Compass swinging

I have heard that it was for compass swinging. I believed this involved a solid circle, just like an aircraft dispersal. The feature at Seletar looks more a ring, suggesting the aircraft itself was not on the concrete. Is this standard?

Ian

Seletar again

RPM,

on the photograph you sent showing two Beverleys and three Whirlwinds at Seletar, there is a large circle of concrete on the MU side of the runway. Do you know what it was used for? I remember seeing it when I returned to Seletar in 2007.
To the left of the circle, there is at least one Belvedere visible, (in the middle, upper third of the photograph) its fuselage parallel to the runway. It is off a track. Is this the dispersal you meant?
My father was Air Movements Warrant Officer up to March 1969, and then reverted to more conventional supply work after that. Do you know where the Air Movement Section or Flight was located? I remember going to my Dad’s office, from which I could see Andovers.

Ian

Your update

RPM,

thank you very much for taking the time to give such a comprehensive answer. I now know where almost all of the flying units at Seletar in the sixties were operating from. It helps me understand what was there and what is left.

Ian

Que Pee,

I went to Catterick twice in 1977 and found it to be fascinating as aircraft seemed to be scattered all over the place. I have seen few pictures of this location and have found your pictures to be extremely interesting. I would be very interested in seeing your log from 26 July 1977. If you have more pictures of Catterick, I would love to see them. I did get onto the base once, ewith permission but was not allowed to take any photographs.

I remember walking around the camp with my Dad one day and we got as far as the fire dump, where a Vickers Valetta was in use. Can anyone tell me where this was on the base?

We often went to the Swimming Pool, going past the Vampire jet trainer outside the Air Training Corps HQ. We travelled by taxi. I’ve seen numerous references to baboons near the Pool but this means nothing to me. Maybe the apes only bothered walkers and cyclists?????

I don’t think I had coconut milk but I don’t want to taste the school milk again! Horrible stuff!!

I only went to the beach when we were staying at Changi Creek. Seems daft given how small the island is that we did not visit the beach at any other time.

My plane spotting began via vehicles!! I remember sitting on the bank of Piccadilly, noting down the number plate of the RAF trucks that often went up and down the road. This later developed into an interest in aircraft serials and I became a plane spotter without meeting any other like-minded souls first! I wish I started plane spotting in Singapore. The planes that I have missed!!

We flew out to Singapore in 1967 from Gatwick in a Cunard Eagle Britannia.
In 1970 we returned in a BOAC B.707, landing to refuel in Rangoon (Burma) and Rome, although the Italian authorities insisted everyone or no-one got off the plane, so I have yet to touch Italian soil!!

Of the aircraft at Seletar in the late sixties, the Belvederes and Beverleys, Pioneers and Twin Pioneers were all scrapped in Singapore, mostly at Seletar. The Whirlwinds moved to Tengah when the RAF stopped flying from Seletar, and then were returned to the UK. The Andovers moved to Changi and then went home. At least one of the six was still flying at Boscombe Down this decade.
None of the flying units made it back to the UK, although the Bloodhound squadron, 65, was adopted by the Lightning OCU in 1971 and later still was the identity of the Tornado ADV OCU, 229 OCU, until 1992.

I have yet to get a reply as to where the flying squadrons operated from at Seletar. I have seen photographs circa 1959 showing some aircraft near the MQs – Twin Pioneers?

Seletar pictures – final attempt

My Seletar pictures didn’t come through first time, so here goes……

Myself outside the main gate in July 2007
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Two views of No.1 Brompton Road, my last address at Seletar
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Seems to have worked

I hope these mean something to some of you

I’m not bus spotter (aircraft spotter oh yes – seen over 14,000 so far) but may be this is a better picture – On Google type in Bedford 38 AC 17 and it gets you to a better picture of the front – round holes on the grill!!