We were happily discussing the merits of photographing aircraft and John Cooper posted a picture of a Shackleton (well a pair) taken in Ceylon:
“Raf Katunayake again 1959, two North Front MK2 Shacks passing on an overnighter to Changi, at that time there weren’t too many Shacks fitted with guns, but 224 Squadron always seem to have them fitted.
Look at all the gear in the background this was quite normal on our ‘pan'”
I had to ask John about this, so started a new thread:
John…fascinating pic for me…was that really 1959 at Katunayake? Was the Shack going to 205 Sqn at Changi?
The first Mk 2 (well a Mk2c, which means it had the ‘Phase 2 mods’) was WL745 which arrived, minus any code letters on 29 Feb 1962.
I got it parked at 205’s Eastern Dispersal when it arrived.
A few days later, crew training had started on the new mark and it was doing ‘engine out’ circuits.
So I don’t think your aircraft was in 1959. But the ‘font of all knowledge’ on the the web regarding Shacks (for me at least) is this site:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/Shackleton/
That’s Mo Botwood’s site with detailed histories of all Shacks.
If you look at the ‘Mark 2’ page then WL745 was returned to get ‘phase 3 mods’ 25 October 1965. Doesn’t seem likely to me that you were still in Ceylon then though?
So intriguing picture, for me at least. Mk2s were moved to and fro getting the Phase 3 mods and certainly other Shacks became ‘A’ at 205 Sqn and another could have been ferried coded ‘A’.
Out of interest WL745 survive along time, becoming one of the AEW2’s.
David T
By: Mo Botwood - 15th March 2009 at 08:01
Shacks in the 60s
Thank you Doctor, for the link
Found myself at 4mins 51 secs in the camera aircraft for Pathe News at the H-Bomb test.
JohnB
By: Mo Botwood - 9th March 2009 at 22:10
Of couse! It was 204 that got caught stacking the so called sound insulation with over 10,000 cigarettes.
The local Customs boys were not very happy. We had always had a lovely relation with them. Putting on a 9 gallon keg in the crew room two hours before the squadron was due back from detachment seemed to do the trick.
I was amazed on returning from Malta, to see the first thing off the a/c was a cast iron RAF eagle, painted bright blue, with a wingspan of 9 feet. Amazed ‘cos I had cleaned all contraband out before start up at Luqa – I thought!!
Mo
By: Dr Strangelove - 9th March 2009 at 21:34
Classic Shack vid, in Coastal Command service.
By: wl745 - 9th March 2009 at 09:26
first flight
Sixty years ago eh!!Another ten years till I got my first flight in one at BKYon a MK 1 after ASF service.Then a MK3 on which the nosewheel would not come down ,well it did eventually!!Then onto 204 Sqdn for 20 months of enjoyable experiences.Gibexs ,always good for a bit of smuggling!Wonder if the aircrew new about all the stuff secreted away!!Did you know Mo!!
By: Mo Botwood - 9th March 2009 at 06:50
Happy Birthday
Sixty years ago today, The Shack took its first very uneventful flight.
JohnB
By: davecurnock - 8th March 2009 at 20:22
Another ‘character’ shot for Postfade – courtesy of a borrowed Agfa Silette (thanks Nobby).
WL 752 ‘T’ taking part in a 224 Squadron 4-ship formation at (over, or near!) RAF Masirah in early 1959. Guns were usually fitted to 224 Sqdn aircraft, especially on colonial policing when they were fired in anger! (Probably didn’t hit anything, ditto for our bombs, too!)
By: longshot - 27th February 2009 at 23:42
Atlantic Ditching L-1049H Flying Tiger 923 1962
Shackletons from St Mawgan and Ballykelly were sent out to intercept this Super Connie which progressively lost 3 engines, finally ditching 560 n.m. off the Irish coast…..scans from 1992 Aviation News article
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th February 2009 at 09:38
On leaving Bodo, Norway after following the Russian Fleet around for a couple of weeks we were flying back to Kinloss in WR988 MR3 when suddenly the Squadron Commander of a Squadron of F86Ds came alongside to escort us out past the Lofoten Islands. July 1963
By: Mo Botwood - 26th February 2009 at 09:24
Trips To Gib
A few trips to Gib, John. Including the great weekend away from BK, when we flew down to Gib with great plans and were diverted from the circuit back to – yep, BK.
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th February 2009 at 08:04
Hi John/Mo
Good to see you about on here!:p Your next post should be a 16 hour ‘Navex’ from BK to Gib! Hope you are keeping well.
By: Mo Botwood - 24th February 2009 at 02:44
Connies on Three
Longshot
No worries. Strange but it was true. ‘Unwise? – perhaps, but that version of the a/c could do it and it would always have a spare.
As my old flight engineer would say, the only reason he flew in four engine a/c, was beacuse there were no 5 engine ones around.
John B
By: longshot - 23rd February 2009 at 23:34
Escorting Connies on Three
I’ve never heard of airlines deliberately shutting down engines for economy reasons over the Atlantic before….are you sure about this…..there would have been plenty of opportunities for escorting unpremeditated shutdowns on propliners….longshot
Longshot
I am sure, ‘cos we had to do it according to standing orders. I had 3.5 years at Ballkelly on 269 and 210 and my last 18 months were as an Operations Controller of that same ops room. By that time, the jets were well and truly established. But the rule was still there – that a multi shutting down an engine was treated as a Pan call.Nice to join the forum and I’ll back up John Cooper re 205/209. In October 1959, My posting was to 205/209 Squadron – the Squadron number was changed to 205 Squadron in December 59.
Mo Botwood….I wasn’t challenging the idea that a Shackleton would deploy for every engine shutdown (wise) but I’ve never come across the idea that an airline would shut down one engine on a Connie for economy whilst in flight (unwise, surely)…longshot
By: Mo Botwood - 23rd February 2009 at 23:23
Escorting Connies On Three
I’ve never heard of airlines deliberately shutting down engines for economy reasons over the Atlantic before….are you sure about this…..there would have been plenty of opportunities for escorting unpremeditated shutdowns on propliners….longshot
Longshot
I am sure, ‘cos we had to do it according to standing orders. I had 3.5 years at Ballkelly on 269 and 210 and before I left the RAF in 66, my last 18 months were as an Operations Controller of that same ops room. By that time, the jets were well and truly established. But the rule was still there – that a multi shutting down an engine was treated as a Pan call.
Nice to join the forum and I’ll back up John Cooper re 205/209. In October 1959, My posting was to 205/209 Squadron – the Squadron number was changed to 205 Squadron in December 59.
By: longshot - 23rd February 2009 at 18:40
Escorting Connies on Three
[QUOTE=Postfade;1369536][FONT=”Verdana”]
There was a point raised about escorting Connies on three over the Atlantic. With the introduction of the Constellation ‘G’ model, the airlines found out that it could cruise safely and more economically on three – so they would feather one and under international law, advise the control areas. The Control Centres on the UK side had a requirement to scramble the SAR Shack if any a/c lost an engine. After some time it was changed so that we were woke up as the a/c passed mid-Atlantic and collected in the Ops Room to watch the odd counter on the plot as it reported in every 30 mins.
I’ve never heard of airlines deliberately shutting down engines for economy reasons over the Atlantic before….are you sure about this…..there would have been plenty of opportunities for escorting unpremeditated shutdowns on propliners….longshot
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd February 2009 at 17:10
That is possible as my service record shows a change from 205/209 Squadron to 205 Squadron as a change of title here 
Although 205 Squadrons colours were presented at Changi with both Station Commanders of Changi and Seletar at the same ceremony, WingCo RAN McReady was 205 CO but we had two Flight Commanders A and B
By: Ballykellybrat - 23rd February 2009 at 16:36
205/209?
Certainly both a 205 Shack & a 205 Sunderland but I have seen a photo ( in British Combat Aircraft in Action since 1945) that shows the Shack to be C/209! I guess this marking was instigated by the 209 Sunderland crews that were absorbed into 205 in 1955. 209 of course never existed as a Shack squadron & in Spring 1958 was a transport squadron. Anyone know the full story? Chris Ashworth thought the serial was probably VP254.
Bill
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd February 2009 at 15:24
Good to hear JohnB is joining the forum, long time since we spoke.
The passing of one era the last of The RAF Sunderlands 50 years ago in May where the same Squadron shared two different aircraft on two different stations for a short while, to another………
By: Peter Mills - 23rd February 2009 at 12:57
Makes a refreshing change from the constant, relentless Spitfire postings!!!!;)
By: Bob - 23rd February 2009 at 12:48
I think we need a dedicated Shackleton forum!!!….
By: pagen01 - 23rd February 2009 at 12:31
Thanks DT.
Now that would make an interesing painting!
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February 14, 2009 at 9:30 pm