. The reason I asked is because my Late Grandfather crewed RH747 on April 3, 1957. Which was a Torpedo drop off Falmouth. He was only at the ATDU for a few months (seconded from 206 Sqdn) And also while at the ATDU he also crewed Shackleton MR.3 WR971.

ATDU Brigands definitely at Wston super Mare in 50s ,incl RH742 but only b/w pix. Operating in support of ranges and trials in nearby Bristol Channel.

An Aeroplane Magazine database shows the following two as with the ATDU at some stage in their lives……
RH747 black and white image shows grey [?] top surfaces and light coloured lower
RH742 colour image shows mid grey upper and what looks like sky below – it’s carrying a torpedo so, presumably, was with the ATDU at the time
RH754 colour image heads the magazine article, a torpedo is carried but there’s no reference to a unit. colour is overall [ dirty ] white with mid grey upper surfaces of wings and tailplane only both of which have the white colour wrapped back over their leading edges for a few inches. Fuselage is all white except for a small area of mid grey in front of the cockpit as anti-dazzle. Engine nacelles are all over white with grey upper where they protrude at the trailing edge of the wing.

Hello Daz, The ATDU were based at Gosport from Sep 1943 till disbanded 31.8 1958 at Culdrose but seemed to operate Brigands out of RAF Thorney Island probably because of longer runways. Brigands used RH742,745,746,747,749,754 & 773. Try and get a copy of the Aviation News mini-monograph on the Bristol Brigand by Chris Ashworth which has individual aircraft histories and some photos of ATDU aircraft.

Markings picture of RH747 all silver. RH773 looks overall white.

At least one Sturgeon operated between RNAS Ford and RNAS Lee On Solent for about a year in the early to mid 50’s, but I have no record of any operating from Culdrose in 1957!

Rob

Absolutely not Sturgeons!
They all basked in the Mediterranean sunshine with 728 at HalFar.
Brigands for sure.

I suspect the 1965 one was the Transport not the Torpedo one. Flying Training & Support Units backs Culdrose from 1956 but is a bit vague before and after that because it had disbanded as an RAF unit in 1958 and came under the Ministry of Supply. The 1965 one was Transports not Torpedoes. I must admit being surprised that the Brigand TFs lasted as long as that. If they had yellow undersides with black stripes then they probably were target tugs… no? Can I be outrageous and suggest Sturgeons? Unfortunately for that idea, they don’t seem to have got as far as Culdrose.

But there was a lot going on in the 1950s.

I think the ATDU was at Culdrose in the mid to late 1950s. I used to sit on the wall in the runway undershoot area watching Brigands coming over my head…its a long time ago but I’m pretty sure they were silver with black and yellow stripes on the undersurfaces..like target tugs. Not to mention the Gannets, Avengers, Skyraiders, Sea Venoms, Sea Balliols, Shackletons, Neptunes, and on and on!

According to Sturtivant, it was a Flight at Abingdon until 1965 when ATDU was formed. No aircraft held though?

Where was ATDU based in 1957?