vampiredaveA prequel to the ‘Vixettes’:
Following their withdrawal from service, a number of Sea Venoms were relegated as instructional airframes for use at various Naval-training establishments. However, the majority were passed to the AHU at RNAS Abbotsinch, where they languished in long-term storage until being sold for scrap between 1958 and 1963.
A few redundant airframes were also used for fire practice but several were given a temporary reprieve when they formed the basis of the conversion of the navy’s “top secret, experimental aircraft” – the DH “Vennet” – which was also variously referred to as the “Fairey Nuff” or “Sea Snipe”. Preparing for the 1961 Navy Day, the engineers of No.12 Hangar at Abbotsinch, under the direction of the AEO, Lt Ted Cottle decided to build a spoof aircraft. The conversion involved removing the tail booms and tip tanks from a surplus Sea Venom, while the rudders of two Fairey Gannets were fixed to the boom attachment points and connected to the rudder pedals by adapting the control cabling. Dummy missiles were also fitted, together with an extended nose, into which a standard tubular office chair – or “pilot’s” seat – was bolted to the cockpit floor. It was also painted red and featured the code ’12HS’ on the nose, which referred to the fact that it had been designed and built in No.12 hangar at Abbotsinch and was known as the ’12 Hangar Special’.
The “Vennet” was described as the Fleet Air Arm’s ‘latest rocket-powered, high-altitude fighter, capable of flying over Mach 3’ and would be making its maiden test flight in front of the public during the forthcoming Navy Day. As an “experimental aircraft” it was kept at a discreet distance from the crowd line when the pilot, Lt Paul Stevenson taxied to the main runway and accelerated away at 90 knots. With smoke and flames pouring from the condemned Ghost engine, a bemused public was told that the aircraft had developed an “engine failure” and because of repeated trouble with the “super-heat ignition system” the test flight would have to be abandoned!
The following year, the technicians of 10 Hangar produced the “Vennett Mark II” as a successor for the Mark 1 for the 1962 Navy Day. With Sea Venom and Gannet airframes again used as the basis for the conversion, the main alterations included the fitting of wing-tip ramjets, modified rudders, a nose-type intake and the addition of two guided weapons. The “aircraft” was painted white indicating the strike role with a yellow “P” on the fuselage. Unfortunately, the “ultrasonic version of the previous supersonic world beater” failed to take off for the planned Air Race and was returned to the hangar for further modifications!
vampiredaveIn November 1961 RNAS Abbotsinch AHU was asked to investigate the conversion of older aircraft into a modern type for the Fleet Air Arm’s display at the Royal Tournament, as the current service aircraft would prove too heavy for the floor of the Earl’s Court Stadium. With the technical ‘expertise’ gained from their earlier conversion with the ‘D H Vennet’ for the 1961 Navy Day, it was decided that the simplest method was from the Sea Venom to the Sea Vixen. Four Sea Venom airframes were selected. The work was completed by March 1962 and they were transported to Portsmouth by lighter. Dubbed ‘Mini-Vixens’ or ‘Vixettes’, three of the replicas were known to have worn the spurious markings ‘XJ601:241/H’, ‘XJ602:247/H’ and ‘XJ603:246/H’. To the best of my knowledge, the identities of the original Sea Venoms have not been established.
vampiredaveThat is quite an interesting comment about the Red Pelicans at Halfpenny Green as I went with the team there in 1968. We landed in the morning and parked on the far side, displayed in the afternoon and returned to Little Rissington just before the show ended. My abiding memory of the show was that some eager spectators managed to get in to the area where the aircraft were parked up and several of us were sent over to prevent them from crawling over the aircraft!
vampiredaveI have been following this thread and I am intrigued as to why, because he was a member of the RCAF, it must be assumed that he belonged to 421 Squadron?
At the time of the accident, the squadron was in the process of running down, prior to disbandment, so what was one of their Vampires doing in Yorkshire when the squadron was based Odiham, Hampshire? The ORB and Aircraft Record Cards makes no mention of the accident or the pilot, and he is not depicted in a photograph of squadron officers in late October 1951.
There were a number of Canadian exchange officers with the RAF at that time and the clue to the identity of the Vampire is mentioned in the qoute “the plane was based at Leconfield”. In October 1951, the Central Gunnery School was based at Leconfield and ran a variety of courses, including Pilot Attack courses. They also had a number of Vampire FB 5s on strength at the time.
The identity of aircraft is:
Vampire FB 5 WA404
Built by English Electric and awaiting collection on 21 May 1951
Delivered Central Gunnery School, Leconfield, 23 May 1951 as / becoming ‘FJW-P’
FA Cat 4R 2 October 1951: Pilot became lost after reading reciprocal compass bearing and bellylanded, out of fuel. Fg Off J Ursulak RCAF.
To Marshalls for repairs 20 November 1951 and awaiting collection on 24 September 1952.
Delivered No.608 (North Riding) Squadron, RAuxAF, Thornaby, 29 September 1952, as /becoming ‘K’
FA Cat 5s 21 February 1954: Engine failed during recovery from stall and crashed in field, 8m ENE Thornaby, killing Pt Off R Webster.
SOC 22 February 1954.
Vampire VZ338 did not serve with 421 Squadron. It served exclusively with No.32 Squadron and crashed near Shallufa during a squadron aerobatic team practice, killing the pilot, Fg Off ‘Red’ Heap.
I see this thread is also featured on the RAF Commands forum?
DW
vampiredaveIf it was a ‘red painted’ Sea Hawk, then it was on 26 August 1957 when the 738 Squadron’s solo display pilot, Lt D P W Kelly, failed to recover from a loop during a team rehearsal for the SBAC show and was killed when his aircraft (Sea Hawk FGA 6, XE381) crashed into a railway embankment near Arundel Sussex.
There was another accident on 1 September 1958, when Sea Hawk FGA 6 XE462 of 800 Squadron crashed at the diversion airfield at Blackbushe during SBAC display after its saddle tank caught fire; Lt Roger Dimmock ejected and suffered a broken leg.
Take your pick?
DW
vampiredaveWhat is your particular interest in the 1955 team?
DW
vampiredaveDo you mean this particular team?
In November 1954, 800 Squadron was formed at RNAS Brawdy with Sea Hawk FB.3s. The Commanding officer was Lt Cdr R D Lygo and in due course an aerobatic team was formed consisting of the CO, Lt M Darlington, Lt A R Campbell, Sub Lt Morse and Lt A J Leahy, DSC; the team was later joined by Lt B R Toomey. The team operated as Box Four formation with a singleton filling in between manoeuvres.
Despite carrying out a full operational work-up, followed by embarkation in HMS ‘Ark Royal’ in September 1955 for deployment to the Mediterranean, the squadron took part in ten air displays, including the the International Air Display at Ypenburg for the opening of Schiphol Airport at Amsterdam on 30 May.
1955.
30 May: International Air Display, Ypenburg. Sea Hawk FB.3. *
25 Jun: RNAS Culdrose Air Day. ( Now flying Sea Hawks FGA.4s)
20 Aug: National Air Races, Coventry.
21 Aug: ROC Display.
27 Aug: RNAS Anthorn Air Day.
4 Sept: ROC Display.
10 Sep: Kete Navy Day.
17 Sep: RAF Valley Battle of Britain Display.
17 Sep: RAF Chivenor Battle of Britain Display.
19 Dec: RNAS Hal Far Air Display.
* After a 50-aircraft flypast by representative types of the Netherlands Naval Air Service and the Royal Navy, 12 Sea Hawks smoothed themselves across the sky, and then split to present a brace of formation fours in a well timed, vapour-punctuated piece of aerobatic show-business. 800 Squadron (Lygo) and 807 Squadron (Hutton). Credit: Flight.
While embarked in HMS ‘Ark Royal’, now equipped with Sea Hawk FGA.4s (in June 1955), displays were carried out at RNAS Hal Far, Malta, in late 1955.
9 July 1955: Lee-on-Solent.
22 July 1955: Brawdy Air Day: restrictions on aerobatics following an accident at Lossiemouth (on 22 July?) when a wing came off a Seahawk. Routine limited to strafing attacks and flypast.
19 August 1955: Lossiemouth.
20 August 1955: Six aircraft of team at National Air Races at Baginton, led by CO. “First afternoon act of the programme was a potent, polished performance by six Seahawks of 800 Squadron, who burst in to begin a superb show, formation runs by four machines plus low individual cross-over beat-ups.” 20,000 crowd.
27 August 1955: Anthorn.
12 September 1955: display over HMS ‘Harrier’ (Kete)
17 September 1955: BoB display at Valley; returned BY and displayed at Chivenor.
DW
vampiredaveI thought that it was the Bristol Aeroplane works at Filton??
vampiredaveFrom the squadron flying log, Tony Pickering was posted from 32 Squadron and during August and September 1940 he flew (among others) L2038:SD-V, P5193:SD-O, P5194:SD-J, R4105:SD-W, V6540:SD-N and V7403:SD-N. On 11 September 1940, his Hurricane, P5200:SD-W, was hit by the return fire from an enemy bomber and he was forced to bale out, coming down into Caterham Guards Barracks. His Hurricane crashed into Happy Valley, Old Coulsden and was recovered by the Medway Aviation Group in November 1986, in the presence of the pilot. I hope that this helps?
vampiredaveNo!
vampiredaveSuch a photograph exists and is in my collection. If you care to email me then will send it to you tomorrow ( I have a hospital appointment this afternoon) That is, unless someone beats me to it?
vampiredaveWhile sorting through my late brother’s effects I came across an unopened 1/72 CMR Westland Wyvern S Mk.4 kit, complete with Pavla RATO gear, Aeroclub EJs, Airwaves Cockpit and Wing Fold set. I never realised that he was a modeller?
Edit: I also found a illustrated BARG monograph on the aircraft. I knew that he was in the Royal Navy so he must have worked on them
vampiredaveSomeone had to do it! Taken from Mick Boulanger’s excellent Jet Provost File:
XS176 PAC/W/22162
Awaiting Collection 03/10/1963
Delivered to No.27 MU Shawbury 10/01/1964
2 FTS Syerston coded 28 10/07/1968
No.27 MU Shawbury 18/10/1968
No.5 MU Kemble 01/11/1968
No.27 MU Shawbury 28/01/1969
3 FTS Leeming coded 47 24/11/1970
Central Air Traffic Control School, Shawbury coded O 28/02/1972
College of Air Warfare, Manby coded 18 06/12/1973
School of Refresher Flying, Leeming coded 71 25/02/1974
No.5 MU Kemble 26/02/1975
School of Refresher Flying, Leeming coded 71 24/02/1977
No.1 SoTT Halton for ground instructional use as 8514M/N 06/1993
Tendered 27/10/1993
Transported to Phoenix Aviation, Bruntingthorpe 03/11/1993
To University of Salford, Manchester 15/07/1999
To Bruntingthorpe 08/1999
Reduced to nose section and transported to Solihull 2000
To Stamford 18/06/2005
To Highland Aviation Museum, Inverness for display
vampiredaveDeryk,
You are probably correct. I have just found the following:
Vampire FB 6 J-1145 Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton
I don’t think that here is a current list of preserved Vampires in Canada…unless someone knows better?
vampiredaveDeryk: so what is the serial of your former Swiss FB 6 which has been restored as a 400 Squadron machine?
Also, what are your plans for the ‘new’ Vampire?
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