It had been a hard day…

More in colour

Here are some more of my slides taken at the 50th Anniversary display at Abingdon – Beaufighter, Belvedere, Gladiator and Sycamore. As you know, all still survive except the Sycamore, which is seen arriving for the static park on 7th June 1968. I was only 18 at the time, but determined I was going to get good shots of everything. It was interesting to try and work out what flew in and what had to be roaded it. It was surprising how many actually flew in and out.

There is a check list in Air Pictorial August 1968 issue. Tried to scan and upload it, but the printing was too small to read.

Albert,

Does it give the serial of the Press Whirlwind?

Mark

I don’t suppose you’ve got the likes of a check list fo rthis event. It was before my time but I’ve always been interested in what was there.
I don’t suppose anyone has an aerial view of the whole event either do they?

As for pictures generally, personally I’d love to see more.
Many thanks chaps
OAW

There is a check list in Air Pictorial August 1968 issue. Tried to scan and upload it, but the printing was too small to read.

Hi all–

Great stuff. I was three (actually not even quite, if this was April ’68) when the RAF Silver Jubilee Review occurred and wouldn’t be interested in aircraft for another seven or eight years; have hardly ever seen pix from this landmark event.

Did a bit of teeth-grinding though when Beaufighter RD867 popped up. She’s one of three “Beaux” I’ve ever seen and the only one in Canada. Sadly she’s been parked outside at Rockcliffe since arriving (in trade for a Bolingbroke) sans engines/props in 1969. She does not look these days like she did in the Abingdon pic…needless to say. She’ll be under cover soon when CAvM’s new storage hangar is complete, but it will be a very long time before she is restored, if indeed she ever is (CAvM have many other projects in the pipeline)…

S.

Firebird,

Here are a few to be going on with.

I am sure ‘Albert’ can improve on these with colour.

Mark

Yes, I can show you all these in colour, but I can’t improve on the quality as these b/w shots are just fine.

Albert,

There is always one. 🙁 Sorry about that.

Did you by chance ‘snap’ the Whirlwind helicopter doing the press flights?

Mark

I am only joking of course – didn’t see you get on the wing! Also, you’ve caught me out as the only machine I didn’t get was the press Whirlwind!!

I believe there was also a display of RAF vehicles and ground equipment at this same event – did anyone get photos of these too?

Talking of cars, I hear Ford are making a car using recycled parts. Word is they’re calling it the Ford Pubic, it’ll be made out of old coarse ‘airs…

I’ll get me coat.

I guess you could Hair cut it instead of tee-cut it then 😀

Talking of cars, I hear Ford are making a car using recycled parts. Word is they’re calling it the Ford Pubic, it’ll be made out of old coarse ‘airs…

I’ll get me coat.

It’s odd to reflect that this review took place just 23 years after the end of the second world war. Two things about that stand out; 1 – how rare some of these aircraft had become, the Typhoon Wellington and Defiant being unique survivors. 2 – how far technology had moved on since 1945, with examples of the Harrier and Phantom lined up alongside a Beaufighter and Wellington. I think back 23 years now to 1981, and with the exception of the Tornado and E3 Sentry, most of the types the RAF currently fly were operational back then…

But look how the technology on the ground has moved on, check out the first b/w photo of the rear quarter view of the Wellington – note the pristine RAF Ford Zephyr 6 Mk3 in the foreground, which, at the time, would have been only 2-3 years old at best.
Bet that didn’t survive the test of time in the same way…… 😀

Cor wow!!! As you can imagine, very interested in anything Abingdon related – don’t know why :rolleyes:

I have quite a few pics now inherited from various paople (thanks Steve Bond, Albert Ross etc) and just inherited another 120 B/W pics from later shows (78, 79, 81)…..

Mark 12 – any chance of a copy of the air – air pics to go on display in our RAF Abingdon stand?
PM if you could sir….

www.abingdonfayre.com

The lump under the Lincoln is a cover (radome) for the H2S radar antenna.

SteveYoung
sobering thought there mate…even more so when you consider the Tornado had been flying in prototype form about 7 yrs previous and was on the verge of starting it’s RAF career…and also the E-3 had already seen about 10 yrs service with USAF and NATO by then and was derived from the Boeing 707,itself concieved during the first decade of peace!!!!

Thanks for posting these Mark. I was about to ask if you had any shots of the Beau, but then I saw it. Must have been the last time a complete Beaufighter saw the light of day here in the UK I should imagine.

It’s odd to reflect that this review took place just 23 years after the end of the second world war. Two things about that stand out; 1 – how rare some of these aircraft had become, the Typhoon Wellington and Defiant being unique survivors. 2 – how far technology had moved on since 1945, with examples of the Harrier and Phantom lined up alongside a Beaufighter and Wellington. I think back 23 years now to 1981, and with the exception of the Tornado and E3 Sentry, most of the types the RAF currently fly were operational back then…

Mark12,
WOW….excellent thread you’ve started here…..unfortunately I was only 2 yrs old at the time,so can’t remember it….
if only NealP could get some of these in for Abingdon Fayre next year….;)
ArmWaver….somewhere deep in the depths of my mag collection,I’m sure I have an Air Pictorial from that time featuring the event including a check-list….bear with me mate,& I’ll try to dig it out for you

Waaaw…

Thanks for posting, eh!

What’s that huge thing under the Lincoln? She be pregnant of a Mossie or two? 😀 😉

and…

*

Great photos…..any more 🙂

Firebird,

Here are a few to be going on with.

I am sure ‘Albert’ can improve on these with colour.

Mark

For any defiant fans who missed it, I posted some shots taken 20 years after the Abingdon ones, when N1671 was at Hendon. Apologies to those who’ve seen them before, they are here – Defiant Walkaround
Cheers!

Makes you wonder where, and what they will be able to muster up in 14 years time to celebrate 100 years of the RAF, when the ‘F’ in RAF may well stand for Farce rather than Force….. :rolleyes:

Great photos…..any more 🙂