RAF Chivenor 40 years ago this week

[huntaluvva]

I thought it was worth recalling that on one day, Tuesday 3rd September 1974, 229 OCU's Hunters were flown from Chivenor to Brawdy to form the Tactical Weapons Unit there. A handful had left before or were due to go later, but the majority, fifty or more at a guess, left that day, after a lot of hard work by the ground crews .

Despite the poor weather, which delayed the move by 24 hours, most formations managed to return for a low pass over the old place.

A day filled with blue notes then silence. :(

[Rocket2]

Only seems like yesterday when I cleared out of my Nissan hut & headed for Brawdy. Loved my posting at Chivenor - did many things including volunteering to be used for S & R bait for 22 Sqn & their Whirlwinds & working on Sir Winston & flying in Clementine with Puddy :ok:
Being winched off Saunton Sands packed full of admiring totty was always great fun but never dreamed that I'd return 35+ years later & be able to afford to stay in the magnificent Saunton Sands Hotel & relive (in my minds eye) those unforgettable times watching a gorgeous sunset over a glass or three of fine red & a superb dinner. Happy days :)

[Vampiredave]

The first section of twelve Hunters took off from Chivenor at precisely mid-day, flying over Barnstaple in salute before heading off to their new home, where it was immediately renamed as the Tactical Weapons Unit. The move was completed at 14.25 hrs with the departure of the last Hunter, XK149.

Of interest, the last aircraft to leave Chivenor was Chipmunk T 10, WP844, three days later.

Despite asking some of the Hunter guys who took part in the transfer from Chivenor to Brawdy, no-one can recall the name of the pilot who flew the last Hunter?

[wub]

Blimey, 40 years ago. I remember it well, the weather was disappointing and the silence was deafening thereafter. I stayed on to decommission the MPN-11 radar, got involved in re-equipping MQs to house families from Akrotiri after the Turkish invasion and generally had a ball. Very sad to leave what was my favourite posting.

[huntaluvva]

Rocket 2

Yes, the views from the Saunton Sands Hotel take some beating!

Vampiredave.


I don't recall it all being over so quickly, but it was a long time ago. I met the pilot of the last Hunter out that day some years ago, but alas cannot recall his name. The last movement was three days later, they certainly didn't hang about, did they?!


wub

There was a Belfast in that day, I seem to recall it loaded the GCA trailer before departing for Valley in a cloud of spray from the wet runway.

[wub]

There was a Belfast in that day, I seem to recall it loaded the GCA trailer before departing for Valley in a cloud of spray from the wet runway.

Not sure what day you are referring to. As far as I recall the GCA left by road as it was being handed back to the Americans. TCW had a mobile AR-1 radar based at Chiv and I do remember one occasion when I helped load it into a Belfast and a C130 as it was being deployed to Germany. That was the only time I saw a Belfast in my two years at Chivenor. It took several months to decommission the GCA because it had to have several hundred blanking plates fitted and because it had been on its turntable so long it was corroded in place.

[Vampiredave]

I don't recall it all being over so quickly, but it was a long time ago. I met the pilot of the last Hunter out that day some years ago, but alas cannot recall his name. The last movement was three days later, they certainly didn't hang about, did they?!

Huntaluvva: I would gladly buy you a beer - or two? - if you could recall his name?

[huntaluvva]

wub

The day I was referring to was the day the Hunters all left; there was definitely a Belfast , but as to where it went and what was down the back, well, it was a long time ago, and I'm only trying to recall what I was told.

[huntaluvva]

Vampiredave

I'll have that beer, but it probably won't do much for the memory!:ok:

[wub]

The day I was referring to was the day the Hunters all left; there was definitely a Belfast , but as to where it went and what was down the back, well, it was a long time ago, and I'm only trying to recall what I was told.

I don't remember the Belfast that day but it was probably shipping Hunter GSE to Brawdy and not going to Valley. Long time ago.

[Vampiredave]

Huntaluvva

It wouldn't have been Sqn Ldr Bell??

Just a thought?

[Wander00]

Watched the sunset from Saunton Sands on Wednesday night, having seen two Hercules land from what looked like low level down the valley.

[huntaluvva]

Vampiredave

You have a PM

Wander00

Did they land on the beach, or at Chivenor?

[Wander00]

HL - unfortunately, this time on the airfield but still looked spectacular, especially against the setting sun - but in the car so could not get a photo