eye4wings – it’s a Shackleton AEW2. I guess from the text that there was an exercise underway at the time, 8 Squadron often participated in these and parked where it can be seen in spitfiremans photo.

Had many flights in the Chipmunk, WP833 and WB560 at Exeter fill up half a page in my ATC log book. I also remember Chipmunk flying at Abingdon, Newton and Brawdy. Brawdy was the best – even though most of my first of two flights there was spent on the ground waiting for a poorly Meteor to land.
It was an awkward job, waddling out with that parachute pack, particularly trying to get on the wing and strap in with the prop turning.

Spitfireman; that was a very interesting account! I remember one day back in the 80’s sitting outside St Mawgan waiting for something to happen (nothing did – a very unproductive day!) I got chatting to an elderly gent who showed me a set of photographs of the XV257 incident. They must have been yours – was he related?

This extract is from the 1985 Air Day programme; ‘Members of the Operations Wing have also acheived noteworthy sucess during the last 12 months. In June 1984 St Mawgan came very close to suffering the loss of a Nimrod and its crew. A bomb-bay fire was detected as the aircraft flew out over Watergate Bay. Returing immediately to base the aircraft was saved from destruction by the actions of the Unit’s Fire Section. Their outstanding work resulted in the unique award of “Well done” certificates. The citation reads “In the 5 minutes available from the emergency being reported to the aircraft landing, Warrant Officer Quayle concentrated his vehicles from the dispersed locations and deployed them around the aircraft as it stopped. The fire crew quickly carried out immediate fire-fighting action, extinguishing the fire and cooling the fuel tank over the bomb bay. The rapid intervention of the Fire Section undoubtedly prevented the destruction of the aircraft. The conduct of W/O Quayle and the Duty Fire Crew in their response to this emergency was in keeping with the highest traditions of the RAF Fire Service.”