Like John Cooper in my years in the mob I didn’t hear of this “disgrace” thing. There had been some myths about one sqn not being allowed to fly from UK soil again, it might even have been 8 but, as with all such things, it was mostly bar-talk.

Do know about 3 Sqn though. 3 Sqn has had a green band ever since it flew Snipes although it was not used on some aircraft – eg, the Vampires where only the acorn fairing at the fin was painted green. The green was supposed to represent the green grassy plain of Larkhill where the sqn was formed in 1912, and was “borrowed” from the Wiltshire crest.

The first instance of a yellow edging to our green band came when the sqn took up with the Sabre in early 1953 in Germany. The nose intake structure was painted green and a yellow band added to demarcate it from the camo green of the rest of the airframe – this from the sqn historian. Then, when 3 Sqn set up a Sabre aerobatic team (4-ship) those aircraft had the sqn’s Cockatrice crest painted on the fin to distinguish them from 67 Sqn’s similar Sabre team. This crest, a white circle containing a red and blue Cockatrice, was painted onto a horizontal green band which, again, was demarcated from the camo scheme by two thin edging lines in yellow. This arrangement was followed for 3 Sqn’s time with the Javelin and Hunter as well.

When, at Geilenkirchen in ’61, 3 Sqn took over 59 Sqn’s Canberra B(I)8s the 59 device on the fin was initially replaced with just a white circle containing the blue and (now) grey Cockatrice of 3 Sqn. It was a couple or so years later in 1963/4 that the well-known yellow-edged green band re-appeared on the fin under our “****-on-a-Rock”. I understand that now some of the current 3 Sqn crew are saying the yellow represents the “sand” they have been playing in for the past few years :rolleyes:.

It would seem then that the yellow in 3 Sqn’s markings is as a result of “convenience” and not some past disgrace. Although . . .

My time on the sqn was during its nuke days of the mid 60s and, I suppose, it could be said that the groundcrews would have been the ones to disgrace the pilots! If Mission 1 had ever come about we’d have seen the pilots off and then high-tailed it back to the UK (via Ostend) in 3-tonner Magirus-Duetz trucks filled with familes. So the tables would have been turned I guess. 😉

So Jase, as for the subject of the thread I don’t think that yellow in a sqn markings denotes anything “sinister”. Many sqns have yellow in their markings, eg 16 Sqn wore a yellow-edge black band around the rear fuse of their Canberras and 74 Sqn have yellow and black chequers. There’s probably dozens of other examples too.

Good story though Jase, perfect for those beery evenings in the Swamp. :rolleyes:

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Do you think any of the outdoor airframes are particularly at risk if some work is not carried out to prevent deterioration in the near future? Does the Museum actively recruit volunteers and are there any particular skills or qualifications required to become a volunteer?

You’re asking what I think. I think modern type exhibits should be kept outside in their natural element and have a sufficiency of resources and TLC to keep them free from major problems. I also think that museum exhibits that are kept outside should be painted at least once every 18 months with weekly “touch-up” servicing – even if it’s just a careful squirt with WD-40. The ‘frames should also be capable of having their electric and other systems fired up at least once a month (more frequently in the winter) to get them warmed-up and minimise condensation related and servicability problems. But then what I think counts for nothing, I have no say in anybody’s policy.

As for MAM’s collection . . . as with all museums with outside exhibits the fight against deterioration is on-going, regulated only by resources and available bodies.

If anybody seriously wants to volunteer to help out at any aviation museum I’m sure that there would be no problems, all you need to do is turn up on a fairly regular basis.

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And cared for it is….. XF382 certainly does you great credit.

Does whom great credit?

MAM yes. But Malcolm and Gordon in particular. Was present most of the time XF382 was undergoing its re-paint and mini refurb, even contributed a bit to the scheme (as did our inimitable Albert). Saw nobody else but these two blokes working on it – before or since. It was not only the paint-job that was up-lifted, a fair amount of “containment” work was done on the systems and airframe as it was in a mess (including fixing the gyro gun-sight).

This ‘frame will now survive another winter outside thanks to the work of these two blokes, survive and look good for next year’s ceremony (if the plan comes together).

(Pic shows Gordon with 382)

Not a Canberra in the true sense, but a classy livery, i think, that was before they put the ugly camera’s on it for shuttle liftoff monitoring

Not that one I’m afraid. That B-57B was retired in the late 90s I believe. The Canberras NASA used to monitor the shuttle lift-off were their two WB-57D’s. One of them visited Mildenhall recently.

Out of interest I would be interested to know how much flying Canberra B(I) 6 WT308 did out of Boscombe Down.

B(I)6 WT308 was basically a Farnborough Canberra, with the Weapons Dept from September 1955. It was transferred to BosDwn on 10 June 1983 and stayed there for a year returning to Farnborough on 24 July 1984.

On its return to Farn it was put into storage and subsquently retired from flying. Although allocated to the Navy at RNAS Culdrose in May1990 for ground rescue training (Navy serial No A2601) it was eventually moved by road during Sept 1992. It has been at Predannack since 1 October 1992 – and that’s where it still lies.

BTW, I have a page for WT308 here. (The gen above isn’t shown on the page as I’ve only just received it and haven’t updated yet.)

And no, it’s definitely not recoverable. 🙁

David – yes, just before April 2005. Had an e-mail or three from one of the team at Ashburton at the begining of April and it was still in port there then so it’ll be with them now. My comment was . . . er. . . a senior moment, was thinking of two things at once – always dangerous when you get over 60! :rolleyes:

This is the last pic I have of 734 just after being divided at Llanbedr. Have been promised more current images for the web site but none yet.

asp

“transportphotos” does indeed have a photo of WJ867 in their lists. A digital jpg scanned from a 5x7in print and sent via e-mail will cost £5 payable only by PayPal – a tiff file will cost £8. The digital image can be used on a non-comercial web-site. To publish and use a hard-copy involves buying a reproduction licence from them.