BIGVERN1966Unfortunately the Banwell bits of it and the bits required to mount them are very much like Rocking Horse poo. BMPG’s boss man has contacted the Seller to see what exactly is happening with them, only two of them were good enough to do anything with if you wanted to display them the other two have had the ramjets removed and the stub wings that support them totally trashed.
Neatishead Missile Video is on the Look East Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=811622152251999&set=vb.122103087870579&type=2&theater
BIGVERN1966I was after the Firing Lines and Missile Services Cable that were on two of them to complete two Missiles/Launcher combinations in Museums (one of them being the Neatishead’s missile). The price for that lot is less than the scrap value. BMPG’s boss man would have got one had we known about it.
BIGVERN1966Knew of the existence of the missiles and have seen them. They are the ex Space cadet rounds. Was offered them at £2000 each. I wonder where the have gone.
BIGVERN1966The Stenciling is almost spot on as I did the graphics for them. Its based on the above photo, some stuff I got from the Swiss Bloodhound Museum and a Lot of photos and measurements that I took of a White missile in Switzerland in 2013 and in June this year.
BIGVERN1966AgCat
Yes the serial number on the Mk 2 when it came in to service was on the Rear Fuel Tank. In this missile’s case its W/4574/AA. It moved to the front tank in the early 1970s when the missiles were painted Olive Drab or Mid Stone when they were based in Germany / Cyprus.
The above missile (photo from Mike Ford’s Aberporth site) was fired from Aberporth on 7th June 1973, you can see the serial behind the wing.
BIGVERN1966Indeed, back to the original 1964 colours with all the correct stenciling,
BIGVERN1966jag636
You will need more than what you have described, If your missile is the ex Thorpe Camp one, you’re missing the following:
One wing (Mk 1 and Mk 2 Wings not compatible, Wing Spigots not the same design)
Two tailplanes (Mk 1 and Mk 2 items not compatible, Mk 2 tailplanes longer in cord and had 0.45 degree positive pitch built in).
Four boost fins (Mk 1 and Mk 2 Boost fins not same shape or size. Mk 2 fins fitted with leading edge mass balances)
Four boost nose cones (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not the same but are compatible)
Four boost nozzles (though I’m sure Thorpe Camp had some back in 2002).
Eight boost motor lift vanes (Mk 1 lift vanes canted outwards to pull nose of boost away from the Missile as the boosts came off, Mk 2 lift vanes canted inwards to slow boost motor nose lift as the boosts flew off faster at seperation (the Mk 2 was doing 300MPH faster than the Mk 1 at that point)).
Eight boost yoke pins (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not the same but are compatible)
Four boost yoke / missile shear pins (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not the same but are compatible)
One boost yoke (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not the same but are compatible)
One Ready Use Stand (boost motors cannot be fitted on a missile while on the servicing trolley it currently sitting on). (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not compatible)
One Handling ring (which should be around the missile warhead / fuel tank bay whenever its not on a launcher). (Mk 1 and Mk 2 designs not compatible)
The Wings, Tail Planes and Boost fins are mostly plywood, with Steel spigots for the first 2, Light Alloy skins and inboard ribs and a magnisum alloy leading edge on the wing. The boosts had Light Alloy Spigots. I’ve got 1/20 scale drawing of the wings, tailplane and boost fins. The biggest problem is the Yoke. its a big casting and I’ve got no drawings.
david steele
What type of Thor ramjet? there were four production types, The 101 / 102 on the Mk 1 and the 201 / 202 on the Mk 2. The 01’s were the upper engine, the 02’s were the lower. On the Mk 1 the 100 series engines go top or bottom for a display missile. On the Mk 2, the 200 series engines can’t be swapped over without a lot of pain.
BIGVERN1966Sorry that should be 1960 not 1950
I do believe that some Rb-365 Bloodhounds (Mk1) were transported by air to Sweden from North Coates in 1960. Anything in 1963 would have most likely been Mk 2 air transportation trials by 17 JSTU.
BIGVERN1966The TV programme was called Spacecadets and the missiles used for the set dressing at Bentwaters were Thunderbirds from Hanningfield Metals at Stock.
http://www.corestore.org/scrap.htm
Regards
Ross
Space cadets (screened in late 2005/ early 2006) rockets were Bloodhound Mk 2’s (one was definitely a round that was scheduled to be fired at Aberporth had the system not been phased out when it was as it was painted with the camera tracking markings (white checkerboard) on the upper ramjet).
BIGVERN1966When the Bloodhound force was scrapped of about a dozen missiles, plus some launchers and radars were held back for a classified trial (according to Avia News). Any data on what this was all about? Were they launched?
Was Bloodhound ever considered for deployment in the Falklands?
Anyone else notice the last flight of a Sea Dart last year. The last ever British designed and built ramjet to fly… Another bit of British engineering genius slips into history!
Group I work with have been looking into this, We think the missiles were used for ground based warhead trials and were not fired (though somebody I know claims to have seen what he thought were Bloodhounds fired from Aberporth in 1992). The Swiss and RAF did their last offical firings in 1986. RRSE did use an ex-RAF T86 radar in trials until the radar was given to Newark in the early 2000’s (along with some modified AD-10 radars (the Army’s version of the T86 used with the Thunderbird Mk 2)). Had Bloodhound been considered for the Falklands, the support and logistics requirements to deploy even a small battery was huge, thus the idea would have been very quickly rejected.
BIGVERN1966There’s a news article in the June edition of Aeroplane Monthly, with a photo showing the arrival of a Bloodhound missile at North Coates on the 23rd March. It came from a theme park on the Isle of Wight, the intention is to restore it for display, needs some parts..
Robert M
The missile is in quite a bad state, however the guys at North Coates have been given a lot of good information by yours truly, and hopefully they get it shipshape in the end.
BIGVERN1966It would appear that tonights episode of Endeavour (‘Rocket’, ITV 8pm)is set in a fictional company that builds something that from the promo shots that looks suspiciously like a Bloodhound…
Zeb
That’s cause it was. The missile in question was the Mucklebourgh Collection’s Mk2 which was from what I was told was going to be repainted for the film shoot. Due to the fact that it still had the 85 Sqn markings on it, I would say that it wasn’t. The missile is now back in Norfolk and is now indoors on a Type 200 series Launcher that the Bloodhound Missile Preservation Group sourced from the Swiss.
BIGVERN1966Aero-nuts must get used to frisbees, dispensing with warmware. Typhoon may be RAF’s last inhabited combat air vehicle. So, alternative to taking an interest in Eddie Stobart, here is what displaced Fighter Command:
RAF FC: Bloodhound Mk.I:21 Wing/Lindholme:
94 Sqdn/Misson: 1/10/60 – 30/6/63,
112 Sqdn/Breighton: 1/11/60 – 31/3/64,
247 Sqdn/Carnaby: 1/7/60 – 31/12/63
24 Wing/Watton:
242 Sqdn/Marham: 1/10/59 – 30/9/64,
263 Sqdn/Watton: 1/6/59 – 30/6/63,
266 Sqdn/Rattlesden: 1/12/59 – 30/6/64.
148 Wing/North Coates:
25 Sqdn/N.Coates: 1/11/62 – 1/10/63
141 Sqdn/Dunholme Lodge: 1/4/59 – 31/3/64,
222 Sqdn/Woodhall Spa: 1/5/60 – 30/6/64,
264 Sqdn/N.Coates: 1/12/58 – 30/11/62,
151 Wing/North Luffenham:
62 Sqdn/Woolfox Lodge: 1/2/60 – 31/1/63,
257 Sqdn/Warboys: 1/7/60 – 31/12/63.Each Sqdn: 2 sections each of 8 launchers. 50nm range; vulnerable to ECM.
RAF FC (to 1.4.68, then) St.C: Bloodhound Mk.II:
25 Sqdn/North Coates: 1/10/63 – 1/1/71,
/Wyton: 1/3/83 – 1/10/89,
/Barkston Heath: 1/3/83 – 1/10/89,
/Wattisham: 25/4/83 – 1/10/89.
41 Sqdn/West Raynham: 1/9/65 – 18/9/70,
/Wyton: 1/3/83 – 1/10/89.
85 Sqdn/West Raynham: 1/7/76 – 1/7/91
/N.Coates: 3/76 – 1/12/90
/Bawdsey: 7/79 – 1/12/90
/Barkston Heath: 1/10/89 – 1/12/90
/Wattisham: 1/11/81 – 25/4/83
/Wattisham: 1/10/89 – 1/7/91
/Wyton: 1/10/89 – 1/12/90
112 Sqdn/Woodhall Spa: 2/11/64 – 1/10/67,
/Barkston Heath: 1/3/83 – 2/7/89.RAFG: 25 Sqdn/Wildenrath: 1/2/71 – 1/3/83,
/Laarbruch: 1/2/71 – 1/11/81,
/Bruggen: 1/1/71 – 1/3/83.NEAF: 112 Sqdn/(Episkopi)/Parimali West: 1/10/67 – 1/7/75.
FEAF: 33 Sqdn/Butterworth: 1/3/65 – 30/1/70.
65 Sqdn/Seletar: 1/1/64 – 30/3/70.Each site: 2-4 sections, each of 8 launchers. 115nm range. Force Readiness, 70%/10 mins. Annual Servicing at W.Raynham/N.Coates, alternating Minor/Major. Total Mk.I/II delivered to RAF: 534.
Note no UK SAM defence, 1/1971-3/76. Dates are of Sqdns as staffed, not NATO acceptance as Operational.
(Next post: RAF Regiment Tigercat and Rapier).
Ken
Mk 1 Stations (except North Coates) 2 Fire Units each supporting 16 launchers and 2 Type 83 Radars (The equipment within the Launch Control Post of each fire unit was divided into 2 sections supporting a radar and 8 launchers, though the capability was built in to allow section “A’s” Radar to launch and guide section “B’s” missiles and vice versa to overcome technical failure of the other section’s systems). North Coates had three fire units, though due to its role as a trials and operator training unit, only 2 were combat operational at any one time. Total Mk 1 missile stocks were most likely the 534 figure as the 11 Squadrons were operational required to have 32 combat ready missiles and 8 reloads (gives a figure of around 440) plus approx. 100 rounds were allocated for replacement missile for Squadrons when they fired one of their missiles from Aberporth on a missile firing practice or for modification proof testing firing trials by Aberporth. (over 100 RAF and RAE Bloodhound Mark 1 missile fired between 1960 and 1964. (figure doesn’t include the 150 odd rounds used for service acceptance firings between 1957 and 1960)
RAF Mk 2 initial purchase was 377 missiles (Sweden got 116 and Switzerland got 196). RAF bought 60 missile back from Sweden in the late 1970’s.
RAF Mk 2 force at phase out in 1991, Approx. 294 missiles.
RAF Firings from Aberporth from 1966 to 86 – 91 (may or may not inculde Singapore Air Defence Command Rounds). Swiss firings from Aberporth – 17. Swedish firings from Vidsel – 10.
Figures do not include missiles used for Missile Evaluation Trials by 15 JSTU at Woomera (57 missile firings).
RAF force in 1965-70
25 Sqn – (1963 – 1970) Training / deployable from 1968. 2 T87 sections x 8 launchers each. 1 T86 Section x 4 launchers (though 2 T86 sections from Singapore were transferred to 25 Sqn in the late 1960s and North Coates closed in 1970 and equipment transferred to Storage / RAF West Raynham). Sqn moved to West Germany with 3 sections plus 3 from 41 Sqn. Haven’t had access to 25 Sqn ORB for 1960-65 but not a BH1 operator as far as I’m aware.
33 Sqn – (1965 – 70) Fixed Operational – 4 T87 sections with 8 launchers each.
41 Sqn – (1965 – 70) operational / Deployable – 3 T87 Sections x 8 Launchers (two sections removed from service and debuilt in 1968 and one used for training). 3 x T86 deployable sections with four launchers. (transferred to West Germany in 1970-71 with 25 Sqn). Remaining equipment became the Bloodhound Support Unit (Training and Operational/Trails/Engineering support).
65 Sqn (1964-70) – same as 41 Sqn – 3 T86 section returned to UK for 25 Sqn move to Germany. 3 T87 Sections transferred to Singapore ADC with unknown number of Missiles.
112 Sqn (1964-67) – Fixed Operational – 3 T87 sections with 4 to 8 launchers (4th section was building up when they got moved).
1970 – 1976
BHSU at West Ranyham 2x T87 sections and 1xT86 (not declared operational, but integrated into the Air defence plan as an emergency contingency and did play on air defence exercises (only needed live missiles to be loaded to become fully combat capable)). Formed from 41 Sqn and formed basis of 85 Sqn.
25 Sqn in Germany (1970-83) – 6 type 86 sections on three sites with 6-8 launchers per section. (two Sections to 85 Sqn Wattisham in 1981)
112 Sqn on Cyprus (1967-75) – 3 T87 sections with four launchers a piece, raised to 8 in early 70’s
85 Sqn (1975-1991)
A Flt – West Raynham (1975-1991) – 3 x T87 Sections, 2 with 8 launchers , 1 with 6 Launchers. From 1986 onwards 3 T86 sections with same number of launchers. One extra T86 section with 6 launchers ex D flt in 1989. (Ex BHSU at West Raynham)
B Flt – North Coates – (1975-1990) – 3 x T87 Sections, each with 8 launchers (T86 from 1987)
C Flt – Bawdsey – (1979-1990) – 2 x T87 Sections each with 6 missiles (T86 from 1988)
D Flt – West Raynham – (1981 -1989) 2 x T86 Sections each with 6 missiles (one T86 section to A flt from 1989). Name plate to former 25 Sqn A Flt in 1989 and disbanded following year).
E Flt – Wattisham – (1981-83) / (1989-91) 25 Sqn Flt with 2x T86 sections with 6 missiles each returned in 1981, cut back to 25 Sqn (C Flt) in 1983. Returned to 85 Sqn in 1989 and with A Flt were the last RAF MSAM operators.
F Flt – Wyton – (1989-90) ex 25 Sqn B Flt, 2x T86 sections with 6 launchers each.
25 Sqn
A Flt – Bruggen / Barkston Health
B Flt – Wildenrath / Wyton
C Flt – Laarbruch / Wattisham
BIGVERN1966The Sandtoft Bloodhounds were Mk 2s and came to Sandtoft from North Coates and were previously at North luffenham as gate guardians and are now believed to be at faldingworth, the one at Misson is a Mk 1 and has been there for about 25 years
Nope, one was a green Mk 1 on a Type 100 (Mk 1) Launcher, the other was a green Mk1 with an extension to the front to simulate the extra length of the Mk2 front fuel tank / warhead bay with a Mk 2 forebody and radome on the front (known as a Hybrid, it was used for loading training, display and gate guard roles where you didn’t want to damage a real missile or take time removing the secret bits) That one was on a Type 200 (Mk 2) launcher.
One of those very early childhood recollections on a drive out with Mum and Dad….seeing white Bloodhounds set up on an aerodrome. We didn’t used to travel far afield so my thinking is that this would have been Tattershall Thorpe.?…would they have been easily visible from the road.??
I got to play with one later too….my Cousin Stuart had the Corgi missile set.:)
Clive.
222 Squadron had 32 launchers at what was left of RAF Woodhall Spa, which would have been visible from the road between Tattleshall and Woodhall Spa. The actual missile site is now the RAF Coningsby Golf Course, with one of the 2 Launch Control Posts now being used the Clubhouse.
BIGVERN1966Very much doubt it, Does the article have a date of when around this is supposed to happen. No in the case of Bloodhound as the missile was never fitted with a Nuclear warhead. The camp did have RF radiation signs around the perimeter fence, but that was due to the open air microwave ovens operated there which were better known as Radars.
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