Kilonovember52John Aeroclub,
Many thanks for the info.
Kilonovember52David,
Good call on Mick. He painted our Hunter F6 Cockpit XF522 in a 92 Sqn blue diamonds livery.
Thanks.
Kilonovember52XM692
Great shot. Where was it taken? You don’t happen to now if that’s painted on or is a decal? If painted do you know the code for the paints so we can match the colours?
Many Thanks
Kilonovember52Is it correct that a Nimrod is due into Brunty on 16th?
Kilonovember52According to the guy’s at Bruntingthorpe I spoke to today they are definately being broken up for spares and scrap. One of future arrivals may be preserved.
Kilonovember52Once again many thanks to all those who have had an input to this. Your help is really appreciated. After further research detailed below is the revised service history of Harrier XV752 as far as we can piece it together.
In doing this we have come across a mystery as to why XV752 is in it’s current 3 Sqn colour scheme.
When 752 left R.A.F sqn service she was in the colours of IV (AC) Sqn. We have pictures of 752 in her last days with IV (AC) Sqn in 1990 and at the SoTT Cosford in August 1991 in the colours of IV (AC) Sqn. However, move on to the 1995 an there is another picture of 752 at the Cosford airshow and 752 is in a 3 Sqn livery coded ‘B’ with the pilots name Wg Cdr Profit on the starboard side of the canopy.
The mystery is this. When with 3 Sqn 752 was coded ‘AG’ and ‘G’. There is no evidence of her ever being coded ‘B’. Also, although Wg Cdr G R Profit AFC OBE was CO of 3 Squadron between Oct 1977 – Mar 1980 there is no evidence of 752 being on strength with 3 Sqn during this time.
Therefore, was there and special celebration or events for 3 Sqn between 1991 and 1995 that would have result in 752 being put into her current paint scheme?
Is there any special significance to this paint scheme.
Any information anyone can give use would be really appreciated.
SERVICE HISTORY HARRIER GR3 XV752
30/05/1969 First flight Harrier GR1 XV752 (c/n 712015) flown by Duncan Simpson.
27/08/1969 Delivery from Hawker Siddeley Aviation Dunsfold to R.A.F Wittering.
28/08/1968 Harrier Conversion Team (HCT)
30/12/1969 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
13/05/1970 HCU / 233 OCU. Coded ‘52’
05/10/1972 Upgraded to GR1A.
08/11/1972 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
30/04/1974 Upgraded to GR3.
26/02/1975 ADA Cat 3R FLY i.e. temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications etc.
Post-categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can bearranged for repair at its normal base
07/03/1975 71 MU R.A.F Bicester “Salvage and Transportation flight”
22/05/1975 ADA Cat 3R FLY i.e. Temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications etc. Post- categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can be arranged for repair at its normal base
Sept 1975 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F.Wittering.
1 (F) Sqn night flying.16th Sept 1975
Decimomannu Armament Practice Camp Sardinia Oct 1975.
Deployed to Belize via Goose bay and Bermuda flown by Bob Holliday 6th Nov 1975
13/05/1976 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
Deployed Norway (Ørland), Sept 1976
Suffered a bird strike, so I landed after 15 minutes, 2nd March 1977.
04/05/1977 ADA Cat 3S i.e. Temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications.
07/07/1977 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
3 hours sortie including AAR. 2nd Nov 1977
23/12/1977 ADA Cat 3 FLY i.e. Temporarily out of service, on maintenance or receiving modifications. Post- categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can be arranged for repair at its normal base.
06/09/1978 1F Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
15/06/1979 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
17/06/1980 1417 Flight Belize on rotation. Aircraft coded ‘M’.
Aircraft code blue “M” is from OCU. 1417 flt kept the original units code letter at this time. Later changed to the code letter of the individual aircraft hides
29/05/1981 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
30/06/1981 ADA Cat 3 i.e. Temporarily out of service, on maintenance or receiving modifications. Repaired on site (ROS) by another unit or contractor.
AC ex 1417 Flt tended to suffer cat 3 damage that would be detected on their return. E.g. Tail structure damage due to engine runs without a proper tie down pan. Fuel leaks due to the effect of heat and humidity on the fuel tanks.
08/09/1981 233 OCU R.A.F. Wittering
28/09/1981 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
29/09/1981 233 OCU R.A.F. Wittering
19/11/1981 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
04.03/1982 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
12/03/1982 1 (F)Squadron R.A.F Wittering. Aircraft Coded ‘04’
Attended Leuchars air show September 4, 1982. Coded ’04’
04/07/1983 3 Squadron R.A.F Gutersloh, West Germany.
05/07/1983 IV (AC) Squadron R.A.F Gutersloh, West Germany.
08/07/1983 1 (F) Squadron, R.A.F Wittering.
17/08/1983 Transferred to R.A.F St Athan for a major service.
24/05/1984 1 (F) Squadron, R.A.F Wittering
19/12/1984 3 Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany.
17/12/1985 ADA Cat 3 Temporarily out of service for repair following a bird strike.
03/04/1986 Returned to service after repair with 3 Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘AG’
Deployed Sardinia for ACMI training, January 1987.
Last sortie was a 6 vs x2 F15.
July 1987 3 Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘G’
Attended the Leeuwarden Netherlands air show July 10, 1987 Coded ‘G’.
1988 Attended the Aalborg Denmark air show November 3, 1988 Coded ‘G’
21/11/1989 IV (AC) Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘S’
Affiliation sortie from Gütersloh against some Pumas 23rd January 1990
October 1990 Retired from operational service with IV (AC) Squadron,R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘S’.
1990 Transferred to SoTT R.A.F Cosford as a ground instructional airframe 9078M.
1995 On display in the Static park at the R.A.F Cosford
air show. Aircraft painted in 3 Squadron colors
coded ‘B’
2002 Displayed on the deck next to the ski ramp of H.M.S
Invincible as part of the events to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Falklands conflict. Aircraft
painted in 3 Squadron colors coded ‘B’
2005 Attended RIAT, R.A.F Fairford UK – England, July 16 & 17 , 2005. The Harrier was displayed in the
static park on a lowloader to demonstrate the work
of RAF recovery teams. Aircraft painted in 3
Squadron colors coded ‘B’
18/07/2005 Delivered to 2366 (Bletchley Park) Squadron ATC for ground instructional and gate guard duties. Aircraft in 3 Squadron colors coded ‘B.
Ground instructional airframe 9078M.
Kilonovember52Stacey24b
PM inbound about the dimensions of 752’s intakes.
Kilonovember52Stacey,
Thanks. You share our sentiments about the inventory. We really can’t see what the issue is. We have a Harrier why can’t we have the support equipment? Bureaucracy gone mad again.
I’ll take a look at the intakes next time I’m down on the Sqn ang get some measurements for you. Many thanks. KN52
Kilonovember52Farde17,
Many thanks for the reply. That’s really useful info. I’ll incorporate it into the history and update it. Im also getting feedback from ex pilots via the Sqn associations so the history is expanding!
Based on all the available evidence although XV752 was on strength with 1 Sqn in 1982 it was not selected to deploy south and never particiapted in the 1982 WAR! I have asked 1 Sqn if they have any info on why it wasn’t selected.
More updates to come.
Kilonovember52Many thanks to all those who have had an input to this. Your help is really appreciated.
For those interested. Detailed below is the service history of Harrier XV752 as far as we can piece it together as the info after 1986 is a little sketchy. We are still awaiting info from 1 Sqn RAF and the IV (AC) Sqn association so this is still awork in progress.
SERVICE HISTORY HARRIER GR3 XV752
30/05/1969 First flight Harrier GR1 XV752 (c/n 712015)
27/08/1969 Delivery from Hawker Siddeley Aviation Dunsfold to R.A.F
Wittering.
28/08/1968 Harrier Conversion Team (HCT)
30/12/1969 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
13/05/1970 HCU / 233 OCU. Coded ‘52’
05/10/1972 Upgraded to GR1A.
08/11/1972 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
30/04/1974 Upgraded to GR3.
26/02/1975 ADA Cat 3R FLY i.e. temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications etc.
Post-categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can be arranged for repair at its normal base
07/03/1975 71 MU R.A.F Bicester “Salvage and Transportation flight”
31/03/1975 Transferred to No 2 School of Technical Training R.A.F
Cosford as a ground instructional airframe.
22/05/1975 ADA Cat 3R FLY i.e. Temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications etc. Post-categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can be arranged for repair at its normal base
Sept 1975 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F.Wittering.
04/05/1977 ADA Cat 3S i.e. Temporarily out of service, on
maintenance or receiving modifications.
07/07/1977 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
23/12/1977 ADA Cat 3 FLY i.e. Temporarily out of service, on maintenance
or receiving modifications. Post-categorization, the aircraft may be flown (or may have temporary repairs effected so that it can be flown), if necessary under special conditions, either to another site for repair or until a suitable date can be arranged for repair at its normal base.
06/09/1978 1F Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
15/06/1979 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
17/06/1980 1417 Flight Belize on rotation. Aircraft coded ‘M’.
29/05/1981 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
30/06/1981 ADA Cat 3 i.e. Temporarily out of service, on maintenance
or receiving modifications. Repaired on site (ROS) by
another unit or contractor.
08/09/1981 233 OCU R.A.F. Wittering
28/09/1981 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
29/09/1981 233 OCU R.A.F. Wittering
19/11/1981 1 (F) Squadron R.A.F Wittering.
04.03/1982 233 OCU R.A.F Wittering.
12/03/1982 1 (F)Squadron R.A.F Wittering. Aircraft Coded ‘04’
Attended Leuchars air show September 4, 1982. Coded ’04’
04/07/1983 3 Squadron R.A.F Gutersloh, West Germany.
05/071983 IV (AC) Squadron R.A.F Gutersloh, West Germany.
08/07/1983 1 (F) Squadron, R.A.F Wittering.
17/08/1983 Transferred to R.A.F St Athan for a major service.
24/05/1984 1 (F) Squadron, R.A.F Wittering
19/12/1982 3 Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany.
17/12/1985 ADA Cat 3 Temporarily out of service for repair following a
bird strike.
03/04/1986 Returned to service after repair with 3 Squadron,
R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘AG’
July 1987 3 Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘G’
Attended the Leeuwarden Netherlands air show July
10, 1987 Coded ‘G’.
1988 Attended the Aalborg Denmark air show November 3, 1988 Coded ‘G’
21/11/1989 IV (AC) Squadron, R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘S’
Dec 1990 Retired from operational service with IV (AC)
Squadron,R.A.F.Gutersloh West Germany. Coded ‘S’.
1990 Transferred to SoTT R.A.F Cosford as a ground instructional
airframe 9078M.
1995 On display in the Static park at the R.A.F Cosford air show.
Aircraft painted in 3 Squadron colours coded ‘B’
2002 Displayed on the deck next to the ski ramp of H.M.S
Invincible as part of the events to mark the 20th anniversary of
the Falklands conflict. Aircraft painted in 3 Squadron colours coded
‘B’
2005 Attended the RIAT R.A.F Fairford UK – England, July 16 & 17, 2005.
The Harrier was displayed in the static park on a low loader to
demonstrate the work of RAF recovery teams.
Aircraft painted in 3 Squadron colours coded ‘B’
18/07/2005 Delivered to 2366 (Bletchley Park) Squadron ATC for
ground instructional and gate guard duties.
Aircraft in 3 Squadron colours coded ‘B.
Ground instructional airframe 9078M.
Kilonovember52Stacey,
Yes she’s looking good on her new rubber. Thanks again for the help on this.
Thanks to the lead from Pagan we had these hard filled so they won’t deflate again.
We are currently in the process of having a permanent concrete hardstanding laid so the aircraft can be be placed and displayed on a firm base. This is partly a health and safety consideration for the cadets when they use the jet for their classification training.
We are still trying to get the ladders but have run into a bit of bureaucracy with our Wing HQ about having this kit on our assett register!
We are also trying to get the spare panels we need for the airframe and have written to the Harrier project team about this, especially about taking the parts from the derelict XV804 at North Luffenham.
We are aslo trying to get hold of some intake covers to stop the visitors to Bletchley Park climbing inside the intakes and to stop the birds nesting. The former will be resolved when the jet is on the hardstanding and we have a barrier fence around it. However, we are still working on getting the covers but no luck so far.
Once we get XV752 on to the hardstanding the plan will be to try and spruce her up with a new paint job.
Kilonovember52Thanks for the replies. I have contacted someone I know at the RAFM to see if I can obtain a copoy of XV752’s control / movments card.
Kilonovember52Were the Harriers that went down to the Falklands re-inforced with other GR3’s before the end of the conflict? If so does anyone have information on the airframes involved?
Also does anyone have a definitive list of the Harrier GR3’s that served with the HARDET after the conflict?
My reason for asking is that I am trying to establish if GR3 XV752 served in Falklands.
Thanks
Kilonovember52Posted at 03:15 on 06 January, 2010 UTC
French Polynesia’s flag carrier has signed a deal with the British army to fly soldiers from England to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
The head of Air Tahiti Nui, Christian Vernaudon, says one of its Airbus planes with its crew has been leased to fly the military personnel this month.
He has told local radio in Tahiti that this type of activity is possible because the airline has five Airbus planes at its disposal.
Mr Vernaudon says contracts of this type have already been signed worth almost 10 million US dollars.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
Kilonovember52Twinotter.
Yes VacuLug were really helpful and did a great job. Thanks for the recommendation. We also had great support from RAF Cottesmore who sourced a set of replacement tyres and from JARTU who removed the wheels so we could send them to VacuLug to be filled and then replaced them when we got them back. The plan is now to get the aircraft onto a permanent concrete hardstanding outside the 2366 (Bletchley Park) Squadron HQ.
Plus a refurbishment on the paintwork next spring / summer.
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