ID required please – Helicopter and location

Another photo of a Whirlwind on Christmas Island here:

http://www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1054844

The tree line in the earlier photo I posted and this one are very similar to the photo in the original query. The markings on the ground in the photo on the above link are very similar to those shown in the original as well.

Christmas Island is the likely location I think.

John,, Check out this picture! Wrong service, but…

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1200162/L/

Dave Fleming

Hmm, trust you Dave:)

John

Definetly a yellow SAR Whirlwind in a tropical setting. Have found this photo of a Whirlwind on Christmas Island:

http://www.christmas-island.org/tn0266.html

As for mark it is an earlier piston engined one, but they all looked similar to me, apart from the downward swept tail boom of the Westland marks.

Later Sikorsky examples also had the canted tailboom…

There were such things as sand Whirlwinds alright, but if one appeared yellow in the first pic, wouldn’t the crews shorts appear to be yellow aswel!:D
Cracking pic that one Dave, thats what I call an airshow!

No I’m positive that’s Yellow. I have no knowledge of sand/brown Whirlwinds.

John

John,, Check out this picture! Wrong service, but…

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1200162/L/

Dave Fleming

Belize?

Are there palm trees in Cyprus?

Most definitely (in places)

could it be malaya? there were HAR.4’s stationed in malaya 1959 onwards

Mike 001, I believe you are correct in your previous to last post. 22 Sqn Whirlwinds were based at RAF St Mawgan from the mid ’50s and were painted SAR yellow, they sometimes worked alongside ASWDU. During 1957 they were detached to Christmas Island as part of operation ‘Grapple’, the UK atomic bomb tests. As for mark it is an earlier piston engined one, but they all looked similar to me, apart from the downward swept tail boom of the Westland marks.

Helicopter ID and location

It’s definitely an early mark Westland Whirlwind (not a Mk1) I’ll have to get the old grey matter working and figure out the location because I don’t think this mark of Whirlwind was painted yellow when they were used in Cyprus.

Thanks for info. Cyprus had yellow helicopters, I think they were 1563 Flight (A Flt) based at Akrotiri. But because of the palm trees in the back ground I can’t locate this in Cyprus or the middle East

Mike

No I’m positive that’s Yellow. I have no knowledge of sand/brown Whirlwinds.

John

Thanks John

It is a yellow helicopter. I believe it to be RAF search and Rescue. It may be possible and it has been suggested it is located on Christmas Island around 1956/7 time. Possibly 22Squadron or 217 Squadron I am not sure.

Mike

Too much grass for Bahrain! (I was at Hamala camp in 1968-69)

You’ll probably find it’s down to the age of the picture and the lighting. The paint was probably a pale brown (sand) colour

No I’m positive that’s Yellow. I have no knowledge of sand/brown Whirlwinds.

John

Helicoper ID and location

Are there palm trees in Cyprus?

You’ll probably find it’s down to the age of the picture and the lighting. The paint was probably a pale brown (sand) colour

Helicopter and location

It’s definitely an early mark Westland Whirlwind (not a Mk1) I’ll have to get the old grey matter working and figure out the location because I don’t think this mark of Whirlwind was painted yellow when they were used in Cyprus.

Can you identify this helicopter and its location?

My guess would be a S.A.R H.A.R. 2 Whirlwind in Cyprus. Possibly 284Sqn or 155 in the Far East.

John