Farnboro 1961

I can’t remember if it was Lt Cdr ‘Danny’ Norman or his deputy, John Ford, who led the 800 Squadron team at Farnborough that year? Lt Cdr Norman had earlier ejected from a Scimitar during a rehearsal and had been admitted to hospital after injuring his back. The team also included Lt G A I ‘Johnny’ Johnson, a former member of ‘several RAF and FAA aerobatic teams’. Does anyone recall him?

I went on the Sunday and was thrilled at the sight of the mass flypast of Scimitars, Sea Vixens and Gannets from HMS Hermes, not forgetting the superb display by the 16 Hunters of 92 Squadron (Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer AFC) and the nine Lightnings of No.74 Squadron (Sqn Ldr John Howe)- I can still feel the ground trembling with their take-offs? Oh, and there was some team called the ‘CFS Aerobatic Team’ from Little Rissington with four Jet Provosts, led by Flt Lt Frank Brambley! Halcyon Days!

Meteor Crash

It was probably an attempt at graveyard humour?

Jet Provost Image

One of the earliest JP formation aerobatic teams, four JP3s from No.2 FTS at Syerston in 1960. Team members: Flt Lts Dai Jones, David Rowe, Reg Stock andMaster pilot Jock McTavish.

275 Squadron Sycamores

There is also a photograph of XE317 of ‘E’ Flight, No.275 Squadron ‘wet winching’ off Ilfracombe harbour in RAF Chivenor in Old Photographs.

111 Squadron Display Team

Nine Lightning F.3s of No.111 Squadron, Wattisham, “The Black Diamonds”’
Sqn Ldr G P Black, Capt R Chisholm RCAF, Flt Lts C I Carr-White, J Mitchell, M B Bullocke, D M A Samuels, H Molland, E R Perreaux and P J W Creigh. Flt Lt B C Allchin (56 Sqn) attached for Paris air show. Flt Lt A J R Doyle solo aerobatic pilot.

It is thought that the unit’s records were lost when it withdrew from France. However, the late Warrant Officer Len Prater kept a detailed flying log for the squadron’s Hurricanes from March 1939 to June 1940, of which I have a copy. Can I ask why you want this information?

Hurricane L1910

Delivered to 501 Squadron at Filton by Flt Lt Anson on 14 July 1939 (25 min delivery flight) and coded as SD-N. Became regular mount of CO, Sqn Ldr ‘Monty’ Clube and flown to France on 10 May 1940 by Sgt Pilot ‘Lofty’ Dafforn (1hr 45 mins). Two days later it was involved in an evening scrap (18.00 – 1830hrs) with enemy aircraft, resulting in damage to the engine bearers. (There is some doubt as to how the damage was incurred as there no record of enemy action at that time) Pilot – Pt Off Kenneth ‘Hawkeye’ Lee. To No.21 AD 28 May 1940.

Green Marrows

Were the Green Marrows a regular feature at the Wyton shows? I saw them in 1984 and their routine was restricted to a few formation flypasts.