Mid-Fifties Spitfire & Venom in Hong Kong

Think it was ‘852.

Some background on PS854 – it was one of two PR19s (along with PS852) detatched from 81 Squadron to Hong Kong to carry out clandestine recce flights over Communist China.

The pilot was F Lt Knowles, who also flew/dived one of these aircraft to what is beleived to be the highest height and the fastest speed achieved by a Spitfire that retruned to controlled flight, Can’t recall which one it was.

Yeah, Flanker_Man – lots of memories … it was interesting for me to trace some of the battlefield where my father fought in WWII. You mention Stanley, and that was where he was taken POW on Christmas Day, 1941 when the Colony surrendered. The Japs shipped him off on one of the Hell Ships to Japan where he worked as slave labour in a Mitsubishi locomotive plant until the end of the war when he was repatriated to Vancouver. He was one of the lucky Allied POWs to have survived the brutal years of captivity. The Old Man’s gone now, passed away in ’96 but when he was alive he rarely talked about the war. Let’s not forget their sacrifice. Nor should we forget the brutality and cruelty inflicted on British and Canadian POWs by the Japanese.

Happy days indeed! I did a tour with 28 Sqn during 1992-5. So much of the tour had a colonial feel. For example, of all the MQs built for the Brits up Tai Mo Shan Mountain, The Officers flats were at the top (naturally). The only downside was the amount of time the occupants spent in cloud! There was fantastic plane spotting to be had from the chequerboard, too.

As for eating and drinking, it was either down town or ‘Shaffi’s’ (Gurkha Curry), ‘Ali Khans (Indian Curry), and some Tiger Beer!

Whoa !!! Memory Lane 😮

When I was ten – in 1957 – my old man was posted to Hong Kong (he was in the Army).

I went to Gun Club School until early ’58 – then to St George’s.

For our weekly swimming lessons, we were taken in an old Bedford bus to RAF Kai Tak – to use the pool.

I can still remember seeing the 28 Sqn Venoms lined up as we drove past.

It started my abiding interest in aviation…

At weekends, I used to mooch around Kai Tak – I can remember helping to push an Auster out of a hangar at the Hong Kong Flying Club, ducking behind the wall as the DC-7’s and Connies came in over the road.

They flew right over our flat in Lomond Road……….

I went aboard an RAF Sunderland that came up from Singapore and pestered the US Navy crew of a C-47 (probably an R4D ?) until they showed me around…

Martin Marlins landing in the bay, the new runway being built out to sea – playing amongst the rubble and bulldozers.

You wouldn’t get away with it today – I was out ‘playing’ all day!!!!!

We were in Hong Kong from late 1957 until early 1960 – near Kai Tak, in the New Territories at Sek Kong and finally on the island at Fort Stanley.

IIRC, in 1960 the new runway was opened by John Cunningham in a Comet – and I remember seeing my first Boeing 707 flying over.

I don’t have any photos – just memories…………

Ken

Didn’t know you were THAT old! 😮

I was in HK with the RAF during 1979-81 and not a lot had changed around the airport! There were still ‘moochers’ there! However there was no longer any RAF presence at Kai tak, only the RHKAAF(including the Spitfire 24 now at Duxford). 28 Squadron was at Sek Kong with Wessex HC.2s and the Army with Scouts – happy days!

Whoa !!! Memory Lane 😮

When I was ten – in 1957 – my old man was posted to Hong Kong (he was in the Army).

I went to Gun Club School until early ’58 – then to St George’s.

For our weekly swimming lessons, we were taken in an old Bedford bus to RAF Kai Tak – to use the pool.

I can still remember seeing the 28 Sqn Venoms lined up as we drove past.

It started my abiding interest in aviation…

At weekends, I used to mooch around Kai Tak – I can remember helping to push an Auster out of a hangar at the Hong Kong Flying Club, ducking behind the wall as the DC-7’s and Connies came in over the road.

They flew right over our flat in Lomond Road……….

I went aboard an RAF Sunderland that came up from Singapore and pestered the US Navy crew of a C-47 (probably an R4D ?) until they showed me around…

Martin Marlins landing in the bay, the new runway being built out to sea – playing amongst the rubble and bulldozers.

You wouldn’t get away with it today – I was out ‘playing’ all day!!!!!

We were in Hong Kong from late 1957 until early 1960 – near Kai Tak, in the New Territories at Sek Kong and finally on the island at Fort Stanley.

IIRC, in 1960 the new runway was opened by John Cunningham in a Comet – and I remember seeing my first Boeing 707 flying over.

I don’t have any photos – just memories…………

Ken

Tis indeed a Vampire F.R. 9

Became Instructional Airframe 7373M 31st October 1956, later soc & scrapped

If interested in this area I would reccomend HONG KONG HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION – DISCUSSION GROUP http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HKHAA/
worthwhile joining

Regards
Tony
Adelaide, AUSTRALIA

I have just posted 28 photos taken in Kai-Tak and surounds 1-52-1954

HK Spitfire and Vampire

Thanks. So the photographs were most likely taken either 1954 or 1955.
The display would have been in August and there are other personal photos among the negatives discovered that date from 1955 so August 1955 may very well be the timeframe. Thanks.

Super photos. Just the era I personally like to see.

PS854 of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. Ex 81 Squadron.

On charge August 1954. In storage from July 1955 and finally SOC 16 September 1955.

With only about one year’s active service and it looking a little short of air in the tyres I would date this as post September 1955.

Thanks for posting.

Mark

I can’t dispute it being from 28sqn,but my money is on it being a Vampire and not a Venom. It appears to have straight wings and no wingtip tanks.
The Spitfire is a Mk.XIX (19),but beyond that I can’t provide any info.

You’re absolutely right – I stand corrected! WL498 is indeed a Vampire and I forgot that 28 Squadron operated both types. This particular machine was relegated to an instructional airframe by March 1956, so this may account for it being ‘barged’ over to Hong Kong Island, as it was no longer airworthy.
The Spitfire is Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.

I can’t dispute it being from 28sqn,but my money is on it being a Vampire and not a Venom. It appears to have straight wings and no wingtip tanks.
The Spitfire is a Mk.XIX (19),but beyond that I can’t provide any info.

Very interesting! I was in Hong Kong with the RAF during 1979-81 and I recognise where these were taken, as these buildings still stand. Yes, it IS a Venom of 28 Squadron who were based at Kai Tak at the time.