Just wanted to clarify some of the dates.
The first Herc' XV176 made its maiden flight at Marietta on 19th Oct '66 and arrived at Marshalls in late '66 for painting and avionics gear to be installed.
242 OCUat Thorney received its first in April '67 ( as the first baby nav to receive a Herc posting I was 'holding' and saw it arrive ) and 36 formed at Lyneham on 1st July '67. One of the first delivered,I can't remember if it was 176 or 179, went to Boscombe and was there for a few years.
48 reformed at Changi on 2nd Oct, but I think the crews may have collected the first 4 aircraft from Colerne a few a few days before. I was part of the third wave of 4 aircraft for 48 and we went to Colerne for a week or so before Christmas '67 and finally arrived at Changi on Dec' 31st.
24 reformed at Lyneham in Feb '68, followed by 47 on 1st Mar and 30 on 1st May, both at Fairford. 30 & 47 moved to Lyneham on 1st Feb '71. 48 arrived at Lyneham from Changi on 1st Sep '71 and disbanded on 9th Jan '76.
70 received its first Hercs in Dec' '70 ( about a year late according to my mate Art C...... ) and moved to Lyneham on 15th Jan '75. Most of these dates I've gleaned from RAF Squadrons by Jefford ( an ex-nav' so they must be right
! ).
I was on 30's pathfinder crew in 72/3 with Ed Waddingham as skipper and Joe Oldfield as the other nav - sorry guys I can't recall the other three - an we were PV cleared.