Sea Devon C20 ID

The above mentioned XK895, somewhat derelict at Coventry but still registed G-SDEV, is as I type being dismantled. No idea why but possibly it is going to Airbase Newquay (St Mawgan).

Thank you gentlemen for all your input on this thread

The said photograph has now been updated on ABPIC with the identity of XJ324

If any conflicting information should arise please contact me using the contact photographer tab on the ABPIC image

Again thank you all

Steve

It only seems like yesterday that I used to watch the Sea Devon’s bashing the circuit at CU from a bored classroom window or from home.

I did write to the CU PRO towards the end of their time asking for a flight in one (I was in the ATC), but I seem to recall that I left it a little too late and all the PRO could offer me were some pics which never arrived…:(

XJ324

Thinking back to the days that we operated the Devons at Culdrose i seem to remember that XJ319 and XK895 had forward facing seats and XJ324 which was originally the Admirals Barge had four forward facing seats and two rear facing seats in grey leather. The picture shows the latter configeration, so i am pretty sure that the aircraft is XJ324.

Agreed – it is looking more & more like XJ324.

Will try & get up to the loft tonight & check my pics…

I think the red on the canopy is quite significant, see following photo taken in 1986 at Kemble

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Navy/De-Havilland-DH-104/1364660&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=18&sok=WHERE__%28aircraft_generic_%3D_%27De_Havilland_DH-104_Dove_%28Devon%29%27%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=1365871&next_id=1364552

Thanks Dave – I had previously found this photograph on the net and thought it inconclusive but having had another look there are some noticeable differences and the one that stands out the most is in my image the lack of wires from the canopy to the tail and the other is at the rear of the canopy in my photograph there appears to be a red disc in the other the disc is white
HFL can you throw any light on the discrepancies between these images
It is looking like this may be XJ324?

Steve

http://www.planesandchoppers.com/picture/number1148.asp

XK895 was certainly at other airshows in 1988 as above photograph shows anything on the photograph that could confirm your photo

92fis thanks for your reply but the CU/19 code was applied at a later date

Steve

XK895 had CU 19 on the tail and nose door in the early 90’s, not sure when it gained those markings though.

Hi all

NickB thanks for that I would appreciate you looking through your photographs taken on the day – and a link to those Lightning’s

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1053774/

HFL thank you for your input – I believe we can definitely rule out XJ319 which leaves a direct contest between XJ324 & XK895
CU Airday 1988 was held on the 27th July – FONAC Heron XM296 certainly brought in VIP’s on the day but certainly do not recall any Devon’s flying – I most certainly would have photographed it

Thanks again all who have read and participated in this thread

Steve

XJ319, XJ324 & XK895 were all based at Station Flight Culdrose which was part of 771 Sqdn. Station flight always had 2 of the 3 aircraft at Culdrose, while the 3rd would be away for Major Servicing. There may be only one aircraft on static as the 2nd was usually on duty flying VIPs in and out of the show. The aircraft on display is either XJ324 ot XJ895, as XJ319 wa away on major servicing. I have confirmed this by checking the ground running log books that I filled out everytime I ran the Devons, as I worked on station flight at the time. If you give me the exact date of the airday I can tell which aircraft would be flying and which would have been on static. Also XJ319 did not return to Culdrose until Mid October 1988 when it replaced XJ324 away for major service.

Info from list published in British Aviation Review.

There were two 771 NAS Sea Devons on static at the 1988 Air Day: XK895 and XJ324.

Lee

Lee – are you sure about that?

I know for sure that in the last years of the Sea Devon’s operating @ CU, it was XJ319 & XK895 that were in situ. Why XJ324 would appear for the airshow I’m not sure, but you could be correct.

I was there for the ’88 show (a disappointment after the ’87 show which was superb by CU stands – 3 Lightnings anyone?!) and clearly remember the shiny new 11sqn Tonka F3 going u/s and not participating in the flying programme.
I will check my pics & serial numbers to see if I can uncover anything…

Hi again bms44

I guess that I am 1 step forward 2 back in that hopefully we have eliminated XJ319 from the frame and substituted it with XJ324

Lee did you attend Culdrose 1988 or do you have another source for your information – any photographs with a Sea Devon lurking in the background perhaps – and did both aircraft appear in the static or was 1 a hangar display?

I live in hope – some of these issues can take a long time to be resolved – one day perhaps

Steve

Sea Devon C20 ID

Well there you have it Steve, reckon Lee’s thrown another option into the melting pot! Now if you’d only taken the photo from a little bit of a higher viewpoint…. Air Pictorial magazine, of which I have a few kicking about, used to publish checklists of aircraft serials at events like this: it might be worth looking at a few for 1988 in the months after the show. Hope this helps. 😉

Thanks Lee

So I guess now my only hope is perhaps somebody else photographed either Sea Devon at Culdrose and that one can be confirmed or eliminated by its position in the static

Steve

There were two 771 NAS Sea Devons on static at the 1988 Air Day: XK895 and XJ324.

Lee

Thanks bms44 you certainly have not added to any confusion – XJ319 is I believe the only other contender for this image

I hope that somebody somwhere has a log for Culdrose 1988 or a similar image with the serial displayed

Steve

Sea Devon C20 ID

Steve,playing around with the photo,(blowing up and into negative) I can definitely say it’s one of 771 Squadron aircraft by the badge on the fin (Three bees volant and two, proper. in heraldic lingo!) There were two aircraft on charge at this time, both based at Culdrose. To add a little element of doubt, however, if not XK895 it could possibly be XJ319 . Hope this helps, rather than adding further confusion. :confused: