Where are they now…?

Argosy is C1 – XN817 , Phantom is FGR2 – XT852, both were still there at the beginning of the year according to Wrecks and Relics.

Yep, West Freugh.

I took the picture in 1998 as we used to do a lot of circuit training there from prestwick. At the time, the Argosy was being gradually whittled away by the fire service angle grinders as an evac/rescue trainer and the Phantom was just sat there doing nothing – as far as anyone knew it was complete. From the air whilst on a downwind leg I also saw loads of other stuff lying around the dump, wings, components, oleos etc. but as it was across from the active runway, I needed to get a lift from MT to get over there but they were never available. A couple of other students also got their cameras and film confiscated there so I only ever took pics as I was taxying out!

I reckon there’s a reasonable chance of some wartime stuff kicking about in there. The old mess hall that was being used as the canteen still had the original station commander boards etc. up on the walls – I think I’ve got pictures of them some where if anyone’s interested. The most amazing find there that I came across was a pair of German Kriegsmarine marked high-powered binos on their original stand, up in the tower used for airfield observation! Apparently they’d been acquired by a previous CO during the war (from a U-boat allegedly) and had been there ever since. I spent a good few times peering through them watching some very interesting aircraft trials going on whilst I waited for my turn to bash round the circuit. Happy days!

Dean

1. West Freugh
2. F-4K Phantom FR.1 and Argosy E.2?
3. Guess both scrapped.
4. No idea

That’s either a white whale or an Argosy chasing a Phantom round a field….