I’ve just had my collection of 35mm transparancies (over 1350) scanned commercially and attach these photos of the Patrouille de France Fouga formation.
Not sure of the date, probably late 1960’s to mid-late 1970’s and possible location either Biggin Hill or Greenham Common.
Not sure if it helps, but this photo I took at Biggin Hill in 1954 shows a Firefly. Compare the pilot’s head with the size of the wheels – the wheels look massive.
At Biggin Hill in the early 1950’s it was the custom for a variety of RAF, RN and USAF aircraft to be flown in so the Royal Observer Corps and the Army Anti-Aircraft Command (then an integral part of the UK’s air defences) could examine up close on the ground the friendly aircraft they were expected to recognise in the air.
At the 1954 Recognition Day Shackleton WL743 of No.42 Squadron was on show. Sadly this particular aircraft went missing on the night of 11 January 1955 and is assumed to have collided with WG531, also from 42 Sqn, south-west of Ireland. Both aircraft were declared Cat.5 (Missing) the same day. In total eighteen crew died, nine in each aircraft.
I was stationed at Biggin at the time and took this photo of a rather tatty looking WL743; all that low-level stuff with lot’s of sea spray I suppose.
And as reported in the press:
Can’t beat the decor of the USN’s Grumman C1A Trader, but fifteen years earlier in December 1951 at 5 FTS (RAF Thornhill, S. Rhodesia), Santa Claus arrived for the station’s children’s Christmas party by Avro Anson as can be seen in my photos below.
Fascinating those images … contrails emanating from the piston engines but not from the jets
There is one sequence where the B-36 is shown contrailing with all ten engines running. See below:
It’s also shown accommpanied by four fighters.
There’s an interesting piece of privately shot 8mm film on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE8Xg3ez2qw&feature=youtu.be
Great flying shots
I agree. Saw the original film way back in 1955 I think it was, and caught it again about five years ago when it was broadcast on Channel 4.
Some screen shots from the recording I made at the time:
June Allyson, who starred in the film with James Stewart, died a couple of years ago at the age of 88.
I don’t think it was ever released on DVD, which is a pity, because the flying sequences are superb.
A few more from my album.
216 Sqn. Comet RAF Katunayake (Negombo) 1958
Bevs and Hastings RAF Abingdon 1959.
A couple of photos taken at RAF Benson on Saturday 29th August 1959.
The occasion was when President Eisenhower was on a visit to the UK for talks with prime minister Harold Macmillian. During his visit Ike flew up to Scotland to see the Queen and rather than flying in Air Force One (or whatever it was called in those days), he was flown to Aberdeen and back by an RAF Comet of 216 Sqn.
Not often a US President travelled by RAF Transport Command aircraft.
The Comet pulls up in front of the dais – and look at that bulled-up shiny finish!
…and Ike disembarks, doffing his hat as he does so.
Two photos of the second prototype Victor WB775 that I took at the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain display on Saturday 18th September 1955.
Sadly the prototype HP.80 (Victor) WB771 crashed on 14th July 1954 during a low level calibration run over the runway at Cranfield when the tail ripped off and the aircraft crashed, killing the crew.
The second HP.80 Victor prototype WB775 had its tail fitted using four stronger bolts and flew on 11th September 1954, appearing at the Farnborough SBAC show during its first flight.
A week later it participated (flew past) at the 1954 Biggin Hill Battle of Britain display on Saturday 18th September when I took these two photos.
Flying low and near the crowd was allowed in those days!
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