Chipmunks of Nottingham University Air Squadron

[Nuasea]

Does any one by chance have the tail numbers of the Chipmunks used by the Air Squadron in the early 60's. I only recorded the numbers omitting the letters. Makes it difficult tracing what happened to these aircraft.


Thanks

[CoffmanStarter]

Nuasea ...

I'd be more than happy to try and help you with your quest

If you post the numbers you have ... I'll try and look up the possible combinations of alphanumeric serials for starters ... we can go from there

Best ...

Coff.

[Dora-9]

From that period, all I have is:

WB560
WD345/A
WG363
WP781

Cheers.

[teeteringhead]

AHB may be able to help. They should have the F541s which are essentially transcribed auth sheets. I think ......

[Nuasea]

NUAS Chipmunks

Great response and thanks.


The serial numbers I have are WK 635
WP781
363
609
778
and a one off 548


Thanks for your replies so far

[CoffmanStarter]

Nuasea ...

So in addition to Dora-9's info, I'm reasonably certain that your missing full serials are ...

WK635 - N546PU USA : Now back in the UK @ Goodwood (RN colours)



Image Credit : CoffmanStarter September 2013 @ Goodwood

WP781 - N31105 USA : Destroyed
WG363 - G-BDIM : Destroyed

WP 778 - G-BBNF : Destroyed
WK 609 - G-BXDN : Believed to be still airworthy/flying (Google for pic)
WK 548 - G-BBMZ : Believed to be still airworthy/flying (Google for pic)

Source Reference : Book : DHC-1 Chipmunk "The Poor Man's Spitfire" ... with due acknowledgement to Dora-9's contribution to that book

[Nuasea]

Thanks

Thank you for the information. Sad ending to many!


My instructor, Flt Lt Johny Law put me into a spin at 1000ft over the control tower at RAF Newton saying,"If you can recover you can go solo!"


How times have changed...that was 22nd January 1961!

[CoffmanStarter]

1000 feet ... IIRC for spinning you had to be fully recovered by a min of 3000 feet or progressing an Irvin letdown.

[Nuasea]

Spin

That is the truth.....out of sight over the control tower but a surprise!


Unconventional but taught me lots ....after that suffered creamed off QFI's in the RAF proper!

[Prangster]

7 AEF

Slight drift (over the pan perhaps) to 7AEF. Pardon my VRT ignorance in these matters but did the AEF's and UAS pool aircraft?

Would love to source photo of a 7AEF aircraft circa 1970's as I lost all my records in a house move in the 90's

[CoffmanStarter]

Hi Prangster ...

When the Air Experience Flights were first formed in 1958, the Chipmunk fleets were "shared" with the University Air Squadrons as the AEF's operated under the "umbrella" of the RAF UAS scheme. However, from the early 60's, the AEF's operated their own dedicated Chipmunk fleets until their retirement.

A bit more research will be needed to track down individual airframes operating with 7 AEF in the 70's. However, in the mid 90's (just before the Chipmunk was withdrawn from AEF service), 7 AEF at RAF Newton had a fleet consisting of WG308, WG469, WZ856 and WZ877.

As a starter ... it would appear WP844 was with 7 AEF in 74 (she was converted to a Mk22 as G-BWOX but no information on current airworthiness). WZ879 may have also served with 7 AEF in the early 90's

If I come up with any more info ... I'll PM you.

[Dora-9]

Coffman's information is, as usual, spot-on. Bear in mind though that the UAS's had all lost their Chipmunks by the mid-1970's, these being replaced by the Bulldog.

The only other "early 1970's" candidate for 7 AEF that I have is a photo of WP837/L, undated but captioned as 7 AEF.

In answering Nuasaea's original query, I confess I never thought to look in The Tome! In my defence, the UK section was (well) written by the the other Rod....

[CoffmanStarter]

Hi Dora ... Good to chat again

Just had a quick look at WP837. Seems she was with 5 AEF (Cambridge) in 1978 ... see the "Winged DayGlo V" on the tailfin. I believe she still has the "V" as now registered VH-WPO.

See here ...

WP837 May 1978 : Bassisngbourn Air Show

Best regards ...

Coff.

PS. All four of you did a cracking job on the Tome

[chipmunkj]

Chipmunk GBBMZ is still flying. Now in red and white sunburst livery and is kept at Booker (Wycombe Air Park).

[Dora-9]

Yes likewise, Coffman Starter.

Thanks for your kind words re the book - actually a lot of very enjoyable research and work involved, hopefully one day there'll be a second edition as I've learnt a lot more on the subject since the initial publication.



Here's the photo of WP837. While it lacks 5 AEF's "Winged V" device on the upper fin, I note that all 5 AEF Chipmunks had identically positioned and sized code letters as appears here - I'm pretty sure the photo has been miscaptioned and it isn't from 7 AEF...

Here's WP837 now as as VH-WPO, taken at Point Cook in 2006:

[Airstripflyer]

Just to add some more information, I was in EMUAS at Newton in the early 70's where there were 5 Chipmunks:-

WG308
WZ878
WP984
WZ884
WP901

[scorpion63]

I have WG368 in my log book on 21 Apr1968 if that helps. However looking again it could be WG308, old eyes are not what they used to be!!

[octavian]

Looking through the history of our Chipmunk WB760, now G-BCOO, she spent six periods with Nottingham UAS, although these were prior to her deployment with 114 Squadron in Cyprus in December 1958 - slightly before the period of the OP's interest.

Recently returned to flying condition, 'OO is in fine fettle and handles beautifully. Excuse me, I must fly. Well maybe next week!

[CoffmanStarter]

Dora-9 ...

We agree on WP837 being on the 5 AEF Fleet during the early to mid 70's

It must have been a Cambridge/Marshall's "thing" with the solitary fuselage Alpha ID as the CUAS Chipmunks had similar Alpha ID's back in the 50's ... but, as you will know, there were a number of secondary ID schemes in operation over the life of the RAF/RN/Army Chipmunks

Airstripflyer ...

The airframes you mention above all appear still airworthy

WZ878 now F-AZQZ

F-AZQZ

WP984 now G-BWTO

G-BWTO

WZ884 now G-BXGL

G-BXGL

WP901 now G-BWNT

G-BWNT

Scorpion63 ...

Your serial is most certainly WG308 (WG368 was never used) and now G-BYHL

G-BYHL

Octavian ...

WB760 now G-BCOO

Good to hear another lady is airworthy again

Would you be able to share a couple of current pictures with us ?

Chipmunkj ...

WK548 now G-BBMZ

Great scheme

G-BBMZ

Best ...

Coff.

[James R]

Johny Law

In late '59 through '60 I was based at Newton. I recall going up with Johny in one of the Chipmunks. We were flying quite low when Johny suddenly said " Osborne! have you got it?". My first experience of half crown sixpence in an aircraft.
Field mushrooms from the airfield were particularly good, picked after landing of course.