Shawbury Whirlwinds (re-posted from Rotorheads)

[Chutsy]

Hi all

For a project I'm trying to find out a bit about the red training Whirlwind HAR10s at Shawbury, 2FTS and CFS I believe.

Despite extensive 'googling' I've not managed to find one photo of the set up. ie dispersal shots etc. The only photos I can find are single aircraft away from base.

Does anyone out there know where I might be able to find some photographs or which hangars were used by the units.

TIA, Steve

[Old-Duffer]

May I suggest that you approach the Media & Comms Officer at RAF Shawbury - or whatever the PR setup is called this week - and ask for his assistance, explaining what your project is about and for whom it is being compiled. It might even get you a visit to the station! Tracking down the station magazine is often a good source of information.


The Shropshire Star local newspaper is a good source of material and an archive is at the library in Shrewsbury.


If your project relates exclusively to the Whirlwind 10, then you might feel the need to explore the aircraft's time at Tern Hill/Ternhill from 1963. There was also a permanent detachment at RAF Valley for mountain flying etc.


Old Duffer

[Rigga]

From 1976-80 the Shawbury hangars were used as follows, working from North to South:

North Hangar - Whirlwind Line - up to 12 parked in there for Line use

Next Door was the HSF Hangar. Initially used for maintenance of 4xWW (North end) and at least 4x Gazelles (South end) and eventually 1x Wessex (South West corner)

Next was the Gazelle Line which was shared with UAS Bulldogs (and later the Wessex too)

Southern-most was the "Marshall" Hangar, Used for Jet Provost (JP3's I think) Chipmunk and Bulldog parking and maintenance.

I have some pics of WW's in the HSF hangar and waiting for ground runs...but I'm 200+ miles from them for few days!

[Chutsy]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Rigga, you've pretty much answered my query. My project is a painting of a Whirlwind taking of with the hangars in the background. Accuarcy is all important and I want to make sure that I have parked up Whirlwinds on the right dispersal. ..I can now rest assured.! thanks

[Rigga]

...may I ask why?

The whole she-bang came across from Tern Hill in 1976 in one great Mass Fly-In of 8+ Whirly's and 18 or more Gazelles. Another Whirly "S" was held as a camera-ship because it was still in camouflage paint with day-glo patches having been brought out of storage a few months prior to Tern Hill closing.

[tmmorris]

These must have been the ones I watched from my garden in Market Drayton as a small boy in the 1970s. I thought they were pink (eyesight poor even then!)

[Rigga]

I think that when they were at South Cerney, Gloucestershire(?) and when they moved to Tern Hill, they weren't red and white but silver and Day-Glo which, when weathered, turns to a pink-ish hue...or your memory is 'fading' (lol)