re. TSR.2 RAF. Hemswell as mentioned was to have been the ground school, it was noted that there would be 2 instructional TSR airframes sited there (im assuming one being the systems mockup as built by BAC.?)
RAF. Coningsby was to have been the initial service base with No.237 OCU. and No.40 Sqdn based there. I have a note that No.13 Sqdn. was to have recieved the aircraft at Wyton.
re. the types cancellation, the programme was extremely over budget, agreed due in part to service as well as company mishandling, indeed the goverment of the day just weeks prior to the cancellation decision was finalised asked BAC. how much a total of 30 aircraft would cost, note not the ordered run just 30, the company couldnt respond with a figure and cited that there were too many variables involved to derive such a sum. I know from industry BAC. were somewhat correct in their response but all involved knew full well the aircraft was at risk of cancellation, surely BAC. should have been somewhat more forthcoming.
not well known by the time of cancellation the RAF. had already moved its sights to the F.111 as the type it wanted, BAC. (Vickers) had been promised civil orders from BOAC. altho the airline again wanted to buy American and not the VC.10's the goverment wanted them to, leaving BAC. (EE.) to bear the brunt of the orders cancellation scrapping the production lines at Samlesbury leaving Canberra refurbishment their main income for a number of years til Jaguar came on stream
in hindsight the TSR.2 should have been cancelled sooner, indeed there are documents at the PRO./TNA. from the outgoing goverment stating that they should defer such a decision in order to derive some political gain from the next goverments handling of the project
one major issue that is not usually cited is the aircrafts unsuitability for its intended role, notwithstanding the favourable test crew reports, other contempory material notes the design being overweight, of limited growth potential (admittedly due to a tight specification) frangiable and unsuitable materials used in its construction (again due to weight) some aspects requiring redesign (again noted at design stages but lost due to mishandling of the project) the list goes on and on, again all familiar in a modern context, eg. Typhoon, but remember the UK. was trying to jump a generation in design capability with this aircraft and again in hindsight one could foresee such issues arising
cheers, Joe