Here is a scan from an original photograph in my collection.
I note I have written on the back ‘Coltishall 1982’.
The serial looks to be **886 or possibly **386.
The port wingtip is missing.
Who can tell us what is going on here?
With apologies to an unknown photographer.
Mark
By: Mark12 - 16th November 2004 at 19:45
Been away.
Thanks to all for the response on the ‘Eastern Bloc’ Hunter.
Mark
By: Flood - 15th November 2004 at 19:53
Dont think so! On Songs of Praise (I know, i was channel surfing ok!) last night they had a scene from Marham showing the Tornadoes buzzing about for Remembrance Sunday – in the background was a Phantom in a sorry state on a hardstanding and a definite ‘F’ Hunter silhouette with a russian star on its fin – was going to post a separate thread on it – could this be the same one?
That will be XT905 and XG194 then. (Thanks to W&R19!)
Flood
By: DazDaMan - 15th November 2004 at 19:11
Battle Damage Repair Training.
As for the pseudo Eastern Bloc scheme, I seem to remember seeing a number of photos of ex-BDRT Lightnings on the RAFG airfields that were extensively modified to make them resemble Mig-21’s and suitable bedecked in red stars and eastern bloc paint schemes. Probably around the same time frame as well.
Yep, me too, one of which was in Flypast quite a few years ago (something tells me 1986??)
By: David Burke - 15th November 2004 at 18:46
Texan – are you telling me that the picture of the Hunter with Jaguars behind
was deliberately faked ! I think you might well find that the Hunter with Russian stars and a Phantom on a hardstanding is at North Luffenham .
Quite why North Luffenham should feature in ‘Songs of Praise’ I don’t know but having been on detachment at Marham in the 1990’s I don’t recall a derelict Hunter or Phantom being a feature of the station.
By: Maple 01 - 15th November 2004 at 17:54
In the mid eighties Coltishall had a single seat Hunter and a B2 (ish) Canberra, I think both were used for BDRT. I know ‘cos I took some of the instruments from the Canberra and put them in the Neatishead Meteor F8 (which is now at Norwich)
-Nick
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 15th November 2004 at 17:39
Dont think so! On Songs of Praise (I know, i was channel surfing ok!) last night they had a scene from Marham showing the Tornadoes buzzing about for Remembrance Sunday – in the background was a Phantom in a sorry state on a hardstanding and a definite ‘F’ Hunter silhouette with a russian star on its fin – was going to post a separate thread on it – could this be the same one?
By: David Burke - 14th November 2004 at 13:48
It was without a doubt XF386 which was coded for about a year as ’75’ which ties in with the date of the picture. Sadly around 1984/85 it was transferred to Otterburn Ranges and I well recall seeing pictures of it being
converted into a ‘teabag’ ! The ranges were cleared about three years ago
so I guess it’s now taken a new form as a sausepan or mountain bike
By: Firebird - 14th November 2004 at 13:30
Battle Damage Repair Training.
As for the pseudo Eastern Bloc scheme, I seem to remember seeing a number of photos of ex-BDRT Lightnings on the RAFG airfields that were extensively modified to make them resemble Mig-21’s and suitable bedecked in red stars and eastern bloc paint schemes. Probably around the same time frame as well.
By: Mark12 - 14th November 2004 at 13:24
Stringbag,
I can just about see an ‘X’ and what looked like possibly an ‘Z’ so XF386 looks pretty good.
What does BRDT stand for? Battle Damage Repair something?
…but why the pseudo ‘Eastern Bloc’ paint job?
Mark
By: stringbag - 14th November 2004 at 13:12
Had a flick through some books and discovered that there was a BDRT airframe in use at Coltishall – F6A XF386.
Its service role could explain the missing wingtip.
HTH,
Mark
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November 14, 2004 at 11:01 am