What a sad set of photos, MPN11. So many RAF aircraft ended their days thus. I remember as a CCF cadet seeing a pyramid of Bristol Brigands piled high at RAF Colerne awaiting their fate at the hands of the scrap merchant. The other possibility of course was for Fire Training as per XH 908. At least there was a final duty that could be performed there in honing skills that might someday save lives. That was the chosen role for Hastings C2 WJ 340, which my crew delivered to RAF Strubby on 6th Feb 1968. We taxied into the parking area with only the outboards running for ground manoeuvring as was standard practice, but a C/Tech there frantically indicated for us not to shut them down as we came to a stop and set the parking brake. The ladder was lowered from the main door, he clambered aboard and came forward to the Flight Deck. "Could you taxy back the way you came in, Sir, but where the taxy way turns to the right take to the grass on the left and aim for a large gap in the hedge. In the field beyond you'll see the burned out remains of a Canberra, just shut the aircraft down next to it and I'll follow in MT to bring you all back here to await the aircraft coming to collect you".The Shut Down checks were performed for the last time, 'nothing further to report' entered in the F700, and thus ended the last flight for her, and for me on type...
To make amends for yet more blatant drift here is a photo of a Borneo DZ though its name eludes me, anyone?
