Just picking up on mainjafad's observations and various others, it really strikes me how little the past has any bearing on what we think can and can't be achieved now. While its quite a way back, in 1965 when the R.A.F. celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 12 R.A.F. stations were all open, all simultaneously. Not any where near as many as the 70 odd mentioned earlier (which was certainly the case) but relative to today, outrageous.
Further, we're not talking stations here which were carefully picked so as not to interfere with the delicate nature of of frontline operations. They included 3 V-Bomber stations; Cottesmore, Finningley and Waddington and two Fighter stations; Coltishall and Leuchars, also included was Biggin Hill, which had to commandeer the airfield every year from civilian control just to stage the "at home" day. There were two Transport bases; Abingdon and Colerne, St Mawgan, fully operational with the ASW role and 3 Squadrons of Shackletons.
No doubt anyone reading this would think ah yes but we had the resources then! But did we?
Of just 9 Vulcan Sqns, 17 aircraft (at least) were participants in the flying, including 4 solos, the rest scramble demos. 45 Lightnings flew, but there were only 6 Squadrons available plus the O.C.U. One of the Squadrons, 56, didn't participate, they had just returned from an overseas detachment but still offered a 4-ship display just 3 days before to anyone that would be happy to accept, the only taker was ultimately deemed too far with all that would be involved, St Mawgan I think, because it was determined that an overnight stay would be required when they needed to be at Wattisham bright and early on Sunday morning for the church service flypast. So, what was so less of a demand on the operational hit the ground running R.A.F. of 1965 than today. Remember of course that while today they've had Afghanistan, then they had Aden, the knife edge readiness of the 2nd T.A.F. in Germany, the V-Bomber stations also stood at a moment's reflex to launch Armageddon as the country's primary nuclear deterrent. Speaking of which, 4 of the afore mentioned Vulcans all came from 617 Sqn, one of the 3 Blue Steel units, they provided a demonstration quick reaction scramble at Finningley. The two Leuchars Squadrons, each sharing the Northern Q between them, and having already started intercepting Bears and Bisons as well as deploying for months at a time to stand guard in case they were needed to escort transport aircraft down the Berlin corridor, something which happened more than once or twice. One can only conclude that the real change is in the scale by which we judge the demand on resources and how it is justified to the wider public. Oh and you could walk or cycle past onto the each of the at home stations for free as well!
FB
