Hertford & Ware ATC Vampire

Vampire at 936 sqn

Hi guys,
going through some old threads, and came upon this one.
I was a member of 936 Sqn ATC, in the 80’s. The Vampire in question ( V3 ) was origionally based at our old HQ at the bottom of Gallows Hill, in Hertford. When the Sqn moved, it went with them to Broadmeads in Ware. It stayed there until being crated away by a private owner, in the late 80’s
Her tail number was XE849 she was a Vampire T.11. She was d/d in 1954 to 7928M.
Will try to find more info for you.

I hadn’t noticed the ATC had moved, which considering my Dad was based at the aforementioned police station, is pretty dumb!
I’m not surprised it was their second Vampire. I would guess the original one arrived in 1958 or thereabouts so it would be impressive if it had lasted that long. No guarantees with the year, I was only about six. Now it’s been mentioned I think I have vague memories of it as a wreck around 1970.

dhfan – yes the ATC was originally in Hertford on the corner where the police station is now. If I remember rightly they had a single seat vamp then, may have this wrong as going on old photos I saw over 20 years ago now !

W&R3 (1968) lists Vampire FB5 7577M/VV542 with 936 ATC Sqn at Hertford, however by W&R4 (1974) 936 Sqn had moved to Ware and had T11 7928M/XE849 ‘V-3’ (ex St.Athan).

W&R3 also lists an inidentified Canberra nose with 1239 ATC Sqn at Haleswood School (later John Warner School), Burford Street, Hoddeston. It seems that it might have gone to Duxford by W&R5 (which I don’t have), then that it might not have gone to Duxford but that it was also no longer thought to be here in W&R6 then, until W&R8, it is just mentioned as not being seen for some time.

Hope this is of some help.

Flood.™

if she could fly id consider it.

Indeed!

thats rediculous!

Stewart – It would indeed be a good restoration – indeed a bid was made for it about six years ago it would see it go inside and be restored but the unit
seemed to want a Jaguar as a replacement !

the meteor at Chelmsford (essex wing) is still there but in bad condition would be a good restoration.

Cheers for her whereabouts Septic.

dhfan – yes the ATC was originally in Hertford on the corner where the police station is now. If I remember rightly they had a single seat vamp then, may have this wrong as going on old photos I saw over 20 years ago now ! However the ATC moved to Ware next to the train line, hence the brake dust over XE849 in cestrians snap. Not sure when it moved but I recall it being there since early 70s. The ATC are still there.

Re the Hoddesdon sqd, this was next to John Warner school (still play footy there) but has been developed so no hut or vamp not sure if sqd still exists.

Cheers

Just to be pedantic, the “Ware” Vampire was actually in Hertford, unless the ATC moved later. I lived around the corner during the fifties and think I remember it appearing then. If it’s the only one they ever had it did well to survive that long.
Later during the seventies I lived in Hoddesdon and although I vaguely remember where the ATC was, I don’t recall ever seeing the Vampire. Was it hidden away?

According to Wrecks & Relics 6th edition the Vampire T.11 at Knebworth house was a composite of XE 935 with the wings of XE985.It move to 1066 Sqn ATC in Hitchin on 18/12/77.I hope this helps.
Dave

Sorry Reginald R for getting my Vampires muddled up earlier.

I have just had a quick look through WW # 19.

XE849 is currently owned by Frank and Lee Millar at Corby in Northamptonshire.

Septic.

There was certainly a Vampire T.11 there. It was looked after by 1066 (Hitchin) Sqn ATC and at one point they dragged it around the field in the rain to raise money for charity!

By the way, if anyone can confirm the serial no. of this Vampire I’d be very grateful indeed.

Vampire??

Steve
now you’ve got me wondering if it was a Vampire.
It seems so long ago.
We never stopped to look at this aircraft I just remember seeing it there by the road.
Perhaps my memory is wrong and it was a Vampire.
Anyone??–any thoughts?
All the best
Andy

Hi all
I’ll hang this on the back of this existing thread.
When I was a kid there used to be a Meteor a NF 14 (I think) in the grounds of Knebworth House that was used by the local ATC. This would have been early to mid seventies. As you drove northbound on the A1M it was just visible in a clearing in some trees for a few seconds. Could someone tell me what happened to this aircraft and if it was a Meteor 14 or something else.
Thanks in advance
Andy

Hmm… I know where you mean Andy. I distinctly remember seeing a twin seat Vampire parked there around the late seventies, parked near the flagpoles at the entrance to the grounds. There may well have been a Meteor there too, as my even earlier memories seem to suggest that the Vampire wasn’t alone. As you say, this would have been the early / mid seventies. I was about five at that time, so my recollections of the second aeroplane are somewhat hazy, although by the late seventies I’d learned to recognise a Vampire… 🙂

No, we had XD616 – I got confused! Its about that time I got ‘bitten’ by a Vampire – Our XJ772 almost had my arm off.

Bruce

XE849 thats the one !

So Bruce are you referring to XE849 ?

Thanks for the photos and info gents…

Meteor NF 14.

Hi all
I’ll hang this on the back of this existing thread.
When I was a kid there used to be a Meteor a NF 14 (I think) in the grounds of Knebworth House that was used by the local ATC. This would have been early to mid seventies. As you drove northbound on the A1M it was just visible in a clearing in some trees for a few seconds. Could someone tell me what happened to this aircraft and if it was a Meteor 14 or something else.
Thanks in advance
Andy

According to Wrecks & Relics 10th edition,the Vampire T.11 at Ware was XE849 owned by 936 Sqn ATC.
XD616 was at Hoddesdon at the John Warner School with 1239 Sqn ATC.
The first pic is of XE849,codedV3,at Ware
Second pic is of XD616 at Hoddesdon
Both photos taken the same day in October 1985

The pod is still owned by the Mosquito Museum, but it is with Jet Age at present.

The wings and booms are still at London Colney

The aircraft was basically used as a source of spares, as it was too far gone for a proper restoration.

Bruce