Here’s one I’ve been looking into – any thoughts?
Coningsby was well-known as the selected base for the OCU but I’ve also heard some mutterings about Hemswell (no really!) being used as a base for flight trials. Anyone else heard anything serious about this?
After that, things get very cloudy. It does seem clear that two (perhaps three) squadrons would have been based at Akrotiri, and UK/RAFG squadrons would be detached to Hal far for low flying training. There doesn’t seem to be any documentation to clarify anything more though.
One assumes that the RAFG units would have been based at Laarburch, on the basis that the Canberra strike aircraft were based there and their replacement (the Buccaneer) was also based there. But a TSR2 brochure shows an estimated range map based on Geilenkirchen, which suggests that maybe the latter base had been earmarked at some stage? Likewise, there seems to be no evidence of any projected second UK base so maybe this would have been Honington, given that the Buccaneers went there?
As for squadrons, this seems to be even more unclear as much would have depended on whether the units were seen as direct successors to the Canberra tactical strike squadrons, or the strategic Vulcan squadrons. Officially-speaking, it ought to have been the former, in which case the best guess ought to be the units which eventually got the Buccaneer (15, 16 and maybe 12 and 208?), but then there’s the Akrotiri squadrons too (presumably 9 and 35 given the eventual outcome)? There’s also the recce units to consider – 2 Sqn must have been pretty certain but what about 41? And what would the OCU have been? 237 (as eventually appeared with Buccaneers) or 228?
Answers (or speculations at least!) on a postcard!:D
By: JamesA - 19th October 2009 at 17:43
After following the thread drift, I found it quite an interesting exchange of views over what was considered at the time ‘the Aircraft’ for the R. A. F. Quite a number of the contributors come over as being, if not anti-British aero- industry then very pro-U.S.
However, I found some naivety regarding the political views and the costs of the aircraft referred to. Namely, every U. S. model was always offered to the British government ‘as an absolute bargain’. If this was quoting from an M.P. it shows the ‘political speak’ i.e. lies coming over. Remember, at this time B.O.A.C. was in government hands, so they were very aware of the American pricing system, i.e. ‘Buy our airplane, you can have it next week. See how low the cost is and how attractive the payment terms are.’ I won’t get in to development costs here. At no time has any British manufacturer been able to offer terms to equal those of the U.S., either financing or delivery. The U.S. make their money (profits), on sale of spares. This is well known to the commercial world and I imagine in various government circles for military purchases, if only after the contract has been signed.
One person claims many contracts coming in within budget, weapons maybe, I cannot recall one aircraft doing this, but I am prepared to stand corrected. No aircraft has ever been built to its original proposal as times have meant extra functions or equipment being required during development. Hence price has to increase, I would not blame any company refusing to build to a fixed price under these circumstances.
A couple of you have mentioned ‘MRCA’ before it became Tornado. Does anyone recall the Luftwaffe’s interpretation of this – ‘Military Requirements Come Afterwards’. ‘In other words after the politicians have finished, we get what is left over.’ Not an unfamiliar situation, I think in the R.A.F. with aircraft being adapted for roles they were not designed for. ‘But, you have to realise money is tight, etc. etc.’
F/A 18RN – your mention of Russia’s finest, I was given to believe after Vickers gave assistance to get the Il-62 in to the air, they deliberately led the KGB astray with the Tu-144. Hence, its poor performance. Probably just another aero-story, but as Chox keeps reminding us, ‘it makes for more interesting reading.’
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October 10, 2009 at 11:39 pm