Stringbag said on another thread . . .
“The Hunter concerned is still in existance today – WV381 which is based at Culham and used for lightning tests.
I have a scanned newspaper cutting from the Portsmuff news somewhere showing a photo of the jet being lifted out the water.
I’ll post it if and when I can find it on a new thread.
I think the last FAA aircraft to fly out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent was the RNHF Mk.II Swordfish, not exactly what you would expect”
You mean the last FAA aircraft. Actually very fitting since the Channel Dash Swordfii left from there, stopped off at Manston and then got shot down (as I am sure you are well aware with a Hampshire address and stringbag as a moniker!). Lots of other stuff since and the occasional visit by the dirty and dangerous mob.
My great grandad built the house that is out on the airfield as well as a lot of others around Lee. He went bust due to fast women and slow horses.
I did write to them ages ago about basing my aeroplane there but got no answer. It is a fair way off from home but I am determined to land there as I had my first and second flights from Lee, first in a 172 from the 1971 or 2 air day and secondly in the Slingsby Capstan when I was hanging around at the gliding club. In those days you could tell the guy on the gate you were going round to the gliding and off you could go without security checks.
Wish I had learned to fly then and not countless years later.
Melvyn Hiscock
By: Mark12 - 10th February 2004 at 23:14
I am wishing and waiting for Jagan to tell us he has found something on the Indian sub-continent.
Mark
By: stringbag - 10th February 2004 at 23:08
When Lee was shut down in the 90s the historic corner was broken up. Three Gannets, three Sea Hawks, a Harvard, Tiger Moth and P.1127 all found new homes 🙂
If half the Attacker had been saved that could have increased the survivors count by 50% as well 🙂
M
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 10th February 2004 at 23:00
That would be very early 1960s. My brother remembers the Attacker and that would have been after Gosport ceased to be an airfield (after about 1955?). It is, of course, now one of the grottier housing estates in what is a reasonably grotty place (IMO). When I was at Gosport Grammar School a friend lived in the Naval accomodation there and used to dig up bits of instruments (radiation alert!) and all sorts of small items.
Mark, send me a PM (I sent you one a few days back) as there are some questions I’d like to ask.
Now a Seafang, that would be fun. no doubt someone would want it in Battle of Britain colours! (Oh and Kiters would want it with a Merlin).
Melvyn Hiscock
By: Mark12 - 10th February 2004 at 22:48
On the one occasion I went to Lee, a Naval Air Day, there were Fireflies, a Wyvern and half an Attacker in the fire dump at nearby Gosport. 🙁
Now if we had just saved the wings of the latter we would have a Seafang on the stocks by now!
Mark
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February 10, 2004 at 10:39 pm