I have been attempting to fins some information about a number of flypasts that took place back before I was born (1975) all passed over Southend which is why I am researching them…
I would like to pin down any further information on them such as types and numbers etc:
If only we could do such flypasts now..!
1953: 252 jet aircraft formed up over Southend Pier including Sabres (RCAF & USAF), Sea Hawk (Royal Navy), Meteors, Canberra’s (RAF) (1 Spitfire & 1 Hurricane LF363) joined later)
15th September 1953: Battle of Britain Flypast
15th May 1954: Queen returns from her Commonwealth tour 180 aircraft (12:19 over Southend)
Coronation Day 2nd June 1954: 144 Meteors lead by Duxford Wing (64 & 65 Squadrons) 24 Sabres of RCAF5:30pm over Southend Pier
30th August 1954: 192 aircraft including 5 Swifts 5 Hunters (practice)
1954: (above formation on the actual flypast day) 192 Aircraft (delayed until 5:00pm)
15th September 1954: Battle of Britain Flypast
7th, 8th and 9th July 1955: 20 Canberra Bombers flew over Southend Airport approaching roughly from the North East probably from Bassingbourn
By: SqL Scramble. - 4th April 2012 at 12:38
Coronation Day 2nd June 1954: 144 Meteors lead by Duxford Wing (64 & 65 Squadrons) 24 Sabres of RCAF5:30pm over Southend Pier
Queens Coronation was 1953 surely!:eek:
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th April 2012 at 08:49
As a schoolboy-we were told that those which came from north & over Eastwood school were-trooping the colour. Most years it was Washingtons but finally we got the Canberra formation.From the north, over the school & turn right up the Thames.
By: thawes - 4th April 2012 at 00:05
The coronation fly-past on 2nd June 1953 (not 1954) consisted of 168 fighters (144 R.A.F. Meteors and 24 R.C.A.F. Sabres). In those days Buckingham Palace fly-pasts flew from south to north past the palace, rather than as they do now from east to west down the Mall towards the palace.
The route was over the Thames Estuary to Canterbury, the feeding-in point for the the various wings. From Canterbury, south to Dungeness, on to Hastings Pier continuing to Bexhill where the formations turned north towards Biggin Hill and then over south London to fly past the front of the palace.
The feed-in point for the 641 aircraft in the fly-past for the Queen’s Coronation Review at Odiham on 15th July 1953 fed in at Leavsden flying in a south-westerly direction to Odiham and presumably didn’t fly over Southend.
Details of the 15th September 1953 Battle of Britain fly-past can be found here:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%201231.html
By: Old Fart - 3rd April 2012 at 22:56
Was sent some newspaper scans which were intresting
By: Newforest - 3rd April 2012 at 20:12
Thought you were looking for magazines! 😉
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd April 2012 at 20:07
I seem to remember those Canberras having red wing tanks(5 a/c) White wing tanks second 5) then blue (on third five)
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April 3, 2012 at 6:57 pm