I know in September 1953 there was a USAF C-119 at Farnborough that was placed at the disposal of photographer Charles E Brown to use as a camera aircraft for the SBAC show – I also know that use was made of C-119s for this purpose for a number of years, the aircraft being leased to the MoD.
Now, to my question, and I know it’s a long shot – does anyone know if this, or other C-119 was present at Farnborough in January/February 1954 – possibly attached to NATO – and if so, which one?
By: GrahamSimons - 6th June 2012 at 12:14
Amazing!….. thanks for the information!
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th June 2012 at 12:00
(Impossible is not known on this board). C-119C 51-2611 was on loan to RAE,1952-56. In that timeframe USAFE/582 ARG was equipped with them at Molesworth. UK was offered C-119C under Korean War Mutual Security Program, but chose to press on with Valetta and Beverley. France took the type (for Indo China) while also building Noratlas – itself US MSP-funded.
According to P.J.Cooper’s book “Farnborough:100 Years of British Aviation”, 51-2611 came from Rhein-Main, via Blackbushe to Farnborough on 23rd April 1953, initially on 12 months loan but this was later extended. It was used for heavy supply dropping and equipment loading trials including some overseas detachments with SME Flight and was also utilised for general load transportation as required by RAE. It finally left Farnborough (“Nugget 20”) on 18th Sept 1956 for 465 TCW at Evreux, France, having flown some 304 hours on supply drop tasks whilst with RAE. I was at the SBAC show in 1956 and it could be seen parked then, off to the left of the crowd line. According to Flight it had been used by the press to photograph arrivals at the show that year.
Jim
By: pagen01 - 6th June 2012 at 10:02
I’m sure I’ve seen reference (Flight ?) to the loaned C-119 bringing back some of the wreckage of Comet YP to Farnborough, would that place it in the early 1954 time frame?
Also worth noting that C.E.Brown and other press had a C-82 at their disposal for recording SBAC show arrivals pre 1952.
By: alertken - 6th June 2012 at 09:51
(Impossible is not known on this board). C-119C 51-2611 was on loan to RAE,1952-56. In that timeframe USAFE/582 ARG was equipped with them at Molesworth. UK was offered C-119C under Korean War Mutual Security Program, but chose to press on with Valetta and Beverley. France took the type (for Indo China) while also building Noratlas – itself US MSP-funded.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th June 2012 at 17:56
You are talking about the period when Britain was developing its heavy airdrop system to be used in its future large transport aircraft at Farnborough. The Medium Stressed Platform (MSP) was concieved following the cancellation of the Hastings Paratechnicon and it ended up being in service before the RAF aircraft it was intended for (the Beverley) so C-119 were used for the heavy drops in support of the Parachute regiment. This wasn’t on a one off basis as the MSP installation in the C-119 had its own AP (I have a copy).
With a usable heavy drop system that used an allies’ aircraft there wasn’t a priority to get the clearance for its use from the Beverley. Then along came Operation Musketeer (Suez) and the USA didn’t want to play with Britain France and Isreal – a bit of a problem when you’re were planning an invasion spearheaded by a large air drop in which the MSP would be useful and someone who you thought was your friend won’t let you play with his ball.
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June 5, 2012 at 5:29 pm