Here, here!! Not being bleached in the sun in the States!

Albert,

She certainly isn’t being bleached by the sun, and is receiving lashings of TLC, I can vouch for that.

Brief history:

24 RFS, 17 RFS, 11 RFS, Aberdeen UAS, 12 AEF and then ULAS. Sold 17 January 1974. No dates though I’m afraid.

If you get in touch with the RAF Museum at Hendon, you should be able to get a copy of the Aircraft Movement Record Card. That will give you all the dates.

Glyn/Albert,

Thanks for those, great shots and nice to see some colour ones too.

BR

Laurie.

My first flight was during my first ATC Summer Camp at 6 FTS, Ternhill, on 15 August 1960. Thirty minutes in the good old Chippy. Stooged around the local area, checking out the Wrekin and other landmarks. It was over too quickly.

One of my jobs as an armourer on the line was to stick my head up between the engines after start up and check that neither engine had caught fire. If all was clear I refitted the panel and signalled the pilot it was OK to go.

XH885, the last photo above, did just that at Tengah on 15 Nov 66, and was not repaired. On the strength of 64 Sqn at the time.

FYI:

XH887 was abandoned off Changi on 8 Nov 65, after the undercarriage jammed up at night. Again, with 64 at the time.

XH895 went to the Singapore Air Force as SAFTECH 5 for GI purposes, after the disbandment of 60 Sqn on 30 April 68.

I was at Manby during 70 -72 and well remember the team practising. I have put these photos up before but can’t find the thread now so here they are again.

A lineup of part of the JP formation on the pan at Manby on 20 July 1972. Getting ready to start and join up with 4 Varsitys and 4 Dominies out of Strubby for a flypast of the ‘Lincolnshire Air Force’ stations marking the close down of Strubby and withdrawal of the Varsity. At the end of the line, are the Macaws aircraft.

Second photo of No. 2 in the box of 4 JPs of Green section. All aircraft from what was then the School of Refresher Flying at Manby. 24 aircraft in all in the formation.

Mark 12,

As you’re the “Spitfire Daddy” (just read lots of your threads and drawn this conclusion to be correct!!), have you any idea what scheme the Seafire that went to ‘Weald is wearing???? 😀

VB

VB,

I think Mark12 has packed his zimmer frame and embarked on a fairly lengthy voyage southwards.

Not sure if he is able to access the forum while he is away.

BR

Laurie.

It would be nice to see one of these in the earlier scheme or the FR scheme (silver with yellow wing/fuselage bands) as most of the survivors seem to be in the standard sky/ESDG high demarcation scheme like these. It is nice though, and it would look just the ticket in partnership with a Sea Fury and a Firefly MkV.

I’m going slightly giddy at the very thought.

I think the “standard sky/EDSG high demarcation scheme” is one of the best finishes ever applied to operational aircraft!

But then, I’m prejudiced……… 😀 😀

Looking forward to seeing this aeroplane back in the air. Well done to all who have worked on her.