Did you get photos of these Sea Hornets too?
I would be interested to see how VR856 got there as it was written off after it ran off the end of the runway at Hal Far in Malta?
After your comment I posed the question on the ScotAvNet forum about which Hornets had been recorded there.
The reply from Douglas Rough was:-
“eLaRef” & others (and definitely Brian Irvine & Ian Stott),
Having looked at the Key Forum and the various questions that arose I note that the same “old hoary” questions re FR.20 VR856 & F.20 TT213 pop up yet again. So, let us deal with these first:-
VR856……whilst with 728 Sqdn (presumed coded ‘534/HF’) ran off the runway on touchdown at RNAS Hal Far on 18.6.55 . Removed to Aircraft Holding Unit (AHU) Hal Far the same day for repairs (NOTE it was not destroyed in that minor mishap). Departed Hal Far by air on 24.6.55 for the UK arriving at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 27.6.55. Flown to AHU RNAS Lossiemouth 11.7.55 for Long Term Storage (LTS). Allocated for use in a Fire Fighting Competition 23.12.55. SOC 20.1.56. Parts noted on Quarrywood dump, Elgin c1966.
Other than NF.21 VW949 with a Civil Defence Unit near Chichester which survived to 1966, another Lossie Sea Hornet (. well worth a mention is F.20 TT213. It was probably the last virtually complete example in Scotland. Attempts were made to preserve TT213 & later VW949 but, unfortunately, with little official backing re TT213 and an “ownership” issue re VW949 no complete Sea Hornet has been preserved. Another unsuccessful “save” attempt was made in 1957 at Abbotsinch circa 1957 to preserve the fuselage of F.20 WE238 which lay dumped on the airfield for months & months. A more successful campaign a few years did save the Attacker WA473
I have attached 2 photos of TT213 (one of them attributed to Brian Irvine (still around) & I.G.Stott (still a pillar of the kirk))
TT213 went out to Australia in 4.48 for RAAF trials at Laverton, Victoria. It was allotted Aussie serial A83-1, but never carried. Eventually returned to DH at Hatfield arriving with them on 2.4.51. To Airwork General Trading Co. Ltd at Gatwick on 2.1.52 for re-conditioning. By 7.52 it had been delivered to AHU RNAS Abbotsinch for storage (as AC was closed to traffic at the time because of runways construction, it flew into Renfrew and was towed to Abbots). By 7.52 it had been delivered to Airwork RNAS St. Davids (near Brawdy, Pembrokeshire) where it was coded “421/BQ”. Contrary to published info it was not recoded “421/BY” when the Brawdy Station Letters changed from BQ to BY. (Note: photos of Sea Hornets & Sea Mosquitoes with “BQ” fin codes are very rare). Transferred to Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth on 28.4.53 (retaining its Brawdy code details & a distinctive yellow band around the rear
fuselage). Declared surplus to requirements in 1.55 and flown to AHU RNAS Lossiemouth 17.3.55 for Long Term Storage. SOC there (date info vague but presumed circa 3.55) but noted there in 1957. By 1958 at least it was noted on its belly (still with BQ code & yellow band) dumped near the perimeter fence and still there in 19.7.59 (noted by D.A.Rough). Rumoured to have gone to Quarrywood circa 1960 but I have no confirmed sighting date. Over to you the readers!
I have also seen refs to Sea Hornet remains at Milnathort near Balado.
For those interested in finding out the histories/fates of all the Lossiemouth-stored Sea Hornets please refer to:-
1) British Aviation Research Group (BARG) “Roundel” magazine (1980 MY75 – through to- 1982 MR55 including numerous illustrations)
2) Air-Britain’s FAA Fixed Wing A/C since 1946 (Pages 124 – 134)
Hope the above is of interest to somebody.
I have also attached 2 photos of TT213 which should get to eLaReF. Also sent to ScotAvNet but not sure if successful as not sure of method of sending photos.
If any individual is interested in seeing the photos please get back to me at my E-address.
Aye,
Douglas A. Rough
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