By: Arabella-Cox - 12th September 2004 at 21:03
I worked on WJ338 IRIS III on several occasions overseas when calibrating Instrument/Communications systems on airfields sometimes unannounced, perhaps this was intended to ensure everyone was on their toes in previous calibrations. I also recall seeing a Varsity doing the same job at Wattisham for several days in 1968, flying in from different directions.
The IRIS III Hastybird operated from RAF Lindholme, Yorkshire from 1960-72 under Bomber Command, later to become Strike Command’ these were operated by 230 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) but the unit was more affectionately known as ‘1066 Squadron’ by those that flew/worked on them.
From 1972 the unit operated from Scampton, these with the Radomes fitted were Mk T5 converted from Type C-1, I flew from Wattisham to Binbrook in Nov 1968 in TG536 and returned to Wattisham from Coningsby in TG505 after a Lightning Taceval exercise.
Alberts photo of 338 is an absolute cracker!
By: g6hyf - 12th September 2004 at 07:13
Thank you for the info’/pictures posted so far…….I was intrigued to find out more after my conversation…as my only memories of Hastings were in their latter years at Scampton serving the Vulcan crew training role..
Thank you,
Clive.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 11th September 2004 at 23:14
TG560 “Iris II” was replaced by another Hastings C.2, WJ338 “Iris III” operated by 115 Squadron. Here it is at Prestwick in June 1967 and landing at Odiham in September 1968. This in-turn was replaced by an Argosy E.1 “Iris IV” at Cottesmore, which I believe was the last in the “Iris” series.
By: ian_st - 11th September 2004 at 21:51
Extract from a history of RAF Watton:
http://www.rafwatton.info/timeline/1950/pl1950.html
After the Formation of the CSE in late 1946, a new unit had been formed at 90 (Signals) Group HQ, Medmenham. This was the Inspectorate of Radio Services and Installations, IRIS for short. The IRIS was tasked with the global supervision of all RAF Air Traffic Control and radio communications. It would operate one aircraft only and this would be based at Watton. The aircraft, Lancaster PA477 named appropriately ‘IRIS’, would carry the Inspector, a Group Captain and his crew, sometimes likened to policemen by ATC personnel, to where ever inspections were to be carried out. Often the aircraft would be away from Watton for a number of weeks travelling as far as the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. In May 1950 the Lancaster was phased out and a replacement aircraft, Hastings TG560 ‘ IRIS II’ replaced her.
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September 11, 2004 at 9:35 pm