Finningley sixties video

Apologies, just checked my facts, and it was Leconfield not Lindholme!

Lindholme must have had at least one ‘At Home ‘ day in the 60’s, as in 1966 we have it noted that our JP XS186 was in attendance as one of the Magistrates, a display team in it’s infancy, from the CAW at Manby.
Anecdotally it seems the day was not particulary well attended, as it clashed with a certain well remembered football victory that year.

Jim

I think 1962 is probably correct. My first Finningley show was 1964 by which time the Vulcans were camouflaged. In ’62 I was at Middleton St George watching 226 OCU Lightnings in conditions very similar to those shown in the video.

Peter

It was pre-1966 which was the first show I attended at Finnngley. At that time all the Vulcans of 230 OCU there were camouflaged. The first time I visited Finnningley was in late 1958, at which time the Vulcans of 101 Sqn.(and Valiants of 18 Sqn) were white. Camouflage replaced the white c/s from 1964 onwards. XH558 didn’t serve with 101 Sqn but was at Finningley with 230 OCU from 1962 onwards.I think the Swordfish (RNHF) flew for the first time after restoration in 1962 when it was shown at the Farnborough show.
One other point: the weather at RAF Acklington during the 1962 BoB show was brilliant and presumably was the same at Finningley.
So, the video was probably taken in 1962 or 3.
Jim

Chox there was a BoB day in ’81 at Lindholme, although the airfield was closed as such

Really? I can’t remember any mention of that as I guess I would have gone for a look if I’d heard about it. I’m sure the show I went to was earlier – probably 78-79. Anyone know what aircraft took part?

possibly, it was after damage was caused to the forward section and is reported in such away that it was an unusual visitor.

Mods or repairs in the hands of 60MU, I’d guess.

I’ve just seen reference on another forum to excepts from the Lindholme station magazine mentioning a Victor arriving there for repair work, does anyone here know why that might be the case as it wasn’t the Victor MU base?
Chox there was a BoB day in ’81 at Lindholme, although the airfield was closed as such.

The film is Finningley there’s absolutely no doubt about that, the only question is which year but there’s definitely documentation somewhere (can’t remember where) which mentions which year it was when four Victors did the demonstration scramble. The location was obviously just a mistake on the part of whoever posted-up the video on Youtube.

Lindholme’s shows were never on the same scale as Finningley’s and they didn’t stage any events there in the 1960s as far as I’m aware. The only event they had was for cadets and that was a low-key affair held somewhere around 1978 if remember correctly (long time ago – was a school kid at the time).

Victors did visit Lindholme occasionally though but only for training, visits and for modifications. There was no V-Bomber ORP there and the base wasn’t designated as a V-Bomber dispersal in any case. The main link with the V-Force was BCBS/SCBS with their fleet of Varsities and Hastings which operated from Lindholme for many years. The Hastings T5 fleet was painted silver with dayglow patches originally and then switched to the later transport command colours (with dayglow) and finally the high-visibility red markings by which time they had moved to Scampton in the early 1970s. After that the airfield was only used an an RLG for Finningley and as a “bolt hole” during the air show week.

It’s a great film though. Finningley’s shows were remarkably small in the 1960s when compared to the ambitious events they held in the 1980s onwards, but the aircraft on show were of course all from the “golden days”. Back then the flying display usually didn’t begin until at least 2pm and ended at five, but what a line-up!

Just so; Lindholme does not appear to have hosted any at home events after about 1957 which would seem to indicate that the caption was dubious.

Lindholme’s runways didn’t have the V-bomber ORP.

Ah, yes! My mistake!
Jim

I think the discussion relates to the fact that it is Finningley and not Lindholme.
Seem to remember that the video comments also say the same.
Could Lindholme have supported a V bomber scramble or have ORPs?

Victors weren’t based at Finningley

But the video isn’t from Finningley but was taken at Lindholme according to the caption???
Jim

It was just a scramble demonstration for the show. It was usually four Vulcans of course (sometimes only two) but on at least one occasion it was performed by four Victors – as illustrated on the video. I did see a reference to the actual year somewhere once but I’m not sure where. Might have been in the Scramble (if you’ll pardon the pun) archives.

Victors weren’t based at Finningley, though for a very short period the ground school was run by the Vulcan OCU (XH558 being a resident aircraft).
However there is referrence to four Victors doing the ‘scramble’ display at one of the shows, maybe this was it as I can’t imagine having the ORPs at readiness during a dispay?

I am pretty sure that there never any Victor units based at Finningley however I recall that the Finningley trademark multi V-Bomber scramble was performed by Victors at the display one year – maybe this is that display.

Sea Vixen?

Hmm.. I duno, it seems too bulky side on. I’ve watched it a few times and can’t make my mind up. I’m tempted to say Scimitar but surely a “pokey” naval jet on finals would be pushing out some smoke?
Is it definitely Finningley, certainly looks like it; just that it looks like Victors on the ORP. Were HP’s finest at finningley at that time??

er… see the first post 😀

Is the Vulcan at the beginning XH558? I can just about make out the letters! (I think!)

Sea Vixen?