While looking over my log for this year’s Waddington Display I realised that I had seen WV372 at a display before – back in 1956! It was then an F4 and part of 222 Squadron’s four-ship aerobatic team which was at RAF Acklington for air firing practice in 1956 and did a couple of displays, one in Newcastle at Brough Park Race track and the other a week or two later at RAF Ouston BoB Display on 15 September. The attached photo is of WV402/T, another member of the team, taken as it taxied out through the murk and rain for the display (only 12 photos on my camera in those days so I couldn’t photograph any more of the team!). WV372 came to grief in November of that year with an engine malfunction and was later converted to a T7.
I wonder if any other photos exist of 222 Sqn Hunters, particularly of WV372?
Jim
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th October 2013 at 11:27
Impressive indeed!
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th October 2013 at 23:20
It’s more impressive with the aerial viewpoint – taken from steps alongside the Viggen I believe. What I forgot to mention in the last post is that WT651 is a National Benchmark airframe on the National Aviation Heritage Register! 🙂
I’m glad to hear that there’s another ex-222 Squadron airframe being preserved at Cosford.
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th October 2013 at 23:04
That’s a beautiful shot of WT651 and great to see those colours on a Hunter again. WT619 at Cosford is another ex-222 Sqn aircraft.
Jim
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th October 2013 at 21:20
Prompted by jag636’s post I’ve had the ‘webbie’ add a picture of NAM’s Hunter F1 WT651 into the first album in here (you also get a bit of Swift for good measure) http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/gallery.php
WT651 entered service with 222 Squadron at RAF Leuchars on 21st October 1954 and was subsequently transferred to 229 OCU at RAF Chivenor – eventually retiring from service on 22nd November 1957.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd October 2013 at 18:53
I always think it a great pity that 222 Sqn is seldom mentioned these days, least of all by the RAF. I remember back in 56 when advertising themselves in the local Newcastle paper they billed themselves as “Douglas Bader’s Squadron”.
Jim
By: jag636 - 23rd October 2013 at 17:54
We have a former 222 sqn airframe in the guise of wt651 she is sporting 222 colours she pre dates your picture as she is an F1 as opposed to the F4 you speak of, but the reason I mention it is due to the fact that at least some aircraft still have the colours of now defunct squadrons of the RAF. Oh by the way she is Newark air museum in Nottinghamshire and what’s more she is under cover and next too other aircraft from the same period, thanks for sharing the photo and for the mention of 222 sqn.
David Hibbert, Newark air museum, trustee.
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October 23, 2013 at 12:16 pm