Exeter circa 1959?

I’ve always had a spot soft for the Balliol (must have had a weird childhood, but then I like Harvards) and from what I can gather the one being rebuilt by the Boulton Paul Association is not a replica, but one recreated from two cockpit sections that were obtained in the late 1980s from the Pennine Aviation Museum. (This of course is totally off the top of my head, as dont have the net at home and only use it at work or either down my parents house, when I collect my washing!!!).

Martin

Hi Martin,

Perhaps I should have used the word ‘reproduction’ which is how the project is described on a web page describing the Boulton Paul Heritage Society. That states:

“Boulton Paul Balliol – a reproduction of the post war trainer, under construction with a restored cockpit at its core.”

I think they are doing the same with this aircraft as they did with their excellent Defiant project that was completed a while ago.

Click on the link below to visit the site:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Links/bpa/bpa2.htm

BR

Laurie.

I’ve always had a spot soft for the Balliol (must have had a weird childhood, but then I like Harvards) and from what I can gather the one being rebuilt by the Boulton Paul Association is not a replica, but one recreated from two cockpit sections that were obtained in the late 1980s from the Pennine Aviation Museum. (This of course is totally off the top of my head, as dont have the net at home and only use it at work or either down my parents house, when I collect my washing!!!).

Martin

Not being that familiar with the Balliol, are there many survivors out there?

T J

I only know of three.

The first is the Sea Balliol T21, WL732, in the RAFM collection at Cosford. This differed from the RAF examples in that the wings folded and an arrestor hook was fitted under the tail. I took the attached photo of a Sea Balliol T21, WP333, at the ‘At Home’ Day, RAF Chivenor, in September 1960 or 1961. Not exactly sure of the year.

The other two examples are in Sri Lanka, both T2’s. One resides in the SLAF Museum at Ratmalana, while the other is listed as being at the SLAF Recruiting Centre, Ratmalana.

The Boulton Paul Association are building a replica Balliol T2, I believe.

Anyone got any further details?

The article in A-B Aeromilitaria mentioned by Consul in Post #10 shows that 21 examples of the type served at various times with 3 CAACU. A little later in the same magazine, is a photo of the Balliol prototype, VL892, fitted with Bristol Mercury radial engine, prior to the Mamba being installed.

BR

Laurie.

Not being that familiar with the Balliol, are there many survivors out there?

T J

Might have been Culmhead which is in the general area. Dunkeswell, Smeathearpe (Upottery) and Culmhead are all about five miles from each other and all retain their runways. The plot thickens……

Martin

ZRX61 – East of Exeter – might that have been Dunkeswell or neighbouring Smeatharpe?

I only went on the hunt out there twice, I don’t recall seeing a runway as such, but then again if it was RAF I would have been in the tech site part anyway. The place looked like it had been abandoned in the ’60’s, but from what we found I don’t the term “abandoned” would be correct…I think it was within about 10 miles of the town..

The latest edition of the quarterly journal Aeromilitaria published by Air-Britain includes an illustrated run down including serials and codes of all RAF Balliols. I unfortunately dont subscribe to that specific periodical (though I’m an A-B member) but I have seen the article. I would commend that as a potential source of further detail.

The photos of the Balliols were taken at Exeter and from what I can see are east of the terminal buildings to the right of the hangar used by Westcountry Aviation (near where the fuel pumps are today).

Funny that this thread should appear this weekend as on Saturday went into my favourite second hand bookshop and besides coming out with a few aviation titles, bought a book on the history of Exeter Airport which in its pages showed the Mosquitoes and Balliols of 3 CAACU.

Martin

Oh to have a Balliol as a stablemate to the T9!

Can anyone point me to some handling notes/comments/write-ups on the Balliol? I would be interested to hear how QFIs regarded them as training machines.

MM

MM,

Perhaps worth reminding that the Balliol was fitted with the Merlin 35, an engine built to the highest modification standard, and first practical choice as fitment or replacement in any flying Spitfire up to and including Mk. V.

Mark

Oh to have a Balliol as a stablemate to the T9!

Can anyone point me to some handling notes/comments/write-ups on the Balliol? I would be interested to hear how QFIs regarded them as training machines.

MM

. I was under the impression that Exeter had Mosquitoes until the early 60s but I am quite happy to be corrected on this. Anyway, by the time my interest in all things aviation was kindled, Exeter’s 3 CAACU was equipped with Meteors and Vampires. James

James,

Welcome and quite right.

I had used ‘Action Stations 5’ as my reference and it is a bit vague on the 3 CAACU aircraft usage, not even listing the Balliols.

A quick Google on 3 CAACU confirms the continued use of the Mosquito in to the early 1960’s and participation at airshows of 3 CAACU Balliols in the late 1950’s. Clearly they were operating both types in parallel.

Mark

ZRX61 – East of Exeter – might that have been Dunkeswell or neighbouring Smeatharpe?

Ah a thread to tempt me to register and join in rather than lurk quietly in the background!

I lived close to Exeter Airport and started spotting as a 10 year old in 1964, so am just a bit too young to have seen Mark12’s Balliols. The backgrounds look very Exeter to me though, particularly the ‘black hangar’ behind the lower picture of WG159. I was under the impression that Exeter had Mosquitoes until the early 60s but I am quite happy to be corrected on this. Anyway, by the time my interest in all things aviation was kindled, Exeter’s 3 CAACU was equipped with Meteors and Vampires.

I only have a few scanned photos here on my computer at present but one of them (below) is of Chipmunk WG488 at Exeter circa 1968 doing half hour flights for the cadets. I was fortunate enough to be one of these, and flew several times in this or other Chipmunks around that time. I think WK589 was another but the grey cells are struggling now…..I think I still have some log books gathering dust somewhere. I also have a pile of Meteor/ Vampire transparencies and other odds and ends taken at Exeter in the 60s. Maybe I’ll bring some of this out another day?

James

I lived in Exeter in ’77. I went walkabout to some *abandoned* base which I think was East of town, may have been army, but the place was littered with nissin huts full of all sorts of stuff in storage.. Wish I could remember what the place was called.

Here are a few shots from a large pile of mixed and jumbled negatives recently given to me by an old schoolfriend. In the main they mirror my own shots of our joint spotting at that time but the attached I believe were taken on a holiday trip to Devon.

I am fairly certain they are from Exeter. The style of code suggests to me that they are 3 CAACU (Civilian Anti Aircraft Co-operation Unit), the Balliol coming along after the Spitfires and Mosquitoes.

The Chipmunk may be from a totally different location but I believe Chippies were operated on ‘air experience’ duties at Exeter at this time .

Any comments from the knowledgeable?

Mark

Mark,

Looking through the AirBritain publication listing the serials from WA100 to WZ999, Balliol WG159 is recorded as sold for scrap on 23 March 1960. The last recorded unit is 3 – 4 CAACU which was at Exeter.

Chippies were also based at the AEF at Exeter as you mention. The Plymouth ATC Sqn’s travelled to there for air experience flights until the AEF’s aircraft started flying into Plymouth/Roborough in 1960. That was where I had my first flight with them. The aircraft I have recorded with 3 AEF at that time were WK576 and WP872. They were still there in the mid-sixties when I left the ATC and joined the RAF.

Looking at WG466, its history in the above mentioned book does not include 3 AEF. It seems that it is still extant, in Berlin.

BR,

Laurie.

PS: The Mossies from 3 – 4 CAACU were still buzzing around the skies over Plymouth into the early 60’s. I remember them working with the Naval gunnery school at Wembury Point.