RAF Bovingdon - 1960s [Archive] - Page 2

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th Mar 2020, 16:51

In November 1943 USAAF B17s of The Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Provisional) arrived at Bovingdon having completed a detachment with 517 Squadron RAF Coastal Command, St Eval, Cornwall. 231 sorties had been flown since their formation at St Eval in September 1943. Due to a shortage of American Met Air Observers MAOs from 517 Squadron RAF Coastal Command were detached to Bovingdon. Tragedy struck on 9th December 1943 when Wing Commander Jack Osborne and Flt Lt Howard 'John' Leigh-Clare MAO Leaders 517 Squadron were killed along with eight other crew members when their B17 crashed at Bovingdon. The Squadron (or Flight) under No 1 CCRC remained at Bovingdon until the 28th of March 1944 when it moved to Watton, Norfolk and was reformed and split as The 8th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy Provisional and Light Provisional).

B17 42-37744. Captain was Second Lt LaVerne Rissinger. Crashed Bovingdon evening of 9th December 1943. The aircraft hit trees after a late rotation and crashed into Bourne Wood. There were no survivors. Recorded as a training sortie.

B17 42-30131. Captain was Second Lt Robert Grafton. Lost over the Western Approaches/East Atlantic 2nd February 1944. After leaving Bovingdon the aircraft called at RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire to pick up its MAO Sgt John Pye (18 yrs). After its departure from Brawdy it was not seen again.

Weather Flights were also conducted from Bovingdon's satellite aerodrome at nearby Cheddington.

B17 42-37869. Captain was Major Ernie Patterson crashed at Bridestow, Devon 25th December 1943. At the end of its sortie and en-route to Cheddington the aircraft diverted back to St Eval due to an overheating engine. When they eventually departed for Cheddington the crew who were in high spirits beat up the airfield. En-route they were cruising at 1200 feet VFR when they suddenly entered cloud and hit high ground. The two pilots and the MAO Sgt Basil Brown survived, five other crew members died.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1640x2000/media_32060_powojski_with_plane_bbba52b1b2a3c0eaa70d60f04df9 040fa5e87b13.jpeg
Captain later Lt Col Alvin E Podwojski, C.O. Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Bovingdon 10th February 1944. Note Squadron Emblem. On April 3rd 1945 Podwojski with crewman Lt Col Proule operating a Mosquito from Watton were hit by Flak and 'lost' an engine whilst sowing 'Chaff' over Kiel. They landed at Malmo, Sweden and were interned. Photo credit American Air Museum.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/714x800/media_457927_fitting_psychrometer_aebd6f04b4068678c5eb053865 d754283a707763.jpg
MAO Sgt W.H. Timms RAF and Capt Podwojski fit one of two Psychrometers before a mission. Bovingdon 17th February 1944. Photo credit American Air Museum Freeman Collection.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/639x360/15692500195_41037746e9_z_better_crash_site_photo_credit_paul _buck_c8ebbe27575f54952c370ac268f8f44b12be8f4c.jpg
The Crash Site of B17 42-37869 near Bridestow, Devon. Photo credit Paul Buck.

More information about these operations and other snippets from Bovingdon can be found here:https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/89664-bovingdon-aaf-station-112

Further details about the Weather Squadron at Watton from March 28th 1944 here:https://www.rafwatton.info/a-brief-history-of-the-25th/

One final interesting bit of thread drift:http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/42-3279.htm

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Mar 2020, 18:03

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/967x639/img_129_1baas_relief_flight_bovingdon__182fc98357551edb80b31 2b19ce36bf6711839a4.jpg
Blankets are loaded on to a Halifax of British American Air Services at Bovingdon, bound for Palestine as part of the refugee relief efforts. My thanks to The Editor of Aeroplane Monthly for permission to reproduce this photo.

I've dated this image to the early Summer of 1947. My initial reaction was that these blankets were for Palestinians. However this flight was prior to the creation of The State of Israel and the Israeli-Arab War of 1948. The refugees were Jews from Europe and Asia.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/656x488/file0024_pannier_4e46c89764dd92f138ce1284d4b6b71c53d07771.jp g
This image gives some idea of the size of the Pannier. Photo-credit Key Aero.

A little bit of Drift now:SitNews: Remembering Operation Magic Carpet By DAVE KIFFER (http://www.sitnews.us/Kiffer/OpMagicCarpet/041917_akair_yemen.html)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1481/yemenites_at_aden_airport_c0a6123e2bc1b5596ce81b208acb33076e 7f9da9.jpg
Avro Tudor 2 of Don Bennett's Fairflight at Aden October or November 1949. The company's two Tudors performed 25 rotations to Israel carrying Yemenite Jews.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x386/op_magic_carpet_yemenites__c23b2ccb39a947989671000d0d8588c46 28e7352.jpg
Yemenite Jews. Is this a Tudor? Bennett's aeroplanes were operated as freighters but he received ARB approval in early autumn 1949 to allow seating for up to 78 passengers.

Lest We Forget:https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/photos/flight-1948

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd Mar 2020, 16:44

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1941x1544/media_39688_b_17_bovvy_23f7c18f300d2dfca82f657665c5baf27aa84 41f.jpeg
Autumn 1942. Photo- American Air Museum. Roger Freeman Collection.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x638/media_456529_thunderbolt_bov_fe4b20626ea2c437b0af0ed50eb9938 911ad4c96.jpg
P47 66674. 26th September 1943. Cass Hough's Air Technical Division carried out vital R+D on drop tanks to extend the range of fighter escorts.
Photo-American Air Museum. Roger Freeman Collection.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x553/media_458071_mustang_bovy_on_nose_c1c3144a0dfba024b077b7fead 4e461eb4adb7c2.jpg
Merlin Engined Mustang comes to grief after Test Flight. 13th March 1944. Photo - American Air Museum. Roger Freeman Collection.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x626/media_456846_lightning_bovingdon_1945_302fea8e72e87b8ce58300 b524154bfc98784525.jpg
P38 Take-off accident. 11th April 1945. Photo-American Air Museum. Roger Freeman Collection.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x279/british_spitfires_on_the_line_at_1st_combat_crew_replacement _center_aaf_station_112_england_30_march_1944_744747_640x279 _spitfires_bovvy_e501e648c86956a64bc61cc9081c9c78bfa93077.jp g
Spitfire Mk9s. 485 New Zealand Squadron. 30th March 1944. Photo-spitfiresite.com.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/888x370/spitfire_mk_xvi_bovvy_ddf8c6b44b27393be5b9aa4fc56b003b1d9610 fb.jpg
Spitfire Mk16. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x377/image_168677_b_29_bovvy_best_92378ef47d56a7f15042ffbb939e7a0 e1ede152b.jpg
B29. Much hyped visit 8th October 1945 but not the first B29 to be seen at Bovingdon.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/920x510/hornet_bovvy_18df7826d29cebe873672181aa4da829a1db1c26.jpg
D.H.Hornet. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/776x428/b17bw_rescue_bovvy_0725d2d7f7b9a3a4edb2666798d0de6e9e96e619. jpg
B17 Postwar. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/772x440/meteor_nf_bovvvy_0572fa0fe71375dcd1553e2c5a95a603bd5a1f81.jp g
Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/662x406/anson1_biafra_bovvy_87b4c56096c35efe6231a6a1bb24df6ea548d9ae .jpg
Avro Anson Bound for Biafra. Written off after forced landing in sand-storm at Port Etienne, Mauritania 17th August 1968. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/658x404/anson_2_bovvy_aaddbd94f4dee42709488ed1dbed895e1006652e.jpg
Avro Anson (with curtains) Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/698x389/unknown1_bovvy_60dc0f7b3b6ec6e01772eddabbfd5db0b4184584.jpg
Now here is an aeroplane for somebody to identify! Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/691x414/heron_bovvy_e18f3527651239b72a34254dc2e3303db6cbfc45.jpg
D.H. Heron. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/691x382/canberra3_bovvy_ae03fd877f2ecda912c3caf614c64ab6f916e88f.jpg
English Electric Canberra 3. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

More to come..........

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd Mar 2020, 17:12

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/784x244/dc3bw2_bovvy_b220b066e2dba687ce1298523648e6e155692c3e.jpg
Rather a flashy C47. Photo- bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/698x432/dc_8_c54_bovvy_514f412c46739d0e94108941b626939053456abf.jpg
C54. Rather a splendid looking coach behind. Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/474x181/wx928_venom_nf_bovingdon_28b99ad269439c29ba1d9e0abd85730feb4 a01e4.jpg
D.H. Venom NF.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/695x428/407235_3015525918897_1920800707_n_susan_jarman_met_hastings_ bovvy_0f87d45037b0786b61cc3d400db7d57244c948a6.jpg
HP Hastings. Met Flight 202 Squadron. Based Aldergrove. Photo-Susan Jarman.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/946x650/13516376_147295272358960_7068153465818587928_n_john_puczynsk i_bov_lanc_2879fb2566e41dda7b9bb1658953727cd85f7b13.jpg
Puczynski Senior. Early fifties? Photo- John Puczynski.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x815/13475148_134682630286891_7072162931528948310_o_meteor_bovvy_ 637203a5dad5b5a6662307fa6bbad5626add4fb6.jpg
Gloster Meteor EE549 with Fighter Command Comms Squadron. Broke World Air Speed Record 7th September 1946 (616mph). Puczynski Senior left of air intake was the C in C 's personal fitter. Photo- John Puczynski.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/662x916/13599893_147295625692258_3192787319684783034_n_old_larfin_bo y_bovingdon_0153da8d09ca88f370eca410fc55086a2aaebc0f.jpg
Photo- John Puczynski.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/565x754/66178524_10156729199773878_4307900700953673728_n_bovy_airman _c6f97328b7b64880e7016cce7e6110da4cf050bd.jpg
Chief Technician Puczynski. Photo - Laura Gunn. (Later 01st June 2020) Interestingly a bit of a cockup with this image. I got it off the Bovingdon Remembered Facebook Site and assumed it was Bovingdon. Today I came across this Photograph:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x504/hur75_b2_lf363_5ee72c88ecaf2a095279ffcf7e22769a71c307c9.jpg
Image from BBMF website: Hurricane LF363 at The Battle of Britain Flight's base at Martlesham Heath not Bovingdon in 1959. By coincidence LF363 was apparently based at Bovingdon in 1951 with Fighter Command Comms Squadron. (Should know by now never to assume anything!)

The following photographs were taken by David Taylor RAF Aerodrome Fireman and date from the late nineteen-fifties.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x599/bage_raf_bovvy_sign_015b19d95459dc09381eac1b6d455f1e14e914b7 .jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x600/20140713112815_01_fire_trucks_bovvy_3b09d32b9f0f5c57baa615ae 0eba6904ea812fbd.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/721x540/img_0349_raf_fire_crew_land_rover_cropped_7d2b170cbfd47fdae2 f7ee1f4999edbcb5cf6069.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x700/aoc_visit_3f36af31d7930e1ecbed89e5391c68855b7f38ba.jpg
A porch is constructed to keep out the fumes from the ramp. A station inspection by The AOC is pending.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x601/control3_tower_bovvy_show_last_fee4fcbcabd967107bc8225f547f2 3f78e9ba09c.jpg

Self loading bear

23rd Mar 2020, 17:36

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/698x389/unknown1_bovvy_60dc0f7b3b6ec6e01772eddabbfd5db0b4184584.jpg
Now here is an aeroplane for somebody to identify! Photo-bovingdon-airfield.co.uk
S.O.95M Corse III
i.e. The tailwheel variant

OUAQUKGF Ops

28th Mar 2020, 14:35

https://youtu.be/su5JWj8Wlec

https://youtu.be/2A04o_kVonQ

OUAQUKGF Ops

28th Mar 2020, 17:50

The author flew in one of the last flying Mosquitos at Bovingdon during the making of "633 Squadron". Two Merlin engines gave this twin-engined fighter one of the highest top speeds of any WWII piston-engined aircraft.

In the early years of the Second World War, de Havilland Chief designer R.E. Bishop’s team produced the Mosquito, originally an unarmed bomber powered by two Rolls Royce Merlins. The airframe was made mainly of wood to conserve strategic materials. During four years of combat, the Mosquito proved to be one of the fastest of contemporary aircraft. It was successfully developed as a fighter, a bomber and even as a reconnaissance aircraft. It was flown from aircraft carriers and was even pressed into service as a high-speed airliner in BOAC colors, carrying passengers in the bomb bay between Britain and Sweden.

Some twenty years later, only a handful of Mosquitoes remained flying. In the spring of 1963 United Artists planned to make the film “633 Squadron” starring Mosquitoes in a re-creation of Fred Smith’s novel about a fictitious Mosquito Squadron tasked with attacking a heavy water factory in Norway. Eight Mosquitoes were finally located to serve in the movie. Five came from the Civilian Anti-aircraft Co-Operation unit at Exeter, two came from the Royal Air Force and one from private owner Peter F.M. Thomas. The flying sequences were handled by Captain John Crewdson’s Film Aviation Services at Bovingdon, an RAF station just outside London, and on location in Scotland.

By the time the film project appeared on my horizon, although still a teenaged schoolboy, I was writing occasional aviation articles on a freelance basis. When John Crewdson offered me the chance to come and fly in a Mosquito during the making of the film I needed no second bidding. So one blazing hot day in an English summer I found myself taken back in time as I passed through the main gate at RAF Bovingdon.

Crewdson introduced me to the pilots. We briefed for the flight. I was to fly in Mosquito T.T.35 TA 639 with Flying Officer C. Kirkham from Royal Air Force Little Rissington. Kirkham was to be the leader of Red formation. The second of the three Mosquitoes making up Red formation was another T.T.35 flown by Flight Lieutenant D.J. Curtis. The third aircraft was a Mosquito T.3 flown by J.R.”Jeff” Hawke, an colorful ex -RAF Lightning pilot who was later to ferry two of the Bf 108s used in the film over to the USA.

I would be taking photographs from the right hand seat of the lead aircraft. Our formation would consist of these three aircraft only and the resulting camera shots from the ground would be multiplied by the film technicians to give a full squadron of twelve aircraft.

We walked out along the line of Mosquitoes, each now sporting a set of dummy guns in the nose, full wartime camouflage and markings and one or two with very realistic, but simulated, battle damage. At the end of the line loomed our Mosquito. While Kirkham carried out his pre-flight checks I struggled into my parachute harness. The sheer size of the machine made pre-flighting difficult as the engines and spinners were way above our heads. I watched in fascination as Kirkham extracted the hydraulic pump handle from the bowels of the cockpit and rattled it along the exhaust stubs of the Merlins to check their integrity, a latter-day version of the railroad wheel tapper’s hammer.

With pre-flight checks completed I followed Kirkham up through the hatch in the belly of the Mosquito. There was only room for one person to move in the cockpit at one time. Encumbered with parachute harness, flying helmet and camera I eventually managed to wriggle and fold my six-feet one inch height into the right hand seat. Once our ladder was handed up to us and stowed, the outer hatch was slammed shut by our ground crew, sealing us in the cockpit. I strapped in.

Our aircraft had been standing in the sun all day. Consequently it was abominably hot under the Perspex canopy and we were soon sweating profusely. We cracked the clear-view panels open to entice a current of air through the cockpit. While I fiddled with my window, Kirkham commenced his pre-start checks. An external power trolley had already been plugged into the belly of the Mosquito and the starboard engine was primed.

Kirkham gave a thumbs up to the ground crew and clicked the ignition switches on, followed by the starter. The huge three-blade propeller to my right shuddered, stopped and jerked into life again until the Merlin caught and burst into life with a thunderous blast of sound. Clouds of exhaust fumes swept in through the open clear-view panel. By the time I had closed and locked the panel the port engine had been cajoled into life.

Kirkham contacted the tower, obtaining clearance for Red formation to taxi to Runway o4. Altimeters were set to the QFE of 993 millibars. Power was advanced and at 1500rpm the brakes were checked. Slowly we moved forward and turned, brakes squealing, onto the perimeter track, leading the other two aircraft down to a disused runway where all three aircraft turned into wind to complete the run-up.

The pilots checked that the brakes were fully on. Now our throttles came forward and at 3000rpm the thunder of the Merlins battered through my leather helmet, shaking the whole aircraft. I could see behind each aircraft the grass flattening in swathes as the pilots ran up each engine in turn.
Now Kirkham cycled the pitch controls, checked the trims and switched the fuel boost pumps on. We had trouble contacting Red 3, who started on his internal batteries and whose transmissions were rather weak at low rpms. Finally Kirkham checked the fuel panel, located awkwardly between and behind our seats. With checks complete we taxied round to the duty runway. The wind was calm.

Our Mosquito lined up, with the other aircraft trailing us, propeller discs shining in the sun. Power was advanced to 3000 rpm against the brakes. The noise and vibration were overpowering. Brakes were released with a jerk and we were rolling. Jabs of differential brake kept us tracking straight as the Mosquito tried to swing to the left under the torque of the Merlins. At fifty knots the tail came up and the rudder was becoming effective. As we accelerated more rapidly the noise was undiminished but the vibration was lessening. At 110 knots the Mosquito lifted off, and at 130 the gear was folding itself majestically into the nacelles. We climbed straight ahead to two thousand feet and Kirkham throttled back to zero boost to maintain 150 knots at 2,400rpm, then turned us gently to let the others catch up.
By now I was half-turned round in the bucket seat, craning to see rearwards to report on the progress of Red 2 and 3. As we turned through a lazy circuit, the others gradually closed up behind us and took station with their wingtips level with our tailplane. I started taking photos again.
With Red 3 aboard we tightened the turn and started to dive towards the field.
Speed drifted up to 220 knots as we tracked towards the camera crew out on the field. Bumping in the turbulent air over the boundary fence we bottomed out of the dive at 250 feet and pulled up to an altitude of two thousand feet again. The radio squawked that the next run should be lower and steeper.

Down we went again, the slipstream wailing over the noise of the Merlins. The quartering sun picked out the colours in the roundels and squadron markings on the fuselage of the aircraft hanging just off our right side, turning the arc of the propellers into shimmering discs. I attempted to take some pictures of Red 3 during the dive and luckily managed to squeeze the release for the last time just before the onset of g-forces at the bottom of the dive pushed me firmly down into the seat. Once more we motored up into the quieter air, circling the field while we changed formation into echelon starboard as briefed. We were now ready for our third dive.
Now the tower called us to wait as the technicians had some unspecified problem on the ground. For five minutes we orbited over the peaceful English countryside

Through a transparent panel in the hatch below my feet I could see tantalizing glimpses of cool rivers and ponds. My harness was damnably tight and the cockpit was still oven-hot. On this heading the sun was a blinding disc in the sky ahead of the nose and we were slowly being roasted.

We turned south and mercifully the sun was blanked off by our wingtip, leaving the black silhouettes of the other Mosquitoes gently rising and falling against the blinding light.
The tower came back on the air:”One more run, please, and make it closer.” Kirkham looked across at me and grinned. The other aircraft crept closer to our tail. I turned my head to the front as we started the dive to see the airfield framed in the windscreen. Kirkham reached up and wound on the rudder trim handle to keep us straight as the speed increased. Then the g-force was pulling hard on my camera as we bottomed out of the dive. The perimeter track whipped past underneath, the grass of the field expanding and blurring. I had an overwhelming urge to pull my feet up. A hurried glance at the altimeter showed that it was registering a mere hundred feet. Our true altitude was somewhat lower.
We flashed over the camera crew and pulled up smoothly to a thousand feet.
“That’s all, Red Leader,” crackled the radio. We broke formation, preparing to make individual landings. The engine noise took on a more strident note as the propellers were moved into fine pitch. Now at 2350 rpm, boost pumps were switched on and as we pitched out on to the downwind leg the flaps came down. Kirkham checked the brake pressures. As we drifted down through five hundred feet the audio horn blasted our eardrums until it was silenced by edging the throttles forward. We descended in a long left-hand turn. Gear extension was marked by a slight nose-down pitch and an interminable wait before the gear locked down. At 120 knots we came round onto finals, calling:”Red Leader, Finals. Two greens” We rumbled down finals to a wheel landing, with the usual Merlin ear-splitting popping and banging once the throttles were closed. Finally the tail dropped and we turned off the runway, taxied back and swung into dispersal. Kirkham switched the booster pumps off and pulled the fuel cut-offs, and the slowing prop blades became visible as they jerked to a halt. Under my feet the hatch was opened and in turn we climbed down the ladder, deafened and relishing the cool of the evening air. Our aircraft loomed over us, engines ticking as they contracted, the air shimmering over the burning exhaust stubs, with the smell of hot oil in the ai

This was the last of the big twin-engined piston fighters to see wartime service in the Royal Air Force. It was indeed a privilege to fly in this old warbird -the Mighty Mosquito.

Author David Brown. Copied from: View from the Cockpit Website.

chevvron

29th Mar 2020, 09:53

In the above photos, Meteor WS848 is an NF14 and Venom WX948 is an NF3.
Both are parked roughly where the ice rink used in the TV show 'Dancing on Ice' has been built.
Re: 633 Sqdn. I was present wearing my ATC cadet uniform standing behind the camera for a couple of short sequences; it was a brilliant summers day but when the film came out both scenes had been darkened to simulate night and boy those arc lights are HOT.
One scene was Donald Houston telling Cliff Robertson he'd 'got old Davis's permission' to go on the raid; they ran it twice, once each from the viewpoint of both actors and while they were moving the camera, a stand-in (looking very much like Charles Bronson - don't think it was him though) stood in front of the lights so the cameraman could set up his light levels; at the end of the shoot the director said 'save carbons' and the lighting man removed then from the light unit - they were glowing red hot even in that bright sunlight!

OUAQUKGF Ops

29th Mar 2020, 14:08

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x237/419059_3140566764840_1078278734_n_316_coach_a83725f78115ad27 235a42d213c11612b77f60e3.jpg

chevvron

29th Mar 2020, 14:55

Ah a 316 bus which ran from Chesham Broadway to Hemel Hempstead via Bovingdon, alternating with the private 'Rover' company buses along almost the same route, the Rover going via Nashleigh Hill and Lycrome Road and Whelpley Hill too but the 316 routed up Eskdale Avenue and Lye Green Road, missing out Whelpley Hill.
Travelled on both services many times as one of my aunts lived in Hemel.

OUAQUKGF Ops

29th Mar 2020, 16:57

chevvron

30th Mar 2020, 07:59

That Bus is specially for you Chevvron. And yes the Production team of 633 Squadron were blessed by brilliant weather. I too spent a day on the set by the threshold of 04 with Mossies buzzing around the place like, well like Mossies ........
It was a pity they had to write off an airframe on that crash sequence which was also used in 'Mosquito Squadron'. The day my fellow cadet Mike and I were there, that aircraft was parked on the pan south of the tower so we wandered over to take a look at it. Even from 6 feet away those bullet holes looked real and it was only when you got really close that you could see they were just carefully painted bits of plywood glued to the fuselage which was otherwise undamaged.
Meanwhile, Cliff Robertson had borrowed the vintage ex RAF motorbike used in one or two scenes and was happily racing round the grass area between hangars 2 and 3!
Just loved the sequence in the finished film shot from 04 threshold (and also used in 'Mosquito Squadron') with the Mossie touching down and half a dozen Ansons parked in the background, their white painted roofs showing up well!

OUAQUKGF Ops

30th Mar 2020, 14:33

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1944x1296/62_may_9_ensign_raf_bovingdon_dak_and_anson_1962_3932ef52b8d 1f61ffbef959ac476a7a4604e2fc1.jpg
Bovingdon 1962. Photo - Village Website.

chevvron

30th Mar 2020, 16:08

A wander round rhe hangars would often be rewarded with offcuts of stick-on 'dayglo' (some of them quite large) thrown away in rubbish bins which was much treasured by cadets for sticking on bikes, motor bikes, even model aircraft

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th Apr 2020, 10:34

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1148x415/screenshot_2020_04_07_noi_della_46_brigata_per_sempre_d04891 71fe5d26d1349847fdcd9bce7e73319022.png

In 1955 The Italian Air Ministry awarded a £145,000 contract to Maycrete Ltd of London to supply prefabricated aluminium buildings to the Italian Air Force. They consisted of: 10 Troop Barracks, 15 Officers' and NCOs' Barracks, 08 Messing Quarters, 04 Club Rooms/Canteens and 20 Shipston type three bedroomed Bungalows. These were airlifted from Bovingdon to Rome by C119 Fairchild Packets of The 46a Aerobrigata who detached personnel to Bovingdon for the duration of the operation.
The first relay in early autumn 1955 consisted of three aircraft carrying all the components required for the erection of just one Barrack Building.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/928x510/1077773_large_italian_packet_august_1957_bovvy_straitened_ee c6a9e5329b7570511885e8a119ac486a3e8582.jpg

C119 of 46a Aerobrigata. A later photograph at Bovingdon in August 1957. Many thanks to Bernard Martin for permission to include this image.

It was reported that a slight hiccup occurred when an inbound C119 took a wrong turning off the A41 and landed, some 26 miles up the road, at The Rocket Propulsion Establishment, RAE Westcott. Easily done with one war-time airfield looking much like another.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/618x200/map_to_wescott_dd305708739e6316f76a3e50e5f3948097586242.png

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x559/media_17540_bovingdon_map_61b2ba2be6e1e59bdb6e7f7faf62655c37 c33b2c.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x473/7990_westcott_colour_52aa8f881812a37bd9fea9ba29f1c5e55b19d32 e.jpg
Westcott Airfield.

Westcott was a rather rundown looking place surrounded by high fences, police patrols and immediately post-war, peopled by German Rocket Scientists.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/gettyimages_962211880_2048x2048_westcott_b6e2729978c7ce452da 7cb0be9fe6fafb91b4be4.jpg
Westcott November 1964.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/gettyimages_962211830_2048x2048_wsetcott_tony_eyles_dd933138 3c994c94fe43d45980b4d790c8690fcb.jpg
Westcott November 1964. (Photographer Tony Eyles)

I fear that viewing this film is rather like watching paint dry. One expects that Alec Guinness will appear at any moment but sadly he does not.

https://youtu.be/NYAjSR6NmC4

https://www.bis-space.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Short-Westcott-History.pdf

OUAQUKGF Ops

12th Apr 2020, 21:55

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x398/406_giant_usafc45larrywestincollection_ecee40faa898395da0a88 fedc927801040fbcd34.jpg

Beechcraft C45 Expeditor. Photo - Larry West .

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/381x237/c45_crash_44_47194_588719fb5c69ad8edd7469c479093b4d91550a1c. jpg

Photo- baaa-acro.

https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/lake-district/beechcraft-c-45-44-47194-black-combe/

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x637/black_combe_from_foxfield_47de9b002a1257af483344ffc1ed8cb633 fe5a22.jpg

Black Combe Cumbria. Photo- Wikimedia

David Rayment

14th Apr 2020, 22:25

OUAQUKGF Ops

15th Apr 2020, 09:28

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x321/47e24bd283fab33acbc33e9acc1cc07b_later_gzp_lac_scrapped_bov_ 1953_a3b4e4ebc834e407fb0811aa6a172b036d383a7c.jpg

Bovingdon. Circa 1948.

https://youtu.be/yIyiTRxMFHE

A Clue. Portrait by Cartier Bresson.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1373x1919/e6743958aa3b4116575a7cc8c087d9b7_maharaja_7e4f3a65716e60cb7f d11e842a519c2cb8683f6d.jpg
Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad. The last ruling Maharajah of Baroda. 1908-1968. Deposed by the Indian Government in 1951 for 'irresponsible behaviour'. He returned to Europe and settled in Monaco. He was a successful race-horse owner who purchased Sayajirao for 28,000 Guineas at the 1945 Newmarket Sales. In those days an enormous sum of money. His wife was a style icon of her time.

The connection comes about in that the Handley Page Halton ZS-BTA had previously been 'owned' by the Maharajah. Here is an extract from The Aeroplane Magazine of 1946: 'His Highness The Maharajah Gaekwad of Baroda flew to England recently in his own H.P.70 Halton transport G-AGZP. Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd, the travel agents, arranged for the purchase of the aircraft which was flown to India and back by Squadron Leader E.A. Hood and a specially chosen crew of British American Air Services Ltd. '

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x635/uk2_pp336_hp_halifaxmkvii_1946orlater_to_g_agzp_halton_3bd31 828b7dc4c366e065f58a78ee8ee22fb8b89.jpg
A rare image of G-AGZP in the Maharajah's Light Blue Livery. Photo-credit Joseph Testagrose. The aircraft was subsequently sold abroad in 1947.

In the late forties The Maharajah owned Headley Hall near Leatherhead in Surrey where he kept his racehorses. A keen sportsman, he endeared himself to the locals by rebuilding the Cricket Pavilion which had been burnt down by Canadian Troops during the war. From 1948 until 1950 he owned the DC3 G-AKJH.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x674/1256693_large_baroda_dc3_5d7db6656d53e13c2fc47138333bd730cd1 17e50.jpg
The Maharajah's Dak Croydon March 1949. Photo credit George Trussell Collection with thanks.

G-AGZP was restored to the British register in late 1949 and was operated by The Lancashire Aircaft Corporation at Bovingdon. On 10th April 1951 she lost part of the number one engine after take-off from Bovingdon (see #73 and #85 this thread). She was scrapped at Bovingdon in 1953.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x427/halton_zp_stansted_afc289d19919659fc91011a8102abbd84f00cd58. jpg
Stansted Battle of Britain Day 1952. Photo-credit The late Gerald Lawrence.

chevvron

16th Apr 2020, 08:59

Never heard of the C119s but on one of my earliest visits as an ATC cadet ie 1962 onwards I was told of an incident involving a FAF Noratlas which was supposed to be bound for Haddenham (near Westcott!) mistaking Bovingdon for his destination, the runway controller having used up most of his stock of red verey flares on it as it was not in contact with Bovingdon ATC.
Could never figure out why a Noratlas would be going to Haddenham though; if it was for Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Halton would surely have been preferable, the nearest hospital to Haddenham in those days being Stone Mental Hospital (now closed) .

kenparry

16th Apr 2020, 09:45

That Spitfire in post #263 has quite a history: see

History of Spitfire SL721 (http://www.jerrybilling.ca/Jerry%20Billing%20Spitfire's/History%20of%20Spitfire%20SL721.htm)

and maybe she is still flying, having moved to Belgium 2 years ago.

I remember seeing it parked on a garage forecourt in Worthing around 1957 or so, and learning that the owner used to fire up the engine every Battle of Britain day.

fauteuil volant

16th Apr 2020, 12:47

More on that Spitfire in its Swandean Garage, Arundel Road, Worthing days if you go to http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=9856.0.

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Apr 2020, 13:36

Further to # 280. What became Air Vice Marshal Robb's personal Meteor EE549 is also pictured in a battered photo on #264.

https://imodeler.com/2014/01/h-k-models-meteor-f-4-ee549-flown-by-avm-sir-j-m-robb/

OUAQUKGF Ops

22nd Apr 2020, 14:58

Rather a fuzzy snap. Looks to be taken near the threshold of R/W 35. I wondered if it was immediately post-war. I don't know when the Control Tower was enlarged.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/889x506/456397_3170545634293_251105262_o_old_photo_of_airfield_sltly _cropped_14d068bd4fa2ee670c13fbb9fcaf370296e122ac.jpg
Photo Credit: Susan Jarman (Bovingdon Remembered)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/563x422/p1020947_2__39d7726c77bad6437325fb70f6d6e73ed4ef83b4.jpg
Bovingdon War Time Watch Tower and Weather Station Type 518/40. Photo Credit USAAF (Airfield Focus 80)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/626x322/screenshot_2020_04_22_bovingdon_airfield_control_tower_e1216 be2d65f8d1152380e0da0728378b6c313ac.png
Bovingdon Extended Control Tower Early 1950s. Photo Credit Arthur Pearcy Collection.

OUAQUKGF Ops

27th Apr 2020, 11:26

On 1st September 1942 Defiants DR944 and DR945 were seconded to the 326th BS/11CCRC at Bovingdon. They were seen over the next couple of years at American Airfields across East Anglia and towed targets at the 8th Air Force Provisional Gunnery School which was established to train B17 Gunners at Snettisham, Norfolk in the summer of 1943.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/859x613/media_20352_defiant_a01b8ffd92964670d7150021bc01708e233ade58 .jpeg
DR945 thought to have been photographed at Bovingdon. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

DR945 had a couple of minor scrapes including a belly landing at Bovingdon on 4th February 1943. The pilot Lt John R Westwood later went on to Command the 401st Bomber Squadron at Bassingbourn. Some nostalgic snaps of 'Westy' Westwood here:Westy Westwood and Peg O' My Heart - 91st Bomb Group (H) (http://www.91stbombgroup.com/scrapbook_memories/westy_westwood.html)

DR945 was again slightly damaged in a ground accident at Bovingdon on June 14th 1943 and was eventually returned to 10 MU in December 1944.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x415/defiant_945_0c527e775dfd0a941b54e3e19c92320267aab492.jpg
DR945 at Rougham, Bury St Edmunds. Both Defiants displayed USAAF and RAF Markings. Photo credit WW2 Aircraft Net.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x382/defiant_usaaf_944_89ad7998e72ce71b654b5ac889824057ccab5fac.j pg
DR944 at Bassingbourn. Photo credit WW2 Aircraft Net.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/547x925/media_13560_gunner_snettisham_911d7d52977b2fd1be84b5e077252c 7aadc04c67.jpeg
Staff Sergeant Andrew Tolmachoff at Snettisham. In 1944 he was a B17 tail gunner with the 369th BS. Having completed 19 missions and suffered the effects of Frostbite and shrapnel wounds he was re-assigned as a Gunnery Instructor. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/2528229_fed42e01_snettisham_bases_e7895baa8d8f65ccd0e8eb2d6b d06462bf060d08.jpg
Snettisham - these days an RSPB Reserve. Photo credit Richard Humphrey.

In July 1944 Defiant DR944 was returned to 10 MU in the charge of The Royal Navy. In February 1945 she was allocated to Martin Baker and used for Ejector Seat Trials.
The very first aerial ejection was achieved with this aircraft using a dummy over RAF Wittering on May 11th 1945.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/564x430/defiant_ejection_6fc8f447cfdb6f7d3b3591935c9ac422013efc34.jp g
DR944 World's First Ejection.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/389x479/bernard_lynch_94132ba3d58855954d35ece588d09621fc570389.png
Pioneer Ejectorist Bernard Lynch of Martin Baker. DR944 in the background.

Fareastdriver

27th Apr 2020, 16:45

That ejection seat ramp takes me back to South Cerney.

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th May 2020, 07:51

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1321x920/s_l1600_venom_1955_a214190b7f19bce794b20341b45abe17ee9baa5a. jpg
Vampire FB5 - 502 (Auxiliary) Squadron based Aldergrove. Photographed in 1955.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1183x838/s_l1600_vampire_54746c85a0ae563224a447e645906bff6e21be56.jpg
Vampire T11 photographed in 1958. Any idea which FTS it came from?

brakedwell

7th May 2020, 09:11

Very nice photos OUAQUFGF Ops. The T11 was not from 8 FTS at Swinderby, markings are wrong. Photo below of me at Swinderby with one of their T11's in 1957. We also had Vampire Fives and Nines. Wonderful days pre my time on Coastal Com at Bovingdon in 1961/2!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1198x1810/screen_shot_2016_04_23_at_11_01_55_eac96b998afb4d38b17269a18 4badbabd0645b49.jpg

XV490

7th May 2020, 09:17

T11 XE871 – Armament practice unit at Acklington?

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th May 2020, 11:34

XV490 - I think you are right. I gleaned those images off a certain auction web site. Acklington is written on the back of the photograph. brakedwell good to see you in the flesh. Those were the Days ! Incidentally in 1957 I together with our neighbour's son Jonny used to be driven from Ashley Green to school at Kings Langley. The parents alternated this task so if we went in our car (an open top Morris Minor) fine views could be obtained passing the runway at Bovingdon however if it was next door's vehicle (a green Morris Minor Van) one could see bugger all whilst crouched in the back !

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th May 2020, 07:27

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x630/22815757719_847a70a22e_b_canadian_dc3_16aac65cb891b200632835 2f84c6531783a693ed.jpg
Bovingdon. Probably photographed in the late fifties - early sixties. Appears to be parked on a dispersal in the north-east of the aerodrome. The Second World War would not have been won without the fighting forces of The British Commonwealth and the magnificent C47.

Fareastdriver

8th May 2020, 08:24

KN201: It still had its old RAF serial number.

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th May 2020, 09:00

KN291. (Ended its days in South America.)

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th May 2020, 11:50

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/332x336/white_boots_fdc08ce458a6b5c30999605ab75a0f87b6e75974.jpg
B17 42-37850. Photo credit USAAF Nose Art Project.

Sadly the present pandemic has prevented the villagers of Sarratt from holding their planned Commemoration and Service marking the passage of seventy-five years since this accident occurred in their parish. The B17 was on a self-proficiency training detail and was crewed by two pilots and two flight engineers. The skipper was Capt Walter P Hottenstein. The C47 was crewed by two pilots, the skipper being 1st Lt Maurice F Thornburg. Both crews were drawn from 1402 Base Unit AAF which provided hangar and flightline maintenance facilities at Bovingdon. The Bovingdon weather actual at 1400z would indicate that the runway in use would have been 22. The accident report for the B17 is worth reading. Like-wise an eye-witness account by the late Jim Burgin of Chipperfield is reproduced here - his full memoir occurs way back in the depth of this thread.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/457x193/screenshot_2020_05_09_bbc_ww2_people_s_war_aviation_memories _1__66b9ed8b42acdf19f5ed01fa1f0bbc2d07738def.png

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x849/576808_439774156033507_517994261_n_accident_report_67360669d 561a4b8d714dfdc0c848b7608c3dd86.jpg
Credit U.S. Army Women's Museum
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x806/165961_439774229366833_1970415918_n_ac_report_2_d9bc03bbb836 d781cbef7a751c169f4847fa75b3.jpg
Credit U.S. Army Women's Museum

The two crash sites were on open land between the villages of Chipperfield and Sarratt. The B17 burned, the C47 did not. There were no survivors.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/672x445/b_17_crash_site_84fadfa85aace8a90b3e22ffe9eaef113273616f.png
B17 aftermath. Photo credit Gregory Edmund (USAAF)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1908x1174/b17_crash_with_c47_sarrat_c6ff86e7ea849e71eb5fcf1507f9ce9f3d 138ec7.png
C47. Photo credit Gregory Edmund (USAAF)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/650x433/245663637_jpg_gallery_7749f3a31d31d8bceaf8980ebd65973238a3d1 65.jpg
C47 Photo credit Gregory Edmund (USAAF)

Emma Jane Windham was one of the Flight Engineers on the B17.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/708x590/post_13070_0_11097700_1426858294_e2bbb94d72f5ead759933f142e7 5c5afa61e3491.jpg
Credit U.S. Army Women's Museum.

More on Emma Jane here:https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/military/article/Gone-with-the-wind-but-not-forgotten-5880802.php

I'm most grateful to Gregory Edmund of the Sarratt History Society for his assistance on this post. Other brief details and pictures of the aircrew can be found here:https://twitter.com/sarratthistory?lang=en

OUAQUKGF Ops

15th May 2020, 08:09

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/912x448/screenshot_2020_05_13_bovingdon_airport_notice_board_hansard _61bb37d1e0df96e820d8a17cbf7b3bca729581a7.png

OUAQUKGF Ops

15th May 2020, 14:19

Bovingdon based British Nederland's two Dakotas had really high cargo and pax utilization across Europe and further afield during 1948 and 1949, in part sustained by contracts from Lep Air Services. Despite the award in 1950 of a Government Contract to provide a leave service for the British Administration in Tripolitania (this necessitated the purchase of a Viking), business had become very thin on the ground and with good prices being paid for Dakotas, G-AJZD was sold towards the end of 1950 whilst the remaining Dakota and Viking provided services until the end of December 1950 when all operations ceased.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x589/screenshot_2020_05_13_dakota_g_ajzd_at_bovingdon_around_1949 _1__65b08c09f2a8677ecf5cc46192985652fc315b5f.png
Bovingdon, February 1950. Destination Paris. Dakota G-AJZD. Photo credit Lep Transport Archive.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/801x610/screenshot_2020_05_13_dakota_g_ajzd_at_bovingdon_around_1949 _c77717f6120cf02a1186650828ebb22f3a81389d.png
Photo credit Lep Transport Archive.

Photographs of Nederland's Dakotas seem to be few and far between. See #182 for an image of 'ZD.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/474x264/screenshot_2020_05_15_atchistory_8513f5becedcdf437e86d975957 a858fcd60a32f.png
Croydon not Bovingdon 1948. British Nederlands Dakota G-AJZX. Photo credit Barry Davidson ATChistory.

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd May 2020, 10:23

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1422x912/fre_003701_stinky_bov_14fe7754012ccac209400d9b1f8ce8a3dfd122 7d.jpg
41-9045 'Stinky' at Bovingdon October 1942. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1292x812/media_458329_1_b_17_enhanced_f0ad0ca223616ad47045268f6c9f374 bfe092a05.jpg

On 15th January 1943 'Stinky' was bound for Bovingdon from Gibraltar............ Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Mighty_Eighth_in_WWII_A_Memoir.html?id=ZOBM0AgSgcIC&redir_esc=y

J Kemp McLaughlin's excellent book will give you some insight into how the General Commanding The Eighth Army Air Force made an unscheduled arrival at Athenry, County Galway. Read from page 24 onwards.

Further reading here:Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Athenry, Co, Galway (http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/stinky.htm)

OUAQUKGF Ops

30th May 2020, 12:16

One of the most successful postwar British Independent Airlines, Hunting Air Transport, later Hunting Clan Air Services was based at Bovingdon from 1948 until 1954. During this period the back-bone of the airline was its fleet of Vickers Vikings. These were operated on charter and scheduled services including many large Government Contracts, typically trooping. On June 14th 1952 a Viking departed Bovingdon to inaugurate what became the famous Hunting Clan Safari Air Service from the UK to Nairobi. This service was initially operated in conjunction with Airwork operating from Blackbushe.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/5581834356_129bbafbab_b_viking_bov_3d92e3e826cf79c315bfbae66 b85853391b729cc.jpg
Viking 1 G-AGRV Hunting Air Transport at Bovingdon. August 1952. Photo credit Tony Clarke Collection.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x657/screenshot_2020_05_24_scanned_postcards_hunting_vickers_viki ng_g_agrw_bovingdon_november_1953_5150af281c430910bcfa36adf4 ab6522b98c6c3b.png
I've always thought this was the most super photo. I have a slight personal connection with 'Romeo Whisky' so I hope you don't mind if I drift off a bit!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/924x573/screenshot_2020_05_28_vickers_viking_1a_g_agrw_115_british_e uropean_airways_be_bea__6958196d2bbc077ed9fe955eb9f608ccdee1 695d.png
At Wisley 1947. After short-lived service with the State carrier this aeroplane passed through the hands of a London tour operator and a merchant bank before joining Hunting Air Transport in 1952. Photo credit the late Ron Roberts.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x360/g_agrw_basle_edgar_beck_best_06b83e957a5fb05a86d90807b4b7a23 986d3830e.jpg
Basle not Bovingdon. Probably mid-fifties. Photo credit Edgar Beck.

At the end of 1959 'Romeo Whisky' was sold to Overseas Aviation at Southend.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/855x635/viking_g_agrw_on_nose_amsterdam_a30172ce9e56d1ea646aeff8a105 da7682d4000a.jpg
Schipol 17th February 1960. Crew Only. Probably the result of harsh braking while turning off the runway after landing.

Overseas went bust in 1961 and in 1962 'Romeo Whisky' joined Autair at Luton.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/505x271/screenshot_2020_05_28_colours_in_the_sky_enhanced_19ef93c59e ffc9c8c310053ba69569070c26d468.png
I expect the passenger scheduled service from Blackpool to Luton on the 7th July 1965 was delayed by this runaway Aermacchi AL60-B1 which wrote itself off in a moment of absent-mindedness. Photo credit late Capt Pete Dibley.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/793x452/duhssqjx4aeniib_rw_ltn_8ad0d5cffcc715a3bbc7ae7ebba8f987489f8 b6e.jpg
'Romeo Whisky' now in freighter config and working its way towards the end of its flying life. Luton possibly winter 1966-67. Note the Ops Department's CCTV camera atop the hangar. We were very proud of this bit of kit. It was the most modern piece of technology the airline had, at least until the new HS748s came along.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/785x536/screenshot_2020_05_26_the_vikings_of_soesterberg_ae55ace2545 d48983639b4ffdf8c83038b94e21b.png
On February 15th 1968 'Romeo Whisky' and her sister ship 'Papa Bravo' were flown by Autair to Soesterberg, Netherlands and taken through the streets to be put out to grass. Photo credit from a postcard via 'The Vikings of Soesterberg'

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/958x471/screenshot_2020_05_25_autair_vickers_vikings_restaurant_6bd5 bcade11cd34c6278ca3d77bd19c2da561e1e.png
'Romeo Whisky' remained at Soesterberg until about 1980 when the three Vikings were sold. The proceeds of the sale of RW and PB enabling the third Viking RU to be returned to the UK for preservation. Photo credit A Kempster. 'The Vikings of Soesterberg'

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x689/0214692_rw_vienna_apt_05abb9013240c8ea7c1a7106dd43d8fc51abe3 b9.jpg
I've next found 'Romeo Whisky' looking rather sad on the roof at Vienna Airport in 1998. Apparently she spent many years there. Photo credit Erik Frikke.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x746/34618_1198449110_rw_mcdon_c66697ac7be6add0447acc82800315b1c8 01cfef.jpg
Somewhere about 1999 'Romeo Whisky' was restored by a group of Austrian Airlines enthusiasts and placed outside a MacDonalds near Vienna Airport. Photo credit Gergo Ozoray.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/ac1590415564548780_mac_9b8b8fa464b147c051a34779160a07d702470 90d.jpg
'Romeo Whisky' survived on Big Macs until 2013 when it was removed and once again put out to grass. Photo credit Andy Graf.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/181_4758w9_5084d2bfa9560afc5d7cf6b0b1061440dd900fe2.jpg
G-AGRW at the Austrian Aviation Museum Bad Voslau February 2018. Photo credit Philip Stevens Target Aviation Photography.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x829/75293_1568014135_29fb7cde8f8431cfc91056bc01895c8cc6e7170b.jp g
It looks like the end is nigh. Photographed in 2019 at the Austrian Aviation Museum Bad Voslau. Credit per photo.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/1128564_large_rw_berlin_e43234cad900594667ea4d2e51d9a8683d8d 9091.jpg
Happy Memories. G-AGRW landing with its load of Dutch Flowers at Templehof in 1966. Photo credit Ralf Manteufel.

My erstwhile colleague Keith Spragg flew the Autair Vikings - the Berlin Skippers Alex Imrie and 'Speedy' Williams were local legends, Keith writes of his times with them here. Scroll down to read: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/I_Have_Control.html?id=_axTDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

G-ARZG

30th May 2020, 14:13

One of the most successful postwar British Independent Airlines, Hunting Air Transport, later Hunting Clan Air Services were based at Bovingdon from 1948 until 1954. During this period the back-bone of the airline was its fleet of Vickers Vikings. These were operated on charter and scheduled services including many large Government Contracts, typically trooping. On June 4th 1952 a Viking departed Bovingdon to inaugurate what became the famous Hunting Clan Safari Air Service from the UK to Nairobi. This service was initially operated in conjunction with Airwork operating from Blackbushe.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/5581834356_129bbafbab_b_viking_bov_3d92e3e826cf79c315bfbae66 b85853391b729cc.jpg
Viking 1 G-AGRV Hunting Air Transport at Bovingdon. August 1952. Photo credit Tony Clarke Collection.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x657/screenshot_2020_05_24_scanned_postcards_hunting_vickers_viki ng_g_agrw_bovingdon_november_1953_5150af281c430910bcfa36adf4 ab6522b98c6c3b.png
I've always thought this was the most super photo. I have a slight personal connection with 'Romeo Whisky' so I hope you don't mind if I drift off a bit!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/924x573/screenshot_2020_05_28_vickers_viking_1a_g_agrw_115_british_e uropean_airways_be_bea__6958196d2bbc077ed9fe955eb9f608ccdee1 695d.png
At Wisley 1947. After short-lived service with the State carrier this aeroplane passed through the hands of a London tour operator and a merchant bank before joining Hunting Air Transport in 1952. Photo credit the late Ron Roberts.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x360/g_agrw_basle_edgar_beck_best_06b83e957a5fb05a86d90807b4b7a23 986d3830e.jpg
Basle not Bovingdon. Probably mid-fifties. Photo credit Edgar Beck.

At the end of 1959 'Romeo Whisky' was sold to Overseas Aviation at Southend.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/855x635/viking_g_agrw_on_nose_amsterdam_a30172ce9e56d1ea646aeff8a105 da7682d4000a.jpg
Schipol 17th February 1960. Crew Only. Probably the result of harsh braking while turning off the runway after landing.

Overseas went bust in 1961 and in 1962 'Romeo Whisky' joined Autair at Luton.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/505x271/screenshot_2020_05_28_colours_in_the_sky_enhanced_19ef93c59e ffc9c8c310053ba69569070c26d468.png
I expect the passenger scheduled service from Blackpool to Luton on the 7th July 1965 was delayed by this runaway Aermacchi AL60-B1 which wrote itself off in a moment of absent-mindedness. Photo credit late Capt Pete Dibley.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/793x452/duhssqjx4aeniib_rw_ltn_8ad0d5cffcc715a3bbc7ae7ebba8f987489f8 b6e.jpg
'Romeo Whisky' now in freighter config and working its way towards the end of its flying life. Luton possibly winter 1966-67. Note the Ops Department's CCTV camera atop the hangar. We were very proud of this bit of kit. It was the most modern piece of technology the airline had, at least until the new HS748s came along.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/785x536/screenshot_2020_05_26_the_vikings_of_soesterberg_ae55ace2545 d48983639b4ffdf8c83038b94e21b.png
On February 15th 1968 'Romeo Whisky' and her sister ship 'Papa Bravo' were flown by Autair to Soesterberg, Netherlands and taken through the streets to be put out to grass. Photo credit from a postcard via 'The Vikings of Soesterberg'

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/958x471/screenshot_2020_05_25_autair_vickers_vikings_restaurant_6bd5 bcade11cd34c6278ca3d77bd19c2da561e1e.png
'Romeo Whisky' remained at Soesterberg until about 1980 when the three Vikings were sold. The proceeds of the sale of RW and PB enabling the third Viking RU to be returned to the UK for preservation. Photo credit A Kempster. 'The Vikings of Soesterberg'

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x689/0214692_rw_vienna_apt_05abb9013240c8ea7c1a7106dd43d8fc51abe3 b9.jpg
I've next found 'Romeo Whisky' looking rather sad on the roof at Vienna Airport in 1998. Apparently she spent many years there. Photo credit Erik Frikke.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x746/34618_1198449110_rw_mcdon_c66697ac7be6add0447acc82800315b1c8 01cfef.jpg
Somewhere about 1999 'Romeo Whisky' was restored by a group of Austrian Airlines enthusiasts and placed outside a MacDonalds near Vienna Airport. Photo credit Gergo Ozoray.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/ac1590415564548780_mac_9b8b8fa464b147c051a34779160a07d702470 90d.jpg
'Romeo Whisky' survived on Big Macs until 2013 when it was removed and once again put out to grass. Photo credit Andy Graf.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/181_4758w9_5084d2bfa9560afc5d7cf6b0b1061440dd900fe2.jpg
Photo credit Target Aviation Photography.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x829/75293_1568014135_29fb7cde8f8431cfc91056bc01895c8cc6e7170b.jp g
It looks like the end is nigh. Photographed in 2019 at the Austrian Aviation Museum Bad Voslau. Credit per photo.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/1128564_large_rw_berlin_e43234cad900594667ea4d2e51d9a8683d8d 9091.jpg
Happy Memories. G-AGRW landing with its load of Dutch Flowers at Templehof in 1966. Photo credit Ralf Manteufel.

My erstwhile colleague Keith Spragg flew the Autair Vikings - the Berlin Skippers Alex Imrie and 'Speedy' Williams were local legends, Keith writes of his times with them here. Scroll down to read: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/I_Have_Control.html?id=_axTDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

Great to see photo of the attempted mating of 'RW and G-ARZG (the root of my PPrune name, my first flight, and the reason for a mis-spelt lifetime in aviation)

OUAQUKGF Ops

31st May 2020, 07:03

G-ARZG - you presumably were not at the controls when it happened?

OUAQUKGF Ops

31st May 2020, 07:09

Click on images:

Vikings into Africa (http://www.british-caledonian.com/Vikings_into_Africa.html)

G-ARZG

31st May 2020, 09:39

No, my 'maiden flight' (I love the French 'bapteme de l' air') was a few months before 'ZG ran amok.
I did see RW in the hangar soon after, under repair.

OUAQUKGF Ops

6th Jun 2020, 11:32

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x567/06_wymeswoldtwo_meteor_bov_downsize_enhanced_a41029da5edc129 972e606a20ff848bfa3a95f2d.jpg
Meteor T7 of 504 Squadron circa 1954. Express Dairies delivering, young lad sitting in Milk Float - School Hols? Patterns in The Sky. Photo credit Key Aero Forums Richard Knight et al.

OUAQUKGF Ops

6th Jun 2020, 13:55

Some-time ago I posted this photograph of an airman and assumed that it was taken at Bovingdon. I suspected it was John Puczynski's Dad but wasn't sure.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/565x754/66178524_10156729199773878_4307900700953673728_n_bovy_airman _d4839f4cb59e6b663e090c0022d33a231b82d39b.jpg

Recently I've been doing a bit of internet gleaning trying to dream up something to post when I came across this second image:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x504/hur75_b2_lf363_c6a1cc792b73317e9d738b7210661ddecd915413.jpg
Hurricane LF363 but not at Bovingdon. Pictured at Martlesham Heath with the Battle of Britain Flight 1959.

So then I e-mailed John Puczynski who replied as follows:

The photos show my father. The connection is that when WW2 ended my father, who had been in the Polish Air Force (starting out as a Polish National Serviceman at Warsaw's Okecie airport and working for LOT) , was posted to RAF Bovingdon. He transferred to the RAF and was with the Fighter Command Communications Squadron. After a posting to Singapore he was posted to Biggin Hill where he worked on Meteors and Hunters. He volunteered to help form a historic flight and over the years became a mainstay of the flight. In the days up to his retirement at Coltishall we remained living in Bovingdon while he was posted to various stations, including Martlesham Heath and North Weald. In those days the flight was not established and was funded through being part of a station flight and through other means. At one point the flight had 13 aircraft but almost any senior officer could pull strings and get to fly one of the aircraft. This resulted in a number of aircraft being damaged through lack of pilot currency and forgetting to lower the undercarriage. Other aircraft were donated to US museums. When he retired from the RAF the flight was put on a more formal footing and the official history of the BBMF was started. I attach a picture of my father with Jeffrey Quill when Vickers presented the flight with AB910.

Air Vice Marshal Vincent flew LF363 in the Battle of Britain Flypasts of 1948 and 1949.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x476/screenshot_2020_06_01_hawker_hurricane_survivors_resized_2__ 862fbfb876e9080eddd7d2f582f595f1d48019af.png

A bit more gleaning turned this up:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/829x573/screenshot_2020_06_01_wing_commander_tom_neil_raf_memorial_f light_club_495cad1a7d1fc1c4be648482eb304c560abaf3ce.png
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC AFC AE. (1920-2018) Posted in 1950 to Headquarters Fighter Command, Bentley Priory and living at Flamstead, not too far from Bovingdon.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1764x1133/lf_363_quill_59f1e6d21c6a9e8cad678eb2ee75a3ba9a415892.jpg
Chief Technician Puczynski , Jeffrey Quill and LS363 at Coltishall in 1965.

OUAQUKGF Ops

13th Jun 2020, 07:19

https://dyserth.com/halifax.html

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/216x778/welsh_accident_liverpool_echo_dec_6th_1947_372f271f24d8d8778 f8ed7f31788b2d01ddb0c53.png
Liverpool Echo Saturday 6th December 1947 (BNA)

brakedwell

13th Jun 2020, 07:50

https://dyserth.com/halifax.html

Very interesting. I am related to the Kerfoot Davies family, Jean was a cousin of the same age. My first school was at Dyserth in 1943 when we lived in Rhyl with my grandfather during the war. In 1946 my mother returned to teaching as my father had been killed in Tunisia in 1943 and we were posted to NW Italy in December 1946. On our return to UK in 1948 I went up the mountain at Dyserth and saw the bits of wreckage of the Halifax that was still left up there. Very sad.

OUAQUKGF Ops

15th Jun 2020, 11:55

The First image is titled thus: Television Equipment Bound for Caracas
A ton-and-a-half of Marconi equipment is loaded onto a Flying Dutchman aircraft at Bovingdon Airport from where it will be flown to Caracas for the launch of Buenos Aires' first television station. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1550/gettyimages_3262608_2048x2048_bf3dce866fb54e5805153ead4eb2f1 5fea804503.jpg

I've always viewed this image with some suspicion. Said to be dated 13 March 1953. Date seems ok. Marconi shipment is being sent to Televisa which was Venezuela's first Commercial (not State) TV Company. First Televisa Broadcast August 1953. Reference to Buenos Aries does not inspire confidence. Point of manufacture Marconi Factory Chelmsford ? KLM known to have used Bovingdon as a diversion airport during early fifties. Thought unlikely above is a diversion due presence of publicity photographer. Were DC4s used on London - Amsterdam service where presumably this shipment would be transferred onto a KLM Caribbean Service?

I was looking at images of Avro Yorks when I came across this:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/york_bovvy_query_249f4719670f1747a921c9dc4c7d64cb524a0f91.jp g
LAC/Skyways WW468 (G-AHFG) circa 1952-3. Photo credit Dave Welch.

This image is said to have been taken at Bovingdon but I was suspicious about the building in the background which can be seen under the nose. I am not familiar with such a building at Bovingdon, perhaps some of our old-timers are? Another query on this photograph is what seems to be the tail of a KLM DC4, extreme left. Your opinions appreciated!

POBJOY

16th Jun 2020, 00:25

A bit of a drift (although I suspect 363 was a regular B visitor) but great to see those images of her when she was the sole Hurricane left in the RAF. Interesting comments re the 'incidents' with the Spitfires but the high profile one was when a MK 16 bellied in on a Bromley sports ground which prompted the cessation of letting the type fly over London.(well covered in a suitable forum thread some years ago)
However what is interesting is how 363 managed to survive long after the type had been withdrawn from normal use.
I did read somewhere that this was because S Vincent had managed to 'arrange' a Hurricane for his use with the help of Hawkers but have never seen an article that expanded on this. SV had flown a Hurricane during the BoB
My own visit to Bovingdon was after hitching a lift there (Devon from Northolt) as a Cadet in the 60's. The icing on the cake was on entering one of the hangars to find a couple of Mosquitoes (633 Squadron) with the cockpit doors down and ladders in situ,.(we never did get our lunch on that trip !!!) .

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Jun 2020, 08:23

POBJOY - This thread survives on drift...........A bit more can be found here - click on LF363.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Hawker_Hurricane_Survivors.html?id=71J2DQAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

Shackman

16th Jun 2020, 10:19

POBJOY

16th Jun 2020, 16:20

Surely the Mk 16 landing on the cricket ground after engine failure was during the first BoB flypast over London, when an awful lot of Fighter Command was involved. The actual cricket stumps it hit were preserved in Bentley Priory OM when I was there in 1969, together with pictures of the pilot (a Wing Commander?), aircraft and associated other memorabilia of the incident and photographs of the sky apparently full of Spitfires, Hurricanes and others (but no Defiants!)

The 'arrival of SL 574 (After the London fly past) was due to a fuel tank selection mishap (or to be more correct NOT SELECTED) and it bellied in during the lunch time break hence no players involved. The pilot who was an AVM got out and waved to 363 (they were both en route to Biggin Hill). This prompted no Merlins over London for some time. That machine is now in the USA. One of the issues with the MK 16's was that 'some' had a second tank behind the cockpit. This could cause a couple of problems for pilots not used to them. If the rear tank was full and the front less so it increased the chance of a ground loop. For those used to the standard fuel system there was always the chance of a mis selection causing an engine failure..
We had a 'substantial' thread about this some time ago and it cleared a lot of the myths that had grown up around the incident. AVM Maguire went on to head up 11 Group after having originally participated in the BoB, and fighting the Japs in Singapore. He was only captured because he insisted on giving his seat on the last transport out of Singapore to a wounded pilot.
Gets my vote for leadership. I think the record shows that there was only ever one Hurricane in the annual BoB flypast post war (363) (but several Spitfires)
Would love to hear how SV got his Hurricane (North Weald) apparently there were a couple of 'hulks' around there at the time used as a spares grab.
To get back to BV on my Devon visit the burnt remains (with engines) of a Mossie were still on the grass after 633 filming.

Shackman

16th Jun 2020, 17:07

Thanks for the update PJ. It wsa a long time ago - I wonder what happened to the stumps when BP closed?

treadigraph

16th Jun 2020, 20:31

DaveReidUK

16th Jun 2020, 21:20

treadigraph

16th Jun 2020, 21:47

Perhaps it was a crease rather than a dent in the wing...

POBJOY

16th Jun 2020, 23:00

The Stumps went to Halton. SL 574 still has the three marks on the wing, Bromley is built up and Maguire was low. His arrival did little damage to the airframe (it was on its wheels the next day) but the prop was shattered.There is a wonderful image of the ongoing cricket match going on after lunch with 574 on its belly near the boundary. Peter Arnold had some great shots. There was quite a debate on whether the stumps could have caused dents in the leading edge of the wing and it got quite heated. Considering they would have been impacted at about 50 mph, and images were produced that showed the repairs in progress the 'non believers' as I described them would not have it, got even more annoyed when I suggested a test with someone hitting them on their head with a suitable stump and then asking them if it hurt (when they woke up that is)
Location is unchanged but now used by Millwall Football club for training (Calmont Road). To end on a BV point I revisited the Airfield decades later when they were building the prison. The Control Tower was looking battered but still there, and I climbed up to the balcony where Harry Andrews made his famous comment (You cant kill a Squadron) 633 that was. When they made the film Jeff Hawkes was one of the Mossie drivers, and apparently as related to me by one of the ground crew always came back late from shoots having used up his fuel beating up various airfields and ships in the North Sea !!!
Just need someone to tell me about SV getting his Hurricane at North Weald !!! Come on chaps someone must know.

chevvron

17th Jun 2020, 07:15

To get back to BV on my Devon visit the burnt remains (with engines) of a Mossie were still on the grass after 633 filming.
You must have visited a few days after me then; that Mossie was parked outside waiting to be 'destroyed' next day when I was there!
And of course the same scene was used in 'Mosquito Squadron' shot at Bovingdon about 5 years later.

OUAQUKGF Ops

17th Jun 2020, 08:02

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/577x433/p1030061_resized_f008434ecc533270d259d752b6549c0113807eb2.jp gPhoto credit G Simons Airfield Focus
( Later) Has the subtlety of the above gone wide - or are we all at tea?

POBJOY

17th Jun 2020, 08:35

CHEV During school hols (I was a Cadet at Kenley) I used to get a lift or hitch hike to various airfields one of which was Northolt (quite a hike).because a comms flight was based there (may have been 32 Sdn). Anyway a quick visit to 'ops' would reveal what was going where and did they have a spare seat. One of the odd things was you had to go and actually get a seat from a store as the machines Devons / Pembrokes also carried freight if req. Having arranged your flight you then presented yourself at the flight line and fitted the seat. I recall that training flights were our usual rides, and sometimes you were dropped off in the middle of an airfield somewhere whilst the crew did practice single engine work. Anyway on this day there was a choice of Bovingdon or Jurby in the IOM. AS I was not geared up for an 'away day' I opted for Bov which was only just up the road, and as alluded prooved to be a great trip. I think 633 had just finished filming but the buildings were still covered in cammo nets and the burnt wreck and the two flyers were still there. I dimly recall both 'flyers' had painted over Perspex noses so would have been the ex Exeter CAAU machines. Both Kenley and Biggin had finished as RAF flying base's by then so I could never get a lift back home, but being in Cadet uniform always managed to hitch hike back.
On another epic we went to ETPS Farnborough and scrounged a ride in their Viscount where we deposited on the ground at Boscombe whist the drivers did EFTO runs. On the way back having made coffee in the galley I then got to sit in the right hand seat and 'poled' it for ten minutes which was fun. On another Farnborough jaunt I went on the 'Bedford Ferry' which was an evening trip to collect boffins, and my first experience of night flight. These were great days to be a Cadet and everyone was so helpful to get you up in the air. The icing on the cake was the purchase of a meal ticket for a shilling (20p) which enabled you to use the Airmans mess and eat like a lord. for the day !!!. In my case I was also a staff Cadet at 615 GS Kenley so w-ends were wall to wall activity. Having been part of the Cadet system when it was lead by capable and enthusiastic staff with the 'AIR' element paramount, you can imagine my horror to see how they destroyed the Gliding system and ended up being led by completely clueless people who had no idea what they had lost. One hopes the new Cmt can pull things together and get back on track.
Northolt eventually got a Hurricane gate guard which was a reminder of the fantastic Poles who flew from there.

kenparry

17th Jun 2020, 14:54

a shilling (20p)

A somewhat inflated translation. 1s = 12d = 5p

POBJOY

17th Jun 2020, 16:10

POBJOY - This thread survives on drift...........A bit more can be found here - click on LF363.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Hawker_Hurricane_Survivors.html?id=71J2DQAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

O-OPS All has been revealed (thanks) and not only did the book confirm that Hawkers did indeed give the machine a good sort out for SV but also that 363 had visited BV more than once.
excellent result and in fact the true story of how 363 'survived' is well worth reading.

WB627

17th Jun 2020, 21:40

An ex colleague of mine witnessed the Spitfire's arrival on the cricket pitch as a small boy - he was amazed that not only did I know the story but that I'd also seen the Spitfire in San Diego; allegedly it still sports a slight dent in the leading edge where it hit the stumps!

I was a small boy in Beckenham in 1959 (I did not witness the landing) and grew up there. The Spitfire landing on the cricket pitch was part of local folk lore and my Dad knew about, it having been with 1 AEF at Biggin Hill around that time.

I've tried posting a link to a facebook page about it with pictures but it disappears when posted. If you google - Spitfire that crash landed on the Oxo Cricket Ground you should find it.

OUAQUKGF Ops

18th Jun 2020, 08:19

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/450x331/index_spit_353975fd6732db9f7baafe60e74341feb6a0f131.jpg

POBJOY

18th Jun 2020, 10:31

Very British just add a teapot and some cucumber sandwiches. Looks like the local PFA strut are deciding what instruments to acquire.
Maguire was a tad unlucky, another 5 mins he would have made Biggin.
I remember the 'event' on the national news, it was 1959 and the Sunday after the Biggin 'At Home' day. 363 was not so lucky decades later when it suffered camshaft failure en route Jersey and pancaked at Wittering where it was consumed by fire. It had been the last flying Hurricane held on RAF charge since the war until joined by PZ 865 (last Hurricane built) when donated by Hawkers. I was at the Biggin At Home the day before (age 12) memorable for me by being allowed to fire a Bren gun at the butts for a contribution into the RAFA box. (imagine that happening now). Bovingdon still available for landing PPR as part of one runway owned by local farm.

chevvron

18th Jun 2020, 12:10

CHEV During school hols (I was a Cadet at Kenley) I used to get a lift or hitch hike to various airfields one of which was Northolt (quite a hike).because a comms flight was based there (may have been 32 Sdn)..
Many of us cadets from squadrons in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire would do the same scrounging at Bovingdon, in fact the Guardroom had a separate book for ATC cadets to sign on and off the station. When they amalgamated FCCS and CCCS into 'Southern Communications Squadron' (at the same time at Northolt the different units initially became 'Metropolitan Communications Squadron' long before they were assigned the squadron number of '32', and that was only when The Queens Flight became part of the squadron) it was easier because they used the 'old' terminal building which had been occupied by the USAF so you only had one place to visit to enquire about 'spare seats' rather than 2.

brakedwell

18th Jun 2020, 15:19

Actually the CCCS was the CCCF. Coastal Command Communications Flight. Pedantic I know, but I am sure that was what it was called when I was on it in 1961/2. We were much smaller than Fighter Com with 4 Anson,s a VIP Valetta and a Flight Lieutenant boss called Dickie Colbourne.

POBJOY

18th Jun 2020, 21:49

Although living near Kenley was a boon for the gliding it was devoid of RAF power flying by 59 as was Biggin Hill, hence having to 'go north' before one could start 'Air Hitching'. and even Northolt was not 'around the corner' so to speak.
However what was evident was how helpful all the various units were to get you airborne even if you arrived at the Guard room 'unannounced' so to speak.
In my case the Gliding took over from power 'rides' plus led to an amazing association with the famous BoB stations of Kenley and Biggin Hill: we described our Cadet MK 3 gliders as the fretwork fighters. In fact the initial 'winch launch ' experience in a MK 3 was far more exciting than the sedate t off in a Chipmunk with 800-1000 ft gained by the airfield boundary (and Kenley was quite small).
From the Kenley circuit both Croydon and Biggin were only a short hop, and indeed it was not unknown to take the T21 to Croydon using the thermals from the built up area. The original 11 Group Fighter haven had migrated across the Thames and East but you never take its history away.

treadigraph

18th Jun 2020, 22:01

indeed it was not unknown to take the T21 to Croydon using the thermals from the built up area.

I have seen current Kenley residents (can't recall if they were Surrey Hills or 615) north of Croydon, possibly as far as Crystal Palace. Easier feat than in a Barge I should imagine!

longer ron

19th Jun 2020, 08:14

The Stumps went to Halton. SL 574 still has the three marks on the wing, Bromley is built up and Maguire was low. His arrival did little damage to the airframe (it was on its wheels the next day) but the prop was shattered.There is a wonderful image of the ongoing cricket match going on after lunch with 574 on its belly near the boundary. Peter Arnold had some great shots. There was quite a debate on whether the stumps could have caused dents in the leading edge of the wing and it got quite heated. Considering they would have been impacted at about 50 mph, and images were produced that showed the repairs in progress the 'non believers' as I described them would not have it, got even more annoyed when I suggested a test with someone hitting them on their head with a suitable stump and then asking them if it hurt (when they woke up that is)

I fondly remember that thread on the much lamented Key Aero Forum,I was on the side that viewed the 'stump marks' as being a little too neat and suspected that the marks were more akin to 'Service Humour' :) but I certainly would not get 'heated' about it - it was a wonderful story :).
There were indeed some lovely pics on that thread.

POBJOY

19th Jun 2020, 09:23

I have seen current Kenley residents (can't recall if they were Surrey Hills or 615) north of Croydon, possibly as far as Crystal Palace. Easier feat than in a Barge I should imagine!

The 21 was superb for going 'up' but had no penetration, and although you could fly VFR in the London TMA then, seeing 747's underneath did get one thinking about what rules applied.!!
Anyway the 21 would have been on AE trips so it was not encouraged to be up too long. Looking back on it it was quite a large machine for a P2 staff Cadet + px to get caught out in away from the circuit. I had been lucky to fly the T53 at Swanton and thought this would be great when we got them as it would have allowed more probing away and less problems with ground handling if a squall came through. It was not to be, and the organisation eventually had the Venture which was considered too underpowered to operate from Kenley.(what was needed were thinner Pilots) , and a licence built Blanik. that could take the 'all winch' operation. My other abiding memory of BV was the line of Ansons on the flight line which added a 1930's theme to the place, some had come from Kenley when they ceased ops there.

XV490

19th Jun 2020, 09:56

For those who haven't seen it, here's a link (https://www.cheshamgolf.co.uk/local-attractions/) to famed aviation artist John Young's compendium of memories and pictures of Bovingdon airfield. Just scroll down to the relevant pdf link.

OUAQUKGF Ops

20th Jun 2020, 19:56

John Young lists the presence of P40s in his Bovingdon diary. During 1942 two and in 1943 one Curtiss P40E Warhawk aeroplanes were based with the 8th A.A.F. at Bovingdon. They were used for fast liason and other general duties. Both aeroplanes were destroyed in fatal accidents. I'll mention here that I'm downloading excerpts from the original accident reports and the quality leaves much to be desired. However it's worth a squint.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/580x491/epw056452_berko_5f07e697a86fc8e8eac524485f469bd5a5f55058.jpg Berkhamsted (in 1938). Looking North-east. Small highlight gives approx location of crash site on L.M.S. Railway.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030068_2__2f21bfa4a649f7e2f8edbbe9b87d87dd0db13f35.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/577x433/p1030057_resized_2__a5f12557456ba1d1bd414c7989ee25fe5b7511a1 .jpg
Aftermath looking North.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/577x433/p1030056_resized_2__69bee2f787ceb8551538c84e5fd7b51c0dd575e9 .jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/426x585/berkhamsted_crash_0002_ef3a2e33bc287e6bb3469c94741c4d075ace0 72b.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/426x585/berkhamsted_crash_0003_bb0ea61bf09dafb45f49d44203e3fa613dedb 65a.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/580x605/eaw053211_berk_e13a8096e641812fa119a87d578084ced4786930.jpg

David's Home was on Castle Hill Avenue which is to the right and above the houses in the foreground.The view is to the south-east. Impact point (approx) and Bovingdon Aerodrome high-lighted.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030065_2__54aa3be92259ccb935568e5ac63c77eece666c07.jpg
I suppose this is the equivalent of what we used to call the tech log. It shows that the aircraft has just had an air test on September 21st following replacement of much of the tail-plane. This was due to damage, caused by diving in to the propellor wash from B17s , which the P40 had sustained during simulated attacks. On the day of the accident the aircraft was once again tasked to do this but crashed before the exercise started.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030063_2__5180f70b096503517e0e72ee4daa5ecb4f6753d6.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/426x585/berkhamsted_crash_0001_6995475839eccca74b883512a297fe5e18c1d cfb.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/580x491/epw056453ashlyns_fbc270dc4dfddefaecaacc16c176391e7347b7d9.jp g
The Thomas Coram Foundling School. Some staff members saw the starboard elevator flutter to the ground and retrieved it. Postwar (and still) Ashlyns School just off Chesham Road.. Approx location of crash site high-lighted.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1165x1715/berkhamsted_crash_resize_78b4864fe5e536627ea497ad85e548c258c 84474.jpg
A very experienced Captain and perhaps his first flight in a P40?

Captain William K Knowles. Described by Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin as 'a very senior Captain we called "Pappy" . We all went to the American Cemetery at Madingley for his funeral, for everyone loved him'

Whipsnade tomorrow........

OUAQUKGF Ops

21st Jun 2020, 09:59

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/580x541/eaw014231_whipsnade_2a38519dfba4c43104c33ecf4ef2548e110d6fb7 .jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1246x857/fre_010373_p40_c9bac0202f172a0a66d62dd975b91f01d7fdeb62.jpg
P40E 41-35934. Photo credit IWM - Roger Freeman Collection.

In comparison to the investigation of the crash at Berkhamsted this accident appears to have been investigated in a rather cursory manner.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030064_2__58b8dd5a367780d90cd40a8b789dfb2bd11f97a5.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x2000/berkhamsted_crash_0005_0539224fa610d4b05c5a2ca449b579f3a1f2b d2f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/445x165/whipsnade_hostel_1944_41706813cbe49fcdd5f54b01caa2df8a727616 a2.jpg
The Chequers Pub Whipsnade 1944.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/550x446/c_427_hagenbuch_crash_s_resized_2__4f9b0301a5c6d1020dbd6ee99 0e436b219e0fe21.jpg
The crash is said to have occurred in the garden of the house opposite the Pub.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/734x490/7c8f2027_95fc_4b3f_abec_ffcea4c6da7d_915ff853_chequers_whips nade_ce8822111f278f4c55a252d2726ddd95948abb64.jpg
No longer a pub. The house opposite is, I believe, where The Land Army Girls based in the village came for their meals.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x667/hrs180064_17_l_gal_whipsnade_inn_f0f018af61da457b5d35ad47f1f 2cb2852cc75f5.jpg
Another view of what was The Chequers with the village green beyond.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030062_2__563e5a61fcd80459f31f86a53c4f1dc87a86f7ac.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1460x2000/berkhamsted_crash_0004_2a87625604b18d0973ff8566db5f3ea133823 0df.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/p1030067_2__b9d8ba1c99af4a08b6ddb314994e6513677db218.jpg

Major Glenn E Hagenbuch came from an Illinois farming family. He had been the Commanding Officer of the 427th Bomb Squadron flying B17s. On the day of the accident he was carrying out self proficiency training. He was 24 years old and left a Widow in the United States.

Most of the data I've found on Glenn Hagenbuch gives his dob as December 12th 1918 - however the publicity photograph and press release taken just after his arrival in Britain in 1942 (see American Air Museum photos on link below) state that he is 27 years old. He certainly looks 27 but then combat weighs heavy on the brave. I've also added a Flying Tigers link - you then need to scroll down to find the article about his life.

A few associated links here:https://flyingtigersavg.com/avg-books-articles/

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241051

https://virtual-library.culturalservices.net/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.wla/wla_bedfordshire_hostels_whipsnade.htm

OUAQUKGF Ops

27th Jun 2020, 15:48

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x647/screenshot_2020_05_24_scanned_postcards_skyways_avro_york_1_ g_ahfd_bovingdon_june_1952_cc9da2b942b23fa3d3fee06b3bc9a6b63 53da60d.png
G-AHFD Once with B.S.A.A. and now with Skyways.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/799x533/5464788491_95f1fdc13f_c_9ef8ca6ba82495367d1d55f0b6ee702b06df 3635.jpg
In Trooping Livery as WA 500.

G-AHFD was sold to Middle East Airlines in 1957 becoming OD-ADB.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/698x700/thumbnail_york_8bc1455e928557b6566c4d25bd32366037e2ed8f.jpg
OD-ADB looking very smart at Beirut 1957. Photo The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd.

Sadly OD-ADB and its five crew was lost over the Mediterranean on September 29th 1958. It was operating a cargo service from Beirut to London with a tech stop at Rome.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x533/hu01782_eagle_york_bov_enlarged_2__0a2e0c6193f3fa1598fb7ed81 24c4f9f500ef1b9.jpg
G-AGNY Eagle Aviation at Bovingdon 1950

In 1949 Harold Bamberg purchased Eagle's first Yorks. In 1950 the airline moved its base from Aldermarston to Luton where it was to remain until 1952.
Eagle Aviation's Halifaxes and Yorks were a familiar sight at Bovingdon. The company's first commercial flight carried cherries from Verona to Bovingdon in a Halifax on May 9th 1948. During the period of 1950-52 many flights were operated by Eagle from Bovingdon due in no small part to restricted airport opening hours and restricted customs facilities at Luton. It wasn't until 1951 that Luton Airport was granted a one year 'Customs facilities Trial' . Until then I believe that Customs and Excise staff from Bovingdon motored over to provide cover at Luton. Eagle like several of the larger British Independent Airlines relied on Government Trooping Contracts for their bread and butter. Jackie Pritchard writing in 2016 describes a journey on G-AGNY in 1951 when the airline had a contract with The Air Ministry:

' I flew on an Avro York G-AGNY this was in 1951 leaving Singapore and landing for over night stops in Ceylon, Bombay, Karachi, Iraq, Malta, and finally England. This was a bare bones flight, the plane had seating of all descriptions old car seats, coach seats, you name it, we boarded wearing only our tropical uniform but had the sense thank goodness to carry our great coats. The plane was exactly the same as if being used for cargo no heating and the fuselage was clearly visible rivets and all, we half froze to death the steward was the navigator, the food was in little brown cardboard boxes complete with dry curled up meat and not forgetting a small wooden knife and fork. I often think about that journey and wonder if there are many left who were on that flight with me.'

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x506/villa_portrait1_opt_01f95ad6249bcc6e6eab66ec5a398a27f73c7cd8 .jpg
Captain John 'Pancho' Villa. York Fleet Captain Eagle Aviation. When Bamberg sold his Yorks to Skyways, Villa went too.
Photo - Peter Villa.

Peter Villa Remembers: ' My father was a Captain with Eagle and later with LAC/Skyways. I attended Bovingdon Primary School and was there when the King died. We later moved to Garston and after that, Tring. I too spent time at the end of the runway and in the hangars when I could persuade Dad to take me. Independent aviation was so precarious Dad bought the caravan so he could move the family from base to base and job to job. Bovingdon sticks in my memory. We lived at Highcroft in a caravan for a while. It was parallel to the runway and you could hear the Merlins popping on the Yorks as they landed.' (pers com)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x511/york_g_agny_ad_56_robert_wiseman_coll_kom_2__2d66fda5b4bf2ce 6bf336cba9146e0802a6c4b38.jpg
G-AGNY at Adelaide Circa 1953. Photo credit Robert Wiseman.

On June 26th 1954 while inbound to Berlin flying empty near Kyritz (Soviet occupied Germany) G-AGNY suffered an engine separation and crashed following loss of control. The crew of three were killed. The daughter of one of the pilots subsequently wrote in 2017:

' I flew in this plane in 1953 on a test flight from Stansted airport, my father was one of the pilots. He died in 1954, June 26th. It crashed over Germany with 3 crew , ironic as he flew through the war earning the DFC. I was 9 at the time and remember it clearly.'

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/784x436/screenshot_2020_05_26_avro_york_jpg_jpeg_image_588_327_pixel s__264688c408e6ce3a94db10ca61c08c75357bce56.png
Previously G-AMRI of Surrey Flying Services and now sold in 1955 by Freddie Laker to Air Liban OD-ACD is seen at Bovingdon.
Photo credit Bovingdon-Airfield.co.uk

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/792x507/21752050_849158111907948_5384959862266841101_n_od_acd_02d469 a330dbbd1e1770d8b012e8ee3ed448b3f0.jpg
OD-ACD at its new home, Beirut, 1955. This aeroplane was destroyed in a take-off accident at Tehran May 27th 1960. Three crew were injured. Photo credit The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd.

AND NOW FOR A BIT OF YORK DRIFT (OFF THE RUNWAY)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x505/mw168_1_york_brize_e12a15d00372072e6461faec67560e26af35a37c. jpg
Brize not Bovingdon. MW168 November 28th 1946. Loss of power on N2 engine during take-off contributed to loss of control on this training detail. Photo credit baaa-acro

By 1949 the RAF had nine Squadrons of Yorks. During The Berlin Airlift 29,000 sorties were flown by these aeroplanes transporting approx 239,000 tons of supplies.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x682/19490201_0_c_3_york_g_agjd_crash_7e7225318f5883e31a23a18afb4 d4a011a08e18f.jpg
G-AGJD of BOAC at Castel Benito Libya February 1st 1949. On departure for London the York was caught by a strong gusting cross-wind. The pilot over-corrected and ran off the runway. No fatalities. Photo credit Andy Frish baaa-acro.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x670/19540413_0_c_1_num_luqa_2ef7a5f9d8940ce219603e08bba8c3d6c4e2 a1db.jpg
G-AMUM Scottish Airlines Luqa, Malta April 13th 1954. Prior departure for Stansted one engine suffered starter motor failure. The Captain elected to start the engine by wind-milling it during a high speed taxy. This was successful but control of the aircraft was lost in the process.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x432/screenshot_2020_06_24_pacific_western_airlines_york_c_1__15d c5f3fcb967b62af8c24c864bad5fb991d4595.png
CF-HFP Pacific Western Airlines Cape Parry Airfield, North West Territories. June 25th 1957. Over ran on landing resulting in loss of Starboard undercarriage and damage that was beyond repair.

CAPE PARRY NORTHWEST TERRITORIES CANADA Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com (http://www.tageo.com/index-e-ca-v-13-d-m794925.htm)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x630/cf_hmx_2_crash_hall_lake_enhanced_b0f0ae61fa3d141694954d9629 0d968e70484d97.jpg
CF-HFX Arctic Wings at Hall Lake, Nunavut April 12th 1955. While taking off from Hall Lake the aeroplane hit a snowbank and broke its back. Both Arctic Wings and Pacific Western were amongst airlines using Yorks to re-supply the DEW Line project in Northern Canada. Photo credit baaa-acro.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x505/cf_hmx_1_eefb6455db03a7354258989b77fc6485f164d8e9.jpg
As seen in 1972.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x770/19550412_0_c_1_cf_hmx_850e6ea7b783a7b042859ac140bd0176503a45 d9.jpg
More recently.

HALL LAKE NUNAVUT CANADA Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com (http://www.tageo.com/index-e-ca-v-14-d-m799565.htm)

And, if you have time to spare:http://www.ruudleeuw.com/search116.htm

OUAQUKGF Ops

24th Jul 2020, 11:31

The following link is to an article by Katherine Dallas assisted by Chris Brown of Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Local History Group and Retired Master Sergeant Craig Kirwin.

It is hoped that one day a Commemorative Plaque will be placed at the accident site. https://cholesbury.com/pdf/lhgnews-2015-16.pdf
Scroll to page Four.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/702x641/screenshot_2020_07_24_aerial_views_of_u_k_airfields_bovingdo n_hertfordshire_a8c629240da66537b1c13e7f49d304ebebae4b0c.png
The Bull Pub (now closed) highlighted. It seems the accident was somewhere nearby.

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/101398

OUAQUKGF Ops

1st Aug 2020, 12:39

9th October 1942

J Kemp McLaughlin was co pilot to the Squadron Commander leading the 407th on this early raid on Lille mounted by the 92nd Bomb Group from Bovingdon:

'After crew checks and engine run-ups, we began our takeoff roll at 1000hrs. We formed up over the field and began our climb eastward along our planned route. We joined another group in trail at the coast at about fifteen thousand feet and continued our climb. It was a bright clear morning, and we were climbing directly into the sun when my pilot Major K decided we were closing too fast on the lead Squadron. Without notifying his wingmen, he reduced power, and they began to overrun his lead ship. As they fought to stay in formation and began to maneuver back and forth, Lt. Eugene Wiley's numbers three and four propellers chopped the vertical stabilizer entirely off Lt Jimmy Dempsey's airplane. Both slipped out of formation and luckily made it back to England. Wiley landed with two good engines at an RAF field (Detling) and Lt. Dempsey made it back to our home base at Bovingdon.'

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x725/screenshot_2020_05_23_the_mighty_eighth_in_wwii_a_memoir_res ized_2__52e82e1a57d5ff84d49df13311a60a69600570ca.png
Safely returned to Bovingdon without serious injury. Lt Dempsey (at left) and his crew. Text and image extracted from ' The Mighty Eighth' by Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin.

20th December 1943

I was trying to find a new image of P47 42-7921 but could only come up with this:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/695x502/media_377334_crashed_bov_20dec43_p47_d9c562ca0bcd0bfa73341e3 7d8674b77355f7d8e.jpg
Yes, It's our old friend Cass Hough again with his favourite Thunderbolt which was written off at Bovingdon on December 20th 1943. First Lt Franklin L Robertson had taken this aeroplane on a local test flight and was about to land back at Bovingdon when the aircraft caught fire on the approach. Robertson was partly blinded but landed and ground-looped to a stop. He was removed from the cockpit in a 'dazed state' by two bystanders. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

On the 9th of February 1944 Robertson was again at the controls of a Thunderbolt (42-75204 ) on a test flight from Bovingdon but was unable to maintain height due to an engine defect. He carried out a successful forced landing at Westwick Hall Farm, Gorhambury near St Albans.

1944
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/810x552/screenshot_2020_05_24_f_bovingdon1944_e90a671f40bcd2e8d92e59 27c2dc680d9e7b0933.png
I found this image somewhere but can't tell you anything about it!

October 26th 1951

A slight upset on the Chesham Road....
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/550x425/screenshot_2020_07_22_bovingdon_remembered_2__4e0e98da9d61c9 1788780518e3ec8b27c47f97b8.png
Avro Tudor 5 G-AKCC. Image credit John Dent (Bovingdon Remembered).

1955

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x268/uk2_kg765_douglas_dakotamkiv_1955_07_ex_us_43_48048_c_47b_to _burmaaf_ub714_bovingdon_apiercyphoto_sized_ef4f1b055ca8ff63 6519628dfa76d2c9bae9e999.jpg
Burmese Air Force. I believe this aircraft survives in one form or another in an Australian Air Force Museum. Photo credit the Late Arthur Pearcy.

Nineteen Fifties? Meteor Quartet.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x239/index_meteors_resized_1109b43115cacb5b0c620d74c860ea263935cc 99.jpg

Late Fifties early Sixties?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x862/c54_bovvy_3__0cd6da8f2da6ef6b869aaa7e57914158d5553e70.jpg
I was probably with my pal David Rayment when he took this photo of a C54. It had just landed on the shorter runway (27) and was taxying around to the ramp. It is just about to cross the threshold of 04.

I lived then at Ashley Green and David used to cycle over from Watford to watch the aeroplanes. One afternoon we were cycling home for tea, going a hell of a lick down a hill on Two Dells Lane when my pedal lodged in David's rear wheel and we both came a hell of a cropper, bending our bikes rather badly.

1961 The War Lover

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x796/14753867_10210809234456112_4276927379529940234_owilliam_schn eider_bovvy_b17_6bf6bce1a93558be7a131b784b1d1bcc122194d2.jpg
John Crewdson opens the taps. Photo credit William Schneider (Bovingdon Remembered).

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x698/11621300335_d0c6df565a_b_war_lover_3_b1af486b9391e07275257d0 b490ef4a20450760b.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x602/11621527063_1d51ce9dbb_bwar_lover_2_bfb0660248ecfe54e2bdfdb3 74fa9838d0a5e793.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x642/11621509823_05837a17a2_b_war_lover_1_9ee1b961de5c1f7bc3dc4ec 3a5a49cfe02d445fa.jpg
Photo credits: Warbird Information Exchange.

Circa 1963 ?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1093x804/mosquito_bov_2d2f2e075c179398dc5fe3ffd69585f254315e46.jpg
I believe this Mosquito was used in both '633 Squadron' and 'Mosquito Squadron'.

October 26th 1968 The Battle of Britain.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1168x549/screenshot_2020_07_23_casa_2_111d_g_awha_025_t_g_mahaddie__6 9ea2649b4b53d732893c9565ae1a98b8fdf7d85.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/986x549/screenshot_2020_07_23_casa_2_111d_g_awhb_049_t_g_mahaddie__1 2c171afb6a44dc6e0a0a548c176d5fb5c6b52b7.png
Photo credit Bernard Martin.

I don't know if any parts of the Battle of Britain film were shot at Bovingdon. This appears to be some sort of Open Day? However I do remember one morning watching a CASA 2.111 trailing 'smoke' from one engine whilst performing low runs over the control tower upon which a gunner was firing off blanks.

treadigraph

1st Aug 2020, 14:43

From memory, all the BoB aircraft acquired by Spitfire Productions gathered at Bovingdon, though I don't think much if any filming took place there.

If I haven't mentioned it before, "Everything but the Flack" is Martin Caidin's book about the acquisition and delivery of the War Lover B-17s - worth getting a copy if you can!

Bernard Martin - is he still around? Used to enjoy his chatty round up of UK registration happenings in Air Britain...

PV1

1st Aug 2020, 16:58

I was going to attach a copy of my Father's log book, mentioning the Tudor crash, but I cannot get the pdf to attach!
I can remember Father talking about this as he was at the holding point waiting to take off when the Tudor landed down wind and went whistling past them. It also touched down a considerable way down the runway. Ahead of him was a USAF Neptune and its crew shut down and got out presumably to help. At that point the Tudor caught fire and the Neptune crew hurriedly ran back to their aeroplane to move it. Unfortunately the hot engines wold not start and the crew must have had a uncomfortable wait. Father also seemed highly amused that the fire tender arrived with some of the firemen running behind it.

OUAQUKGF Ops

1st Aug 2020, 18:41

If it's not too much trouble take a photo of the log-book and then down load it on to the thread from your computer. Perhaps the Mod can help you?

PV1

2nd Aug 2020, 06:27

If it's not too much trouble take a photo of the log-book and then down load it on to the thread from your computer. Perhaps the Mod can help you?
I will try but not sure the photo will be readable

OUAQUKGF Ops

2nd Aug 2020, 10:08

Well thanks for your post P - just great. We could do with some more of the same.

PV1

2nd Aug 2020, 11:16

Well thanks for your post P - just great. We could do with some more of the same.
I took a photo and uploaded it but then it said I could not post a url until I had 10 posts. I don’t know if replies count? Sorry

treadigraph

2nd Aug 2020, 12:39

Get another couple of replies in on this thread and you should be ok. Posts on JetBlast don't count!

PV1

2nd Aug 2020, 14:51

Does anyone know the operator of the Tudor? I think it might have been Surrey Flying Services? From memory I am pretty sure the Captain flying the Tudor was Marian Kozubski.

OUAQUKGF Ops

2nd Aug 2020, 17:07

Company was William Dempster Ltd. Kozubski was 'Chief Pilot of the Tudor Fleet'. (Tony Merton Jones - British Independent Airlines 1946-1976). http://www.aviapc.com/nonmember/newsletter/newslettermain.htm#Worth%20a%20Second%20Glance

Scroll down to read 'The Polish Eagle and the Falcon' (Written by a fellow Ppruner).

PV1

4th Aug 2020, 09:50

There were certainly some characters about in those days!!

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Aug 2020, 16:43

Ten up PV1 - should be able to post image of log book now?

PV1

5th Aug 2020, 09:43

Ten up PV1 - should be able to post image of log book now?
See if this works
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/log_book_0d0c2bc5de5e748a11e56d892f8ea261017ea98e.jpg

PV1

5th Aug 2020, 11:16

See if this works
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/log_book_0d0c2bc5de5e748a11e56d892f8ea261017ea98e.jpg

Sorry about this, now you are going to get the photo twice! I meant to explain that the registration appears to be a military one. I remember now these were trooping flights and the crews changed into an RAF uniform for the last part of the flight into Egypt. I think Dad said this was so they were not accused of being spies in Egypt but I couldn't swear to it. I do remember he had two uniforms though.

longer ron

5th Aug 2020, 19:15

I do not know if this film/movie has been mentioned on here previously...The Liquidator (1965)

A spoof/comedy spy film with Rod Taylor and Trevor Howard.Some lovely 60's scenery (Nice/Monte Carlo),a couple of lovely 60's cars and the finale scenes set at the mythical 'RAF Gayborough' actually start with a couple of nice shots at Bovingdon Airfield and then switch to Wisley Airfield - this includes a Valiant doing a RATO take off and during the landing scene you get the best quality images I have ever seen of Wisley airfield and the Assembly/Flight Test buildings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-5ylluTfc

pr00ne

7th Aug 2020, 18:02

Many of us cadets from squadrons in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire would do the same scrounging at Bovingdon, in fact the Guardroom had a separate book for ATC cadets to sign on and off the station. When they amalgamated FCCS and CCCS into 'Southern Communications Squadron' (at the same time at Northolt the different units initially became 'Metropolitan Communications Squadron' long before they were assigned the squadron number of '32', and that was only when The Queens Flight became part of the squadron) it was easier because they used the 'old' terminal building which had been occupied by the USAF so you only had one place to visit to enquire about 'spare seats' rather than 2.

chevvron,

Sorry to be pedantic but you are way out on your time lines for 32 squadron. The Metropolitan Communications Squadron was rebadged as No. 32 Squadron in 1969, along with all the other RAF Communications units, way way before the Queens Flight disbanded and was merged into 32 Squadron in 1995, thus giving the existing 32 squadron the title 32 (The Royal)Squadron.

OUAQUKGF Ops

14th Aug 2020, 13:48

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x799/bovingdon_raf_airfield_1945_01_05_a_aerial_picture_d78d3f1d2 ba5208ef27782f790656046bb0684a6.jpg
Note the newly laid hard standings by the threshold of R/W 35 and to the north-east of the Control Tower. Most of the aeroplanes appear to be C47s. Photo credit Military Airfield Directory.

OUAQUKGF Ops

14th Aug 2020, 18:51

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/447x558/eh_721_resized_down_5d48c89eed80dbc602f42194046d2c08eff210c6 .jpg
In this image the hard standings between the Control Tower and R/W 35 have been completed.
Many C47s are on the dispersals. Control of the airfield passed from the USAAF to The Air Ministry 15th April 1946.
Afraid I can't enlarge. Credit American Air museum in Britain.

\

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/558x700/bovingdon_040146_9973856f8d61a3980dab8982f2e4e2b5ebaf0012.pn g
Slightly better definition.

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd Aug 2020, 15:56

I expect many of you are familiar with this classic. I must admit I've never watched it through until recently. The closing sequences were shot at Bassingbourn and then Bovingdon commencing with the presentation of Captain Morgan and his crew to General Devers by General Eaker. In the closing moments of the film Memphis Belle departs from Bovingdon's R/W 04 and then performs a flypast. You can just catch a glimpse of the Control Tower as it was on June 9th 1943. However all was not what it appeared to be. Graham Simons and Harry Friedman's researches have revealed the following:

The timeline of the journey home – from last mission to Washington DC.

May 17 – Morgan’s 25th mission.
May 19 – Memphis Belle’s 25th mission.
May 26 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Bassingbourn.
Date Unknown Medal ceremony at Bassingbourn.
June 8 – Test flying/filming/proficiency flying from Bassingbourn
June 9 – Depart Bassingbourn -filming en-route for one hour. Land at Bovingdon.
June 9 – ‘26th Mission’ ceremony at Bovingdon.
June 12 – Depart Bovingdon for two hour thirty minute flight to Prestwick, Scotland.
June 13 – Depart Prestwick, Scotland for eight hour flight to Greenland.
June 14 – Refuel. Depart Greenland for ten hour flight to Bangor, Maine.
June 14 – Refuel. Depart Bangor, Maine for three hour flight to Chicopee, Massachusetts.
June 15 – Arrive Washington DC area.
June 16 – Official arrival at Washington National Airport.

Graham Simons has identified other film locations as Bassingbourn, Alconbury, and Chelveston. The B17 concerned was 41-24485 of the 91st Bomb Group.

William Wyler and his Film Crew previously visited Bovingdon in 1943. I've extracted the following from Brig.Gen. J. Kemp McLaughlin's Memoir (The Mighty Eighth in WW11). He, together with his Captain, Tom Hulings were then Duty Pilots at Bovingdon with the 11th CCRC.

'Sometime in February1943, Major William Wyler arrived at our station with a group of cameramen experienced in aerial photography. All of them were Commissioned Officers and being ten to fifteen years our senior, they were all First Lieutenants and Captains. Tom Hulings and I were assigned to fly for them and we began immediately to experiment with manned camera stations all over the airplane. We set one up in the radio room hatch, with the camera on an installed tripod and the cameraman's head and shoulders outside the airplane. Other photographers were set up in the nose, tail, waist gun and ball turret positions. After preparing these camera positions, we flew several orientation flights to give our cameramen an opportunity to adjust to their tasks of photography from an aerial platform. We then flew to Bassingbourn the home field of the 91st Bomb Group. There after several meetings and briefings, we finally took off, climbed to about nine thousand feet, where six of our P-47s began making fake combat gunnery passes at us. Their maneuvers were from all quarters, both high and low, while we cruised as slowly as possible so that the cameramen, especially the one whose head and shoulders were outside the airplane, could get good shots. These films turned out to be excellent footage, and we were told that they would be used to help train aerial gunners. About a month later I saw some of these shots on the Pathe News in a London movie theater shown as actual aerial combat over Germany ! '

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1296x963/fre_000720_wyler_ff65bbdfc8fa23262c37a714dbd7d253c5500b17.jp g
William Wyler at Bassingbourn. January 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1515x1187/media_25268mb_aerial_698fd679504b428a3dcf9549b74ba09d90c3c04 d.jpeg
Memphis Belle quite possibly photographed en route to Bovingdon from Bassingbourn on June 9th 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1879x1514/media_25248mb_aerial_d2955abc784837eea52102a320becf8c6fe0f25 0.jpeg
Ditto...

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1063x839/media_25293_memphis_belle_bov_8c17d96238171c9b4a2591491128a1 ff4e45d5f6.jpeg
Memphis Belle at Bovingdon June 9th 1943. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x585/media_408067_mb_bov_e40289f9ef4f14992e3b606cef856e0f2a8fd491 .jpg
Bob Morgan and crew. General Devers at the microphone, General Eaker looks on. Photo credit American Air Museum in Britain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zHFs26bUY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW4F_ZMrS3A

OUAQUKGF Ops

19th Sep 2020, 18:43

Page Three? Good Lor ! Here we are on Page One again......... Emma Peel was never on Page Three. Here she is at Bovingdon in 1965 but sadly not heavily featured. I remember when 'The Avengers' came to Luton in 1967. We gave them the use of one of our clapped out Heralds (awaiting upgrade and reintroduction with Autair following a hammering up in The Highlands and Islands with BEA) and John Steed came and used our staff lavatory where a notice from The Chief Pilot complaining about fag ends in the bog had been recently defaced. Sadly there was no sign of Mrs Peel......

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/736x552/screenshot_2020_09_19_the_avengers_series_4_the_hour_that_ne ver_was_a045ff6da052859c519fdbd706947b2a389350ad.png

https://archive.org/details/the.avengers.1965.s04e09.the.hour.that.never.was_201910

treadigraph

19th Sep 2020, 19:38

She's gotta lotta bottle...

sandringham1

20th Sep 2020, 07:00

[QUOTE=OUAQUKGF Ops;10850890]9th October 1942

1944
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/810x552/screenshot_2020_05_24_f_bovingdon1944_e90a671f40bcd2e8d92e59 27c2dc680d9e7b0933.png
I found this image somewhere but can't tell you anything about it!

Just noticed that this image is reversed.

Richard

goofer3

20th Sep 2020, 12:27

Flipped and cleaned a bit. Mosquito VI from the LR3xx range. P-47, 7U, 36th Fighter Group, 23rd Fighter Squadron?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x497/mosquito2_ok800_61c9a4095aa907e8883fd22f2c9fc2a55ce6e1c2.jpg

chevvron

20th Sep 2020, 13:19

Would have had to be an 'LR' variant appearing in FEAF markings in England!!

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Oct 2020, 18:35

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1600/s_l1600_lac_fd3117f2f7e5b689a088c0ffb1e87e4b3ae0443f.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1145x859/s_l1600_halifax_resized_d6f1eb405c6a704a38fe423b97ec945225b0 92d5.jpg

OUAQUKGF Ops

17th Oct 2020, 21:58

In 2009 Eric Bowkett retired ATCO and one time Navigator recorded his memories for The Imperial War Museum. Eric joined The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation at Bovingdon as a Halifax Navigator and served on the Berlin Airlift based at Schleswigland Germany flying Diesel Oil into Berlin (Tegel). The Company operated a dozen Halifax/Halton aeroplanes on the airlift with a pool of twenty crews. It seems very likely that a crew would remain together for the duration.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80024106

Reels 3-5 cover the period in question.

Most of the images below extracted from The Berlin Air Lift booklet published by The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (I found a cheaper copy than that offered on that auction site.)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1700x2000/lac_crew_2__4bb37792ae6d998002b5bc6c19fc6669ac845793.jpg
I dare say some of us oldies have come across one or two of these chaps during our time. Credit LAC.

With regard to the above Captain Robert Freight, Navigator James Sharp and Flight Engineer W.J. Patterson were killed when Halton G-AJZZ crashed at Schleswigland on 21 March 1949. The Radio Operator J.Hamilton survived.

In addition three LAC Ground Engineers were killed in a ground accident with a Hastings at Schleswigland on 15th January 1949:
They were Theodor Supernatt, Patrick Griffin and Edward O'Neil. I believe their German driver also died.

Eric Bowkett mentions both these incidents.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1354x986/tegel_van_3__b50de20f6ee5f599f6defacbce4048942b9adb34.jpg
The U.S Mobile canteen at Tegel mentioned by Bowkett. Photo credit LAC.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/682x1024/1310918_large_4c4b87cfb3b3a7e852579c0fd0ab2490f77a103f.jpg
Hastings TG534 of 297 Squadron. Fuel leak on startup at Schleswigland 6th April 1949. Mentioned by Bowkett. Photo credit the Late Peter Hewins.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1520x995/halifaxes_2__67b402c3d474544d78f131de456c49c4ac2b7045.jpg
Photo Credit LAC.

DaveReidUK

18th Oct 2020, 07:49

In addition three LAC Ground Engineers were killed in a ground accident with a Hastings at Schleswigland on 15th January 1949:
They were Theodor Supernatt, Patrick Griffin and Edward O'Neil. I believe their German driver also died.

Richard Karl Otto Neumann was the driver who died. The accident appears to have occurred when the Hastings was taxying in after landing and collided with the vehicle.

OUAQUKGF Ops

6th Mar 2021, 17:09

1960s

Aide-memoire for Chevvron....

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x819/s_l1600_c54_bov_66e68b2a5ae3bec843b8c5be9332c847643ef35f_2f7 3abae35f328c2c6a49261da8324d180b78e31.jpg

chevvron

7th Mar 2021, 09:52

Why for me?
Obviously parked on the Whelpley Hill side although I thought this area had been closed down by the '60s.

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th Mar 2021, 18:28

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/574x421/screenshot_2021_01_05_s_l1600_jpg_jpeg_image_1487_1522_pixel s_scaled_49__81837e1611246fcd128fff8a6671842ec91cf929.png
Avro York G-AMVZ ex MW302 at Bovingdon 1954. Obtained by Hunting Air Transport 1953, never entered service, scrapped following year.

LTNman

11th Mar 2021, 07:52

A Bovingdon departure that crashed at Ashridge near Tring killing 16 on board

https://youtu.be/_zAhQCb2BSU

OUAQUKGF Ops

11th Mar 2021, 08:52

Why for me?
Obviously parked on the Whelpley Hill side although I thought this area had been closed down by the '60s.
It was for you chevvron prompted by your memory of the time your family was nearly wiped out by a DC4 or DC6 when you were taken by them to watch the aeroplanes at London Airport...........
Incidentally I used to take the 353 London Transport Green Double Decker from my home near Chesham and change at Slough for London Airport.

chevvron

11th Mar 2021, 14:35

It was for you chevvron prompted by your memory of the time your family was nearly wiped out by a DC4 or DC6 when you were taken by them to watch the aeroplanes at London Airport...........
Incidentally I used to take the 353 London Transport Green Double Decker from my home near Chesham and change at Slough for London Airport.
Ah didn't make the connection 'cos it was a different thread.
We went to LAP on buses via Uxbridge but on one occasion we returned via your route (we used the 353 regularly every couple of weeks but going the other way to see my grandmother in Berkhampstead; useful route Winsdor to Berkhampstead); I remember because on the Bath Road, we went past an area with radar heads turning and nodding up and down which was the RAF air defence radar unit which actually had nothing to do with airport ops and closed in about 1955 to be replaced by the one at Chenies, a few miles south east of Chesham and just south of Bovingdon.
In 1969 when I started training as an Air Traffic Assistant at West Drayton the associated building was in use for the radar element of London Air Traffic Control Centre which I had visited as a member of Air Britain a few years earlier and was to work in from Jan 1970 to Feb 1971 when radar also moved to West Drayton. Our initial assistant training also took place there but in one of the associated outbuildings.

tiny fireburn

23rd Mar 2021, 15:27

I was very intrigued by the photo of the DH Hornet at Bovingdon, on page 14 of the Thread. In Sep 49 a Hornet (PX305) made the record books by breaking the Bovingdon to Gibraltar route and return. The Hornet in the pic might just be the one. As an old Gib hand I'd like to write up the successful attempt. Could you possible supply me with a high res version of the image?

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd Mar 2021, 17:15

I 'borrowed' the image of the Hornet from this web-site:https://bovingdon-airfield.co.uk/

I suggest you have a look there. I seem to remember there is another image of a Hornet on there. I think I checked the serial number at the time but couldn't tie it in with the Gibraltar record-breaker. Be delighted to host your write-up on this thread if you are so inclined. All the best.

chevvron

24th Mar 2021, 08:36

I 'borrowed' the image of the Hornet from this web-site:https://bovingdon-airfield.co.uk/

Not very good.
In films they've missed out 'The Lady Takes a Flyer '(early '50s'), 'Mosquito Squadron' (c1968) and Hanover Street (c1972).

treadigraph

24th Mar 2021, 08:43

Hanover Street was '78 - during Farnborough week, I remember the B-25s lined up at Blackbushe...

chevvron

24th Mar 2021, 09:58

Hanover Street was '78 - during Farnborough week, I remember the B-25s lined up at Blackbushe...
They flew them to Blackbushe after filming at Bovingdon finished and they stayed for a couple of years. Yes probably was later than '72 'cos they weren't there in '77 when I 'controlled' at the Blackbushe Air Festival.

tiny fireburn

27th Mar 2021, 09:55

Thanks for the steer to the RAF Bovingdon pics. As you say, there's another (better) pic, which unfortunately proves the Hornet to be PX286. All worth a shot tho'!

OUAQUKGF Ops

27th Mar 2021, 18:05

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1021x1600/s_l1600_bov_97cb92ccfd03e1adb4a63118d553a7f082a9ad2d.jpg
Currently offered on a well known online auction site.....

OUAQUKGF Ops

28th Jun 2021, 09:47

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1480x2000/img_0001_c3a13df7e070eb199907d9cafa8d751c975774f4.jpg

Eastleigh not Bovingdon. January 1948. Lettice Curtis takes delivery of Spitfire PR.X1 (PL983) N74138 on behalf of The Civil Air Attache, American Embassy, London. The Attache, Livingston 'Tony' Satterthwaite, looks on. This Spitfire was based at Hendon but due to the reluctance of Satterthwaite to fly the aircraft out of that relatively small airfield surrounded by housing Lettice Curtis volunteered her services to position the Spitfire to and from Bovingdon for the Attache's use. It could be seen there on several occasions in the Spring of 1948. Incidentally Lettice Curtis made her Halifax Conversion First Solo Flight at Bovingdon in late October 1942.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x920/screenshot_2021_06_05_at_21_30_42_cfe_glos_24_april_1956_ter _meteor_fr_9_wx964_at_bovingdon_24_apr_1956_original_3712596 74_26d3f2ec8c63d75b5a72dcb1b8ae4edf55d009a1.png
Meteor FR9 24 April 1956. Photo by Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/899x605/s_l1600_hangar_28876c11dfbd2162b261c566236cd127681d3b23.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/899x571/s_l1600_war_lover_1c9849324f14b478f4dd03e1bd2045ba3da5fe24.j pg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/899x580/s_l1600_open_day_bf6c69446261107308b33630794450bc3b1a6c63.jp g

The War Lover 1961

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x813/s_l1600_anson_1968_da7c1ceacc571a542e9f0cb309f5c59ba0bf6a5a. jpg
One of the last - Bovingdon 1968.

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Jul 2021, 09:09

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/556x708/screenshot_2021_07_16_at_09_50_45_john_stroud_baggage_tag_hu nting_air_transport_bovingdon_nairobi_unique_item_ebay_cce7d 5daa9e0bbd6cc389f8aee5d3ed5d208540e.png
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/457x730/screenshot_2021_07_16_at_09_52_12_john_stroud_baggage_tag_hu nting_air_transport_bovingdon_nairobi_unique_item_ebay_1cf3b bd2baf930131dca425d79277fb700d6ae83.png

Momento from a leisured period (early 1950s) of Air Travel - currently offered for sale on a well known auction site.........

Much later: I was looking at some photographs of Hunting's African Safari Service to Nairobi and noticed that they were taken by John Stroud. I'm assuming here that they relate to Hunting's inaugural service which departed Bovingdon as HT101 on June 14th 1952 arriving at Nairobi June 16th - the return service HT102 departing Nairobi on June 18th (as per tag above). Initially it was a once weekly service flown in partnership with Airwork on alternate weeks. However both operators participated in the Inaugural Service. It was upgraded to a twice weekly service in February 1953.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x716/aw_hc_wadi_2_dte_copy_d8b85a284bb088f9e2b7fcf08a51ae03ad76e6 3c.jpg
Photo credit as per image.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x825/hc_aw_vikings_africa_dte_1_copy_41811a5b0157545843e9d6760b60 69d1852dc1dc.jpg
Pax disembarking for Nightstop. Photo credit as per image.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1119/hc_aw_vikings_africa_dte_ecfd3a83bbafa996620cdd580db21696e17 5c450.jpg
Thought to be disembarking at Nairobi from Viking G-AHPJ . Photo credit John Stroud.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x720/hc_aw_vikings_dte2_copy_10489b393a96c8f3a759a0697669a873542c 8bc9.jpg
Assuming this is the inaugural service - the crew were Capt G. Clift. F/O C. Kirkland. F/E O. Mitchell, R/O D.Parsey. Stewardess Miss J. Jeffries. (ref Merton Jones).
Photo credit as per image.

OUAQUKGF Ops

29th Jul 2021, 17:12

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1760469

An interesting snap above courtesy of Mick West/Les Vowles Air Britain

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x757/s_l1600_albatross_20632b05b211ac7ec84306ce2ceac11023d12a80.j pg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/p1030471_0db643cb32a8f7fd1bfc56d5297d4d3c5b1e5726.jpg
Open Day 17 May 1958

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/p1030473_8ea4b21fc735efd5ab5f2893a23e02192eb68937.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/p1030474_325331d5dc6cbd78b5936519560a6cad7a45f6f6.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1375x840/arthur_pearcy_16_oct_1956_055de631451d5cc2f61d2dd66fade9fd29 f7f9f1.png
Norwegian Air Force 6th October 1956. Photo credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/507x362/ap_aed_e0abf1dbcc4c709183c78b932405f9699261250d.jpg

A rather poor image of another Crescent Air Transport aeroplane - C47 AP-AED at Bovingdon prior 1954.

artee

31st Aug 2021, 06:58

OD-ADB looking very smart at Beirut 1957. Photo The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd.

OD-ACD at its new home, Beirut, 1955. This aeroplane was destroyed in a take-off accident at Tehran May 27th 1960. Three crew were injured. Photo credit The Peter Keating Collection (c) A Flying History ltd.

When my family first went to Iran in about 1955, we flew (I think) Rome - Athens - Beirut - Tehran on Persian Air Services (PAS) EP-ADE "Dog Easy".
PAS were not great operators. They managed to write off Dog Easy in 1959 landing during a sandstorm in Kuwait. In total they wrote off three Avro Yorks. Fortunately not while we were in them...

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x478/avro_york_ep_ade_dog_easy_02_844acb7c02bc2e27d5596cbf220cabd 9d01e6563.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1016x1024/avro_york_ep_ade_dog_easy_06_beirut_airport_b91938c92468f5e0 71ebad74ede02c2feb8c5c3e.jpg

XV490

8th Sep 2021, 11:58

The Masters of the Air film crew have been shooting street scenes in old Hemel (https://www-hertfordshiremercury-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/gallery/film-crews-transform-hemel-hempstead-5881021.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a6&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#amp_ct=1631102372440&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16311023671682&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk%2Fnews %2Fhertfordshire-news%2Fgallery%2Ffilm-crews-transform-hemel-hempstead-5881021), so I'm wondering if they've now set up a unit at nearby Bovingdon?

Applications have apparently been submitted to the local council for the relevant permissions at the airfield.

UPDATE: Turns out they're shooting PoW scenes within the dedicated film and TV section of the former airfield.

OUAQUKGF Ops

10th Sep 2021, 09:07

I believe plans have been submitted for TV/Film Studio expansion on the airfield. These apparently include converting what remains of the Control Tower into 'Offices' which is good news.

One wonders if the limited prior permission operations that are flown over the 'Dancing On Ice' studio on to the old 27 Runway will be affected ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beUw3VZHly4

OUAQUKGF Ops

12th Sep 2021, 09:20

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x666/screenshot_2021_09_11_at_17_31_12_bovingdon_raf_airbase_uk_r esized_medium_c5d6a83a8a10fc1b19931361d1f54a06cf885231.png
A view of the aerodrome in 2019. In the distance the Chiltern escarpment drops down to The Vale of Aylesbury. Photo credit Benjamin Ballande Album.

chevvron

12th Sep 2021, 10:01

Present runway is at the far end of the runway 10/28 whilst the Dancing on Ice studio is the large black building on the same runway but closer.
Back in '65 when we flew our first gliding sorties from Bovingdon (on detachment from 613 at Halton) we were allocated the slightly 'bent' bit of taxiway at top right next to the row of trees and I had the priviledge of flying the first launch, the gliders having been aerotowed in from Halton by another pilot.

brakedwell

12th Sep 2021, 11:00

In 1961/2, when not flying, I used to wander from Coastal Command Com Flt offices on the Southwest corner to the northern edge of the airfield and pick mushroom when in season. There were a lot of them and we used to have them for breakfast in the Officers Mess!

OUAQUKGF Ops

12th Sep 2021, 11:35

brakedwell - I believe this unfortunate accident was probably before your time at Bovingdon ?

https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/wales/avro-anson-vv955-foel-lwyd/

brakedwell

12th Sep 2021, 21:18

brakedwell - I believe this unfortunate accident was probably before your time at Bovingdon ?

https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/wales/avro-anson-vv955-foel-lwyd/

Yes it was before my time, but that accident was well known to all pilots on CCCF during my time as we also had to crawl under the cloud over Wales sometimes on route from Bovingdon to Ballykelly or Aldergrove.

Fareastdriver

13th Sep 2021, 08:43

Communication Squadron Ansons and the Welsh Mountains did a sterling job clearing out the bottlenecks in the promotion ladder.

OUAQUKGF Ops

14th Sep 2021, 14:26

Hi Mellywell

I've just, belatedly, picked up your message posted in Jan. 2008 regarding pics. in Aircraft Illustrated.
I used to go flying from Bov. very often in the mid-50s whent I was in the 23f Bushey and Oxhey Sqdn of the ATC. There were a number of us kids, all aged about 14yrs, who used to cycle out from Watford at every opportunity.
I am particularly interested in the pic.of the SM102 which I remember very well. It had wicker seats in it with oxygen masks hanging above.
I remember also that we used to climb inside this aicraft to eat our packed lunches in the flight deck. It was only after some time that we learned that the airplane belonged to "the Italian Embassy".
I often think to myself if the crew ever wondered where all the egg shells were coming from!
I have a number of photographs that I took at the time. If you would like copies I could email them to you.

I too sat in this elegant aeroplane - she was in the service of The Italian Air Attache and was a bit of a 'Hangar Queen'. I think she lived at Bovvy for much of the nineteen-fifties.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x676/s_l1600_arthur_pearcy_october_1956_9c050cd80787baf3be5c53651 c6ca1f2fd31b19e.jpg
Bovingdon 1956. I believe only 21 of these Sm102s were built for The Italian Air Force. Photocredit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/940x631/screenshot_2021_09_13_at_10_36_37_mm61791_sm18_siai_s_m_102_ italian_af_bovingdon_1961_12df89270031aa4b5eafe6d789b808691e 5c657a.png
Bovingdon 1961. Photocredit Air Photographic International.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x541/screenshot_2021_09_12_at_16_46_21_scrapyard_photos_any_more_ _29ae58ccba3370b68080fa8f8476e5c635156f8d.png
December 1961. Thought to be the same SM102 MM61791 on Bovingdon Fire Dump. ('War Lover' B17 in distance). Photocredit Key AeroForum

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/661x872/screenshot_2022_12_12_at_16_25_19_bl_0002490_19611020_179_00 12_pdf_56a7d8f6d48087e67a218b8382af852a481897b8.png
Bucks Examiner October 20th 1961. Source BNA.

brakedwell

15th Sep 2021, 11:35

That reminds me of the Fouga Magister that was parked in the CCF hangar. I believe it was meant to be used by the French Air Attache from their embassy, but I cannot ever remember it flying.

chevvron

15th Sep 2021, 15:49

That reminds me of the Fouga Magister that was parked in the CCF hangar. I believe it was meant to be used by the French Air Attache from their embassy, but I cannot ever remember it flying.
Usually departed on a saturday morning about 9 or 10 am just as we were pulling our gliders out - not the sort of time CCCF would be flying - and always treated us to a nice 'wet' start. Presumably returned mon mornings but by then I would have been at school in Chesham.

OUAQUKGF Ops

20th Sep 2021, 14:26

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x684/s_l1600_rdaf_25_may1957_b567f4db7546f29671c37798efb80b99ef56 0ab3.jpg
May 1957 Danish Delight. Photo Credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x671/s_l1600_globemaster_4_jan_1957_eebb38d6fd8c0e74a7538d9499a9f e7ee40244a7.jpg
January 1957

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x823/s_l1600_provider_1957_arthur_pearcy_22872c5ae93db83eb6d74582 cd2fbbc65c17af99.jpg
1957 Photo Credit Arthur Pearcy

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x678/s_l1600_anson_bov_c_1956_ad96fd1cd4cee48fe6dc59cd51f64f59ed1 44af7.jpg
Circa 1956. The first Anson MK X11. First flew 5th September 1944. After war used by our Air Attache in Madrid as G-AGLB before being restored to NL152 in 1948.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x254/royal_air_force_avro_anson_nl152_c1964_0677ec9cf8e401243649c f7a36bc36e95c3db0cb.jpg
Same aircraft Circa 1964. Location not known.

These images of the Anson reminds me that Bovingdon could perhaps be described as a Confusion of Communications Squadrons.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/650x469/c2_southern_comms_flight_resize_a47811fe8ac860091f33bc3836a2 9a3777e1abed.jpeg
These are thought to be members of The Southern Communications Squadron on an unknown date but prior to the Summer of 1968 when the Ansons were retired. In January 1969 The Southern Comms Squadron moved to RAF Northolt and flying ceased at Bovingdon. The squadron then became, in February 1969, 207 Squadron which reformed for that purpose. Photo Credit 207 Squadron Album.

All the above types had, over the years, become familiar sights at Bovingdon. I've found it very difficult to locate any decent snaps taken at Bovvy so the following images are of aeroplanes that have certainly been stationed there or have visited.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/395x527/c104_deptford_power_station_0f61112d234639cf93b94b5ed49d0764 a162cec9.jpg
DH Devon VP958 Metropolitan Comms Squadron probably then based at RAF Hendon. Over Deptford Power Station which I think closed in the mid-sixties. Photo Credit 207 Squadron Album.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x1026/0227845_vp_958_geoff_goodall_1994_57836ffacb74c999e64b310951 25d80ac38ef4be.jpg
VH-EOB ex VP958 at Mackay, Queensland Australia in 1994. Dismantled in 2014 the fuselage rumoured to presently be used as a chicken house. All Credits Geoff Goodall.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x823/0371274_929_wildewrath_1986_994828317b9bdbcbdde986fbcf766faa 44111ee2.jpg
Pembroke XL 929 with 60 Squadron at RAF Wildenwrath in 1986. Photo credit Michael Roeser with thanks.

This particular Pembroke of Bomber Command Comms squadron was the personal aircraft of Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst. Based at RAF Booker the Squadron was briefly based at Bovingdon when Booker closed in 1963.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x675/screenshot_2021_09_20_at_12_04_25_g_bnpu_resize_9a88bf608606 b5f5ba9949c6f69d858205f5c805.png
XL 929 later G-BNPU at South Wales Aviation Museum, St Athan in 2020. Photo Credit Stu Carr.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x675/1000px_beagle_basset_cc_1_xs782_edited_3_ea8da970a9a19ae7538 2453c48fa710718165d9b.jpg
Beagle Basset XS 782 at RAF Coltishall Battle of Britain Day September 1969. Previously with Southern Comms Squadron Bovingdon but now with 207 Squadron at RAF Northolt. Photo Credit R.A. Scholefield.

According to 207 Squadron History 'Always Prepared' : The Basset was plagued by technical problems made worse by a shortage of spares. They were less comfortable than Devons, cramped and noisy, although pleasant to fly.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x680/screenshot_2021_09_20_at_07_29_46_n206bt_39502ee9e29aa97e64d 9358133b8930852cf6202.png
XS782 at Bates City, Missouri, USA. 1996.

treadigraph

20th Sep 2021, 15:11

Bates City, Missouri - Harry S Truman Regional Airport almost rivals Oshkosh for airframes on the field, but not a fly in... or rather, not a fly out!

Google maps (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bates+City,+MO+64011,+USA/@39.0181448,-94.0889442,757m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87c113534545eb93:0x27397fa96412fa5 e!8m2!3d39.0061187!4d-94.072446)

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th Oct 2021, 06:35

On 28th June 1968 a Farewell Flypast was performed by Ansons of The Southern Communications Squadron. Said to be amongst the last operational Ansons in The Royal Air Force. Unfortunately I've run out of space so the image will have to come on the next post ! Anyway if you read on.....!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1036x690/tx227_g_awmh__d7e76008f2cfd399f92e3573a14ad78de9fe5a14.png
TX227 departing Southampton for Leconfield in July 1965. Later to join SCS. Ended her days in warmer climes. Photo Barry Friend with thanks.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x431/avion_liaison_opv2_film_ansons_b1013e0e5254cb62d9de3b494e6d5 f8b9ab9a783.jpg
'Mosquito Squadron' was filmed at Bovingdon in 1968. TX227 foreground VM329 behind.

aviate1138 Ppruning in January 2008 wrote: 'Aviate shudders recalling the time we went to Bovingdon having been working on a movie called Mosquito Squadron a few weeks previously and carved up 4 lovely Ansons and removed the 450 HP Cheetah engines to use as wind machines........'

On their retirement the following Ansons at Bovingdon were sold for scrap to C. Bilson Ltd: TX191,TX227,TX230,VL349,VM329,VM332,VM351,VV958. TX209 of The Western Comms Squadron was also sold to Bilson but it is not known if it was scrapped at Bovingdon . VL337 was sold to Kemps Aerial Surveys in July 1968 for spares.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/1397977_large_vl337_thruxton_dec68_ae65beb5c3f72e68c56530797 ced67694588bb18.jpg
VL337 Kemps Aerial Surveys at Thruxton December 1968. (Air Support Command was formed in 1967.) Photo Barry Friend with thanks.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x640/1232117_large_vl337_thruxton_sept_1970_93a9e86a8bd354d3010c1 cea67b86f61e9b3391d.jpg
The same aircraft at Thruxton in September 1970. Photo Steve Darke with thanks.

The retirement of the Ansons coincided with the period of Civil War in Nigeria. The Biafran Airlift 1968-1970 was the largest Civilian operated undertaking of its kind on record. It was planned that two Ansons from Bovingdon would make a small contribution. The charity Mercy Missions purchased VV958 and TX227 from Bilson. They were registered as G-AWMG and G-AWMH respectively. Two further aircraft were reserved as standbys VL349 and VM351. Familiarisation training was provided for the crews by the RAF at Bovingdon.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x595/ansonbw2_wh_bovingdon_resize_6b9fe4a8143889b0e58848fbb1ab4a4 8fa3efd9b.jpg
Destination Biafra. TX227 with camouflage from 'Mosquito Squadron' overpainted and registered as G-AWMH at Bovingdon. Photo bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/604x360/p1030540_3__095ca643171bae19aa395d3aaccf56150a99bfcb.jpg
Unlike its companion this was an Anson T21. 'MG' at Bovingdon. Photo Peter J Bish via Michael Draper with thanks.

The two Ansons departed Bovingdon on August 5th 1968. Both crews experienced an eventful trip. G-AWMG arrived at its operating base on Sao Tome August 16 1968 but unfortunately G-AWMH came to grief in Mauritania on the same day.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1218x320/screenshot_2021_09_12_wmh_wheelsup__bf14d50bc69c71dea546d8c9 5f23cf61ebd58e24.png
Starboard Engine failure on approach to Port Etienne airfield and a sudden violent sandstorm with nil viz caused the crew to pull up the undercart to arrest their progress. Minor damage but not repaired for quite some time. G-AWMH never reached Sao Tome but was later written off near the River Cess in Liberia in June 1969. Photo Aeroplane Monthly.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/598x339/p1030541_3__c97fbcceb181d37725e5ff1c0cc0ba966e95274d.jpg
In Aeroplane Monthly Michael Draper who crewed 'MG' wrote: 'G-AWMG is seen being loaded for a Sao Tome-Fernando Po shuttle. The maximum permissible load was frequently exceeded. Milk Powder, Salt or Complan cargoes were also sometimes under threat from a leaking fuselage roof during the height of tropical storms.' Credit Aeroplane Monthly with thanks.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/621x463/p1030511_2_mg_wreck_7505f237e8c58b3a800237d81217a58231e35a59 .jpg
On September 3 1968 G-AWMG was tasked with a low- level food drop to an isolated Leperosy settlement in the valley of Uzuakoli, Biafra which was very close to the front line. Having completed three very slow low- level air drops the Anson was commencing its fourth run when it was hit by small arms fire which severed the fuel line to the port engine. As a result the aircraft crashed into a yam plantation, fortunately without any serious injury to the crew, who then camouflaged the wreck from further attack. Photo text Aeroplane Monthly and Michael Draper.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x352/1016669_large_seats_out_vm351_gawsb_sept_1968_95841943d4aaca f90b5fdba9de716612a7c611d3.jpg
VM351 Bovingdon 1968. Photo Bernard Martin with thanks.

The two standby Ansons at Bovingdon VM351 and VL349 were purchased by John 'Jeff' Hawke and registered in July 1968 as G-AWSB and G-AWSA respectively. G-AWSB's registration was cancelled on November 5 1968 and the aircraft departed Bovingdon for the USA re-registered as N7522. I have not been able to find out who her first American owner was.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x567/085374_zf_4227_24345_1_001_resized_965e72f6d1a9cf9cae1814398 86bddd1374a751f.jpg
In the USA circa 1970

This Anson spent some time at Fabens Airfield Texas in the early seventies and there are indications that she might have been destined for The Confederate Air Force at Harlingen. She certainly came to the attention of Duane Egli while at Fabens. (Hawke and Egli crewed the B25 Camera Ship for The Battle of Britain). However N7522 suffered an engine failure after taking off from Fabens for Harlingen on May 17 1971 and crash- landed. I don't know if she ever flew again. She passed through various hands and the registration was cancelled in 2013.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/624x439/0020710_351_georgetown_1998_ee2f264452ba6725d3d6138fdeda9d11 cb32c719.jpg
N7522 at George Town Airport 1998.

G-AWSA's registration was cancelled on 18 August 1969 and she was re-registered to Duane Egli of Harlingen Texas as N5054 however contrary to some reports she never left the UK. Egli moved the aircraft to Horsham st Faith (later Norwich Airport) in November 1968 where she was initially hangared until cast out into the open in 1971. Further deterioration occurred with parts being robbed by The Confederate Air Force. She was rescued by The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum in early 1974. As VL349 the Anson received a full restoration and is now displayed at this splendid museum which is at Flixton near Bungay in Suffolk.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1010x676/screenshot_2021_09_30_at_22_25_24_avro_anson_c_19_april_73i_ g_awsa_34220_private__f7eb05d28a8a578faf4ceba9966f2262248d2a 43.png
Still bearing traces of her registration G-AWSA at Norwich Airport in April 1973. Photo George Baczkowski with thanks.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1063x667/anson_vl349_d2_flixton_ack_old_props_132589949bfb6939876d257 38b37c3a151764c14.jpg
VL349 restored. Photo Old Props with thanks.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x655/1097418_largevl349_woodford_to_scampton_08_65_10169f1ddb785b c77a2b7e7cc536a5267f5f006d.jpg
Doing what a Comms Anson does best. VL349 is in this evocative photograph. Taken at Woodford in 1965 when serving with the Northern Comms Squadron. Collection of a Vulcan crew bound for Scampton. Photo Tony Coles with thanks.

I would like to thank Michael Draper who crewed G-AWMG in Biafra and authored 'Shadows' the standard reference work on the Biafran Air Lift, (a truly magnificent book both in production and content) for his assistance in allowing me to use extracts from his book and article in this little tribute to the 'Annie'. It was, he said a lovely aircraft to fly, a reflection echoed by thousands of pilots. He added that at the pre-departure dinner given for the Biafra crews by the RAF at Bovingdon the Station Commander had told them that they were "All Bonkers" . Matter of Opinion really.

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th Oct 2021, 06:50

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/735x608/aerialansons_09fa5fee8e48aec38b2708026518b690cbe37694.jpg
As promised. Header/Tailpiece to the above. 28 June 1968. The squadron was said to have eight Ansons on strength at that time. Photo credit bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

The following link is to an interesting film about the relief work of Caritas and Father Byrne in Biafra. There are a couple of very telling interviews although little footage of night flights into Uli which by their very nature were shrouded in darkness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPg800XVvUg

A link here with a little bit more about N7522 in Texas. There is mention of N5054 which is duff gen.

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=47916&start=0

brakedwell

9th Oct 2021, 08:00

OUAQUKGF Ops (https://www.pprune.org/members/240330-ouaqukgf-ops) - Your photo of GAWMH at Port Etienne reminds me of an incident at Bovingdon when I was on Coastal Command Com Flt in 1962. A Fighter Com pilot couldn't get one of his main wheels to come down, so he retracted the good one, shut down an engine, and motored the prop to a horizontal position, then started an approach. Just before he reached the threshold of the north easterly runway he shut down the engine, ran the prop to horizontal and did a wheels up landing. We all went out to look at the Anson, which was completely undamaged!

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th Oct 2021, 13:56

Splendid - brakedwell. The port prop on G-AWMH was damaged. I guess a replacement was not easy to come by......

chevvron

9th Oct 2021, 15:42

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/735x608/aerialansons_09fa5fee8e48aec38b2708026518b690cbe37694.jpg
As promised. Header/Tailpiece to the above. 28 June 1968. The squadron was said to have eight Ansons on strength at that time. Photo credit bovingdon-airfield.co.uk

My log book records 2 flights, one in PH859 to Benson and back on 5 Jun 1963 and the other in VL337 to Tangmere and back on 30 Apr 1965.
Note the pristine looking T2 hangars (4 in total but only 2 visible); at the time the Annies were stood down and between our last ops by 613 GS on detachment from Halton and 617 GS moving in from Hendon, all 4 were reclad, only to be demolished/dismantled a short time later (1971?) when the airfield closed. Wonder if they were moved elsewhere or disposed of?

XV490

15th Oct 2021, 08:04

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/20211015_085948_587da556badff1e983eb6a93cb4b0dfeb8284512.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/20211015_085956_52a7e99370d38724c506325f423b7e92471107da.jpg
Photos (by Lloyd Dickinson) of the PoW camp set at Bovingdon for the Apple TV series Masters of the Air.

OUAQUKGF Ops

21st Oct 2021, 14:51

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x487/us_1944_08990_vb_17g_1954_bovingdon_arthurpearcyphoto_f2da14 a9bf3437a539e286106f447f665517851b.jpg
1954. Photo Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x666/s_l1600_packet_18_dec_1955_3d2a2ee341b6c6f21b24a3f046bc837e4 b114a7f.jpg
December 1955 Italian Air Force probably on 'Operation Hannibal' Photo Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x653/s_l1600mod_dak_bovvy_1956_arthur_pearcy_query_9f58ab0a985e86 aa244e41eb247aee7e6e0aae55.jpg
1956 Photo attributed to Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x694/shackleton_mk1a_wb823_c1956_ca06478e43a7b794bf7a438acc106ea7 f91117f3.jpg
1956 Shackleton Mk1.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x399/us_1943_16039_c_47a_1956_arthurpearcyphoto_ba1773d448887f377 39b0fe76d2847a46fe63070.jpg
1956 Photo Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1437x902/s_l1600_c130_1958_crop_99c3eb4082a23afec6e975b5f7cb7cd73ae4e 1df.jpg
1958. (One of 'The 'Greats' the C130 first flew in 1954)

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/635x630/eaw034517_g_ahot_elstree_1951_trim_2__4d3e46bd1e8309ee4d03c0 6b5c489799f7897492.jpg
1951. Vickers Viking G-AHOT of Trans-World Air Charter at Elstree. Photo credit as caption.

Trans-World Air Charter formed at Bovingdon in February 1948 and was active there and also for a time at Elstree where the company had a maintenance facility.
During its busy, short life the airline operated three Vikings of which G-AHON and G-AHOT participated in The Berlin Airlift as freighters operating out of Wunsdorf in the Autumn of 1948. Eventually the Company was absorbed by Crewsair of Southend and operations ceased at Bovingdon December 1951.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x683/ac1634578451001542413_gahot_bordeaux_9bf1139278e41e819373588 5e9f84bd220dcb181.jpg
G-AHOT at Bordeaux circa 1952. Note minimal paint job on transfer from Trans-World Charter. Photo credit as captioned.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x510/zs_dkh_vickers_viking_vic_s_viking_garage_05_vic_de_villiers _villier_6a2a894d728da592edd02c9cfe246948c4d9de0e.jpg
Photo Vic de Villiers

This is a replaced link. It is very slow - you need to let it do its own thing ?! More on G-AHOT here:https://saamuseum.co.za/history/History_of_The_South_African_Airways_Museum_Society_webpage. htm#_Toc113256122

I'm finding it quite difficult to find images of the more obscure Bovingdon airlines so slight drift coming up.

Another Bovingdon operator who participated in The Berlin Airlift was Air Contractors Limited with three Dakotas. This company was founded at Woodley in May 1946 and was one of the earliest operators of the Miles Aerovan. The company then moved to Blackbushe and early in 1948 they established their base at Bovingdon. Their tenure was short-lived, the company ceased flying in January 1949. I've tried to find snaps of their Aerovans at Bovingdon (Still had four when they ceased flying) or indeed anywhere else but with no luck until I contacted Peter Amos who sent me the following images from Air Contractor's early days at Woodley.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x521/v6397a_3_aerovan_reduced_6e3a9b04a48058ba70c0c571bb0dc0938ed 1cc72.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x524/v6383_resize_63966c4d08120e75123ed8b13e4d08d33c8d868a.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x568/v6383aero_van_idi_resize_6c4a8aca46caa188a3db0eda7e491a2d472 37f81.jpg
All photographs courtesy of Peter Amos with thanks.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/uk2_kg657_douglas_dakotamkiii_1948_ex_us_42_93550_c_47a_to_g _aiwc_bovingdon_flightcoll_1bfc6c51d96c53791d43362ee67c83867 4e66a8b.jpg
G-AIWC thought to be at Bovingdon, Between Hangar 2 and Hangar 3 in 1948. In the Autumn of 1947 the company's three Dakotas had flown to India to participate in the airlift of refugees. On one such flight 65 passengers were uplifted.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/394x185/screenshot_2023_01_03_at_16_27_33_the_aeroplane_google_books _0085324db5cfacaf7b2547b5afdaf992c72ffc24.png
Extract from Aeroplane Magazine December 26th 1947.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1277x862/screenshot_2021_10_12_at_11_51_00_air_contractors_douglas_dc _3_photo_by_j_k_evans_trim_76ba580e97fca68fc79bc7e93deeeb670 730fa11.png
G-AIWC at Multan Pakistan 1947. Scottish Airlines Dakota to rear. Photo taken by Captain D.M. Evans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZIyvgNbW6w

This appears to be a selection of out-takes and although interesting really doesn't convey the upheaval of forced migration, misery and blood-letting that resulted from the The Partition of India.

Many British airlines participated in what is probably now a forgotten Airlift in the Autumn of 1947. Mostly Dakota Operators with a scattering of Bristol Freighters: Air Contractors, BOAC, Kearsley Airways, Scottish Airlines, Silver City Airways, Sivewright Airways and Westminster Airways.

washoutt

22nd Oct 2021, 12:21

What a remarkable set of photo's!
Is the B-17 in #395 a passenger version? With the large and small windows? And the photo in Bordeaux seems to show a Boeing Stratoliner and a Languedoc airliner. Or am my eyes deceiving me?

OUAQUKGF Ops

22nd Oct 2021, 15:47

washoutt

#395 Boeing VB17G 448990 (Transport for top brass). Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Sadly Stratoliner F-BELZ seen here in the colours of Aigle Azur, later operated by Airnautic crashed in 1962 - you can find information on the web about that. The Languedoc F-BATB was written off without loss of life at Le Bourget on 7 April 1952 perhaps not so long after this photograph was taken. Unfortunately Dakota G-AIWC later with Spantax as EC-ARZ crashed in 1965.

washoutt

23rd Oct 2021, 09:14

Thanks, Quaguk, interesting info.

KING6024

9th Nov 2021, 13:09

I regret do not have any Bovingdon pictures as I was a regular visitor in the mid 1950s,sometimes as a member of the Watford GS CCF and sometimes spotting at the Amersham end of the main runway.I had 3 flights,2 Anson and 1 Devon,one of the Anson flights was in the cockpit and I can remember priming the RH engine,the pilot doing the left who I think was Polish.There were also 2 Meteors,a T7 and an NF11 plus a C47/Dakota which had a VIP interior with armchairs.I can also remember a Shackleton and a Neptune visiting for Coastal Command.

The USAF was represented by very regular C47 flights plus once a Packet and an all Black Invader.

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th Nov 2021, 16:00

VictorGolf

9th Nov 2021, 16:27

The Albatross is just going back in to production in Australia I believe.

DaveReidUK

9th Nov 2021, 16:52

The Albatross is just going back in to production in Australia I believe.

Flight magazine announced this project just over 5 years ago. It doesn't seem to have moved on much, if at all, since then.

chevvron

10th Nov 2021, 08:41

Thanks for your memories KING6024. Here's an image from your period - the end of the runway - rather grainy I fear as indeed am I !

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/537x575/screenshot_2021_11_09_at_16_53_18_grumman_albatross_landing_ at_bovingdon_airfield_1950_s_dc1b793cfdd74a05835b0ac4ac56860 ce2a25021.png
That gate just below and behind the Albatross; back in the '80s a '172 or '182 used to land then taxy across the road through that gate and park in the field behind it near the dutch barn!
The Albatross' used to operate out of Bentwaters before they got helicopters.

OUAQUKGF Ops

10th Nov 2021, 08:56

Well as previously recounted one foggy morning I was standing just about at this spot when a Shackleton landed short in that very field and took the fence that you can see and the airfield fence too up the runway with its tail wheel.

JEM60

11th Nov 2021, 20:21

I was also standing on this spot when a Meteor T.7. landed long, left it too late to go-round, swerved off the runway to the right, whereupon the port undercarriage broke off, and it careered across the skyline in a large cloud of dust. No injuries.

OUAQUKGF Ops

12th Nov 2021, 10:50

I think this was yours Jem : https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/20878

And this was some years before: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/21268

Warmtoast

12th Nov 2021, 14:22

Thanks for your memories KING6024. Here's an image from your period - the end of the runway - rather grainy I fear as indeed am I !

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/537x575/screenshot_2021_11_09_at_16_53_18_grumman_albatross_landing_ at_bovingdon_airfield_1950_s_dc1b793cfdd74a05835b0ac4ac56860 ce2a25021.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/588x400/biggin_bob_display_1_3975682b4dbec5396a777828a999d306e787cdc b.jpg

A bit of thread creep, but at a Biggin BOB display in 1953 or 1954 I managed to photo this Manston based USAF Albatross doing a Rocket Assisted Take-off - VERY noisy ISTR.

OUAQUKGF Ops

14th Nov 2021, 07:36

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/650x445/screenshot_2021_11_11_at_10_25_40_brian_harding_keeping_fait h_google_books_5_resize_644ec85ad9820620b99244a73fe27df7d8ff cd30.png
Courtesy Brian Harding

In 1949 Hunting Air Travel received a Contract from The British Legion to fly four thousand people to the Military War Graves in Italy. Airports used included Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Milan, Naples, Rome and Treviso. Commencing from Bovingdon on May 16th 1949 Vikings were flown with 24 passengers up to seven times a week, reaching a frequency of ten a week at the peak of the pilgrimage. (Tony Merton Jones).

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1570x1201/s_l1600_viking_1949_9a937d8a496cdfd48400ab3e2ae75be0cbf01521 .jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1131/s_l1600_viking_1949_verso_1b55306559a844707e09b1591e801a29d8 943913.jpg

OUAQUKGF Ops

14th Nov 2021, 13:40

In addition to the Viking in the above image one can discern Halifax G-AKBR of Skyflight Ltd a company which had or was just about to cease operations. The Halifax was subsequently registered to Eagle Aviation and scrapped in March 1950. The C47 is slightly more interesting. As far as I can make out it is ZS-AVL of Pan African Air Charter , one of several dodgy South African outfits of the time offering Passenger charters to South Africa from Bovingdon, Blackbushe and Croydon. It could even be that Pan African were about to pack up at the time this photograph was taken.

Douglas DC-3 C-47 Pan African Air Charter (http://www.dc-3.co.za/dc-3-south-african-operators/pan-african-air-charter.html)

https://www.baaa-acro.com/operator/pan-african-air-charter

This same aircraft (12981) ZS-AVL was next sold in 1950 to The Union of Burma Airways and registered as XY-ACT.

XY-ACT was hi-jacked in 1954.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28014394 The C47 depicted in this link is not the hi-jacked aircraft.

The Captain concerned was Alex Hare who I came to know when he joined Air Anglia in the early seventies to fly the Dakotas. He owned a very smart Aston Martin. I can't remember now whether it was a DB5 or DB6. He was one of the old school and a real gent. I believe he was of Ukranian birth.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x700/screenshot_2021_11_07_at_14_28_31_chic_s_aviation_1948_1954_ eecc2cd4c1cc120ce120e779d88747c3a8710483.png
Captain and Mrs Hare can be seen here. Photo credit the late Captain Charles 'Chic' Eather.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x690/1046174_large_xy_act_1975_rangoon_f93861a776471a435f50278c2b d899ad1de7ec0e.jpg
At Rangoon in 1975. Photo Brian Nichols with thanks.

XY-ACT saw good service in Burma and was then sold in 1978 to Ethiopian Airlines where it operated as ET-AGW. Unfortunately it was written off in a minor landing accident on a freight flight at Bahar Dah, Ethiopia in January 1981. Sadly I've been unable to find an image of her in Ethiopia but here are a couple of her stable-mates photographed at Addis in 1988.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/875x538/screenshot_2021_11_12_at_08_13_38_ethiopia_ron_mak_1988mak_4 acd246bdddadf6c95253d63955f88d32d617835.png
Photo credit Ron Mak.

Creeping further you might enjoy this - go to Aviation Gallery:http://www.chingchic. (http://www.chingchic.com/)

OUAQUKGF Ops

17th Feb 2022, 15:28

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/588x788/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_15_44_43_44_12_09_505_pdf_03cc70e2e 627caaf5c50984e80fdc677a9bc8c99.png

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/835x717/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_15_45_27_44_12_09_505_pdf_35fa95861 fbf12f66409d784549e59716b61de49.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/892x786/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_15_43_52_44_12_09_505_pdf_ea0a4f4c8 f5a8e7505facb82faa6965c5375fbf3.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1173x845/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_19_31_44_12_09_505_pdf_37b580d87 a9cfd4589b072dd452eac4f18c7fbf6.png

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x913/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_20_49_44_12_09_505_pdf_9332269d8 b007be6293fb8bd01f53f5856bb6b98.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1180x931/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_20_13_44_12_09_505_pdf_43a09f91d 7388c58681a115930a62f29c5f69d30.png

I mentioned this accident briefly a couple of years ago. I came across the following written by 'Brian' on The Key Aero Forum in January 2009.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1410x588/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_46_11_bovingdon_aaf_station_112_ 87180605d730e48e7c676af5d606fa2835997366.png
I have found a few images concerning three members of the crew.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x543/34305299_1470687673_laverne_32b0275c4dd9b57ab19dc24f7d3e6d46 1fa83bea_155c7b0a5027f0f6f49466a4127d1bf432b3da06.jpg
LaVerne P. Rissinger

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/34305299_136546540160_b9bebc63b09afcbe2611e8e5e006c809d805e6 d2.jpg
Family Grave Stone at Gainesville, Wyoming County, New York State. His birth-place.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/695x1024/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_10_28_26_leigh_clare_howard_harry_j ohn_1915_1943__b8c3f9b623f5d307910cb1128aa11c229bc0a4d0.png
Born in 1915. Image from Sherborne School Archive.

John Leigh-Clare is buried at Nunheads All Saints, Camberwell, London.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/466_1024x768_osborne_memorial_e544e825b264cb3658691d16282210 ad84dd9557.jpg
Wing Commander Jack Osborne's name is on the War Memorial at Ipplepen, Devonshire, also in the church of St Andrew in whose grave yard he is buried.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/793x142/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_14_43_07_ipplepen_war_memorial_1939 _1f18ca89bedfee885dcba27edde768cfc311266a.png

I have a few more images which I'll post next.

OUAQUKGF Ops

17th Feb 2022, 16:18

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/726x604/screenshot_2022_02_17_at_09_31_59_44_12_09_505_pdf_wreckage_ 191d438403d9990e135eaada80f53967194472d4.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/753x577/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_21_48_44_12_09_505_pdf_fd72f8a1e b1de3e4dec7d1b3fc703c5396437039.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1182x783/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_23_17_44_12_09_505_pdf_e6b55b408 a93a9d5a44bc72d1635f6b437b2f4fe.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/668x540/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_10_24_40_44_12_09_505_pdf_fdaf476a7 bf537ead2e5b6fca193314a812245f4.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x1447/eh_723_airfield_resize_2__2d29b8439d07d0c0ff1944b6bd670effc5 5c3068.jpg

This is the aerodrome in 1942. As always witness statements don't always tally. One witness said that he thought that the B17 was airborne after a run of approx 1200 yards so I've marked that point in Green on the image - however it could well be that the run was extended past this point. The main runway at Bovingdon was short by American Bomber Airfield standards being only 1634 yards in length against the more usual 2000 yards.

Beyond the runway there were several potential obstructions which I've marked in Yellow with distances given from the end of the runway.

A mature hedge at 236 yards approx.
A small stand of trees at 419 yards approx.
And finally marked in Red the boundary of the Wood at 620 Yards approx.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1238x902/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_14_45_11_google_earth_3c3f7e56c21dd 8cca31c3b159fcfe0701fb9e729.png

This image shows the accident site today, the red spot marking the boundary of the wood. Please note that most of this is my guesswork achieved with failing grey matter and no doubt lacking a bit of accuracy.
When I was a kid this area was wooded and I suppose would be called Upper Bourne End. The road is the new A41 Berkhamsted Bypass. This image really doesn't convey the slope of the escarpment. The runway end is at about the 160 metre contour. Quite steep in places. They used to have Hill Climbs next door at Westbrook Hay which I guess is somewhere near the golf course today. When travelling on the top deck of a Green London Transport 301 Service along the old A41 in the nine-teen fifties you could look up to the wooded escarpment and see where the tops of the trees had been cut back to facilitate approach lighting. I must say I'm a bit sad that this wood has now been sacrificed - looks as though it's had pigs on it.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1721x691/screenshot_2022_02_16_at_14_02_47_google_earth_971623f600ed4 725d60e1594ee7aa7cf271b9d26.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/810x539/0_bovingdon_airfield_50071facb5ad3e8b031de62522ee2adf6e99da8 2.jpg
The Wood at the end of R/W 04 after airfield closure but before construction A41 Berkhamsted Bypass.

OUAQUKGF Ops

6th Apr 2022, 14:01

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1150x646/at_10_26_11_hp_81_hermes_iv_od_acc_hp_81_25__235aaba3a90f78b 07f5bdf7fcd9aeb39c232d657.png

This image already posted but better definition here. This is Hermes G-ALDY registered to Skyways but serving with MEA during a short period in 1955.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x694/s_l1600_port_dc3_bovvy_may_1957_c7a4455cbd1a75642509fd76f397 dc076dee292c.jpg

Portuguese Air Force. May 1957. Photo credit: Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1190x690/s_l1600_420_air_refuelling_squad_1958_2__8db818500e06dde4d0c 955cd2795eff2a8cdc268.jpg

420 Air Refuelling Squadron 1958.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1120/s_l1600_packet_bovingdon_1958_b78452c601c0f5473a03246951bbc3 233d57c4c3.jpg

1958.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1207/s_l1600_dak_bovvy_1958_29d8c498a2803b7e94295545127e9fb7fa643 50a.jpg

1958.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1168/s_l1600_bovvy_1958_grumman_63ac8fafcd1cc022531a7aca3581051a3 beaa0c7.jpg

I think that those few of you who all those years ago haunted the fence-line at the end of the runway will, like me, find this particular photograph from 1958 very evocative.

Another little bit of forgotten history here:https://aguidetofethiye.wordpress.com/tag/24th-november-1951/

LTNman

4th May 2022, 10:42

After it was all over
https://i.imgur.com/2ltnW27.png

https://i.imgur.com/f8ys7xl.png

https://i.imgur.com/IGY4TNi.png

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th May 2022, 12:05

All rather forlorn but excellent photographs - thank you. More cheerfully that R/W in use indicator is still relevant today to a small section of 27.

chevvron

5th May 2022, 16:25

Unfortunately not. A recent thread on Flyer Forums showed photos of that section of runway being dug up and the bit the other side of the main runway is occupied by the 'Dancing on Ice' studio..

LTNman

6th May 2022, 08:21

I think the 27 board seen in the 4th photo was put up by the film makers of Hanover Street. Bovingdon was an exciting place for those short weeks.

The film set with the windows repaired. Telegraph poles were put in as well as aerials and radar!
https://i.imgur.com/sPE1ABN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/JhKpMaN.jpg

After they moved out

https://i.imgur.com/GUj3YFf.png

https://i.imgur.com/rSyWfSH.png

https://i.imgur.com/GufJIXQ.png

chevvron

6th May 2022, 10:54

Definitely looks like a small hangar next to the tower; wonder when that was used 'cos the later strip used was across the other side of the airfield.

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th May 2022, 09:47

That hangar type structure had not been constructed when 'The Liquidator' was filmed at Bovingdon C1965. Compare with above images.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/420x315/liq022_7ed32aee433939f0fcebab69573cf44aad434e58.jpg

chevvron

7th May 2022, 10:38

'The Liquidator'? That's one I never heard of; looks like the photo is of ATC Cadets on parade.
From '65 to '67 (when the gliding school from Hendon moved in), I was flying Air Cadet gliders from Bovingdon (on detachment from Halton) occasionally so would have noticed; the hangar appeared after Bovingdon closed which was 1 Jan 1969.

bobward

7th May 2022, 14:14

The Liquidator was a 1960's film staring Rod Taylor as a supposed assassin. He actually 'sub-contracted' the work to a character played by Eric Sykes See this link for more details.The Liquidator (1965 film) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Liquidator_(1965_film))

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th May 2022, 16:54

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x679/s_l1600bovvy_may_1960_ae0a138fb3ded307f283458c4d26baeb32b3e0 0d.jpg

1960 Meteor T7. Note tail of C130A 560507. Photo credit the late Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x963/0127594_c130_560507_greybull_wyoming_2008_61f85bdaecb17afa02 a2881a36c85a2a4a8345bb.jpg
560507 photographed at Greybull Airfield, Wyoming in 2008. Photo credit as per image with thanks

Slight drift available here:https://www.ruudleeuw.com/usa14-greybull.htm

OUAQUKGF Ops

19th May 2022, 14:49

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x689/s_l1600_bovvy_oxford_c1956_rn_lossiemouth_nm528_24fc4d8810ad 58705123e8ce56c33b0288035677.jpg
Airspeed Oxford 1956 Photo credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x672/s_l1600_bovvy_c1956_9ea9ad8c41a126591424dd103e676502c606bae1 .jpg
Meteor F Mk8 1956 Photo credit Arthur Pearcy

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x674/s_l1600_bovingdon_38_group_coms_flt_1958_38ffbd7c44d7244029c f15ef5e18b688568fdae2.jpg
DH Devon 38 Group Comms Flt 1958 Photo Credit Arthur Pearcy

This particular Devon, on which he gained his twin rating, was often flown by HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh. In later life it was seen on the airshow circuit as G-HBBC. In 2010 or thereabouts it was purchased by a Norfolk businessman and taken by road to North Norfolk where it was rumoured to have disappeared into the Stygian Gloom of a large abandoned aerodrome perhaps never to be seen again......?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/981x646/screenshot_2022_05_19_at_12_31_46_by_royal_appointment_5f042 417fcfadf49fbd0bcc83f277326bae9f39b.png
At Coventry

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/968x646/screenshot_2022_05_19_at_12_59_14_g_hbbc_1168f45c15c01d620a5 7b73f711580eb070d89ee.png
At Compton Abbas in October 2011 before shipment to Norfolk. Photo credit John Morris.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1449x892/s_l1600_hastings_bovvy_1955_2__3a06256ffbe6baf5a7d1d4d457d08 b3baf78d2a3.jpg
HP Hastings 1955.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x643/meteor_bovvy_1957_ea20c830e9a0fd1bb7da5b05a94a43ced0f7ae14.j pg
AW Meteor NF14 1957. Photo credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x800/img_7175_riding_sschool_paddock_ccdb20671e31e929ab1eed8d952e dc41ef04246a.jpg
The tail of the same aeroplane in an Ulster Riding School Paddock during the 1990s.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1022x351/84329541_2513540462251314_9084306484778500096_o_aldergrove_1 979_3fcbb79470bc2301bcd3437841d54532a2a9fb05.jpg
Earlier image of 840 on the Aldergrove Fire Dump in 1979. Photo credits via AW Meteor WS788 Restoration Project.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1100x667/s_l1600_bovvy_13_9_56_pearcy_8c7426eb272d4df076712443e6bc4fe 102a2f535.jpg
Fairchild Packet (C119) 1956 Photo credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x635/17269_dak_bovvy_1956_9fc980868686974ddac0dba3acaa76c674ebbef b.jpg
1956 Photo Credit Arthur Pearcy.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x641/s_l1600_dak_bovvy_1956_0b8b12646d2c29b67fe8fd8772ef20554ab42 28e.jpg
Douglas C117 1956 Photo credit Arthur Pearcy.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/882x631/screenshot_2022_05_19_at_10_56_57_17248_douglas_c_117d_us_ma rines_28e847ed5cfa2a34fc45921af6d5152b270c8a5c.png
The same aeroplane at Davis Monthan AFB Tucson October 1978. Photo credit Keith Burton

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x842/0043085_toronto_0fca3008eccf791c6703a784057c891523aee9d0.jpg
In Civil Colours at its Toronto base in 1989. Photo credit as per caption with thanks.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/970x646/screenshot_2022_05_19_at_14_55_47_c_gdog_fcfce34959f1b539dee f45416f1c8bac6104b606.png
The last hurrah! At Brandford Airport Canada in May 2010. I think she was scrapped in 2011.....

Steve Bond

2nd Jun 2022, 09:30

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x798/varsity_t1_wj946_115_sqd_bovingdon_26_05_68_s_j_bond_photo_8 012266c98d61585adcb3b0fe2800eadf43ea91f.jpg
A 115 Sqn Varsity visiting from Watton on 26 May 1968.

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th Jun 2022, 09:45

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1280x960/latimer_house_buckinghamshire_geograph_4402495_by_mark_percy _75980c72dd866073edec16423d596c73a48b2d61.jpg
Latimer House, Buckinghamshire. Requisitioned by MI6 in 1941. Eavesdropping on Enemy POW's a speciality........

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/987x660/screenshot_2022_06_05_at_10_30_36_google_earth_3f23d673cd100 c40777bbbde62e66dc08e6e3126.png
Latimer House (bottom) in relation to Bovingdon (top)

Two interesting links to books by Helen Fry 'The Walls Have Ears' pages 59-60 and 'Spy Master' page 273.: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Walls_Have_Ears/gMKmDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=latimer+house+and+bovingdon+aerodrome&pg=PA60&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Spymaster/Aq9FEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Latimer+house+Bovingdon+Luftwaffe+POWS&pg=PA273&printsec=frontcover

chevvron

5th Jun 2022, 10:45

There was also a 'Signals Unit' stationed just a couple of miles east of Latimer at Chenies from the 1930s (before Bovingdon was built in '41/'42) until the late '50s by which time it had been re-purposed as a ROTOR GCI station; the ops room and associated buildings weren't finally demolished until about 2012.
There is still an installation at Chenies (latterly known as 'Martins Top') used as a remote radar station feeding weather information to the Met Office.
A new radar station was built by NATS roughly midway between Bovingdon and Chenies becoming operational in 2013 and replacing the radar which had been situated on top of T1a car park at Heathrow.
Granted the 'interrogation centre' at Latimer was in use during Bovingdon's wartime operarions but I don't think there was any concern, after all Mychett Place, a mile or so east of Farnborough, was used as the interrogation centre for Rudolf Hess!

chevvron

5th Jun 2022, 11:00

Talking of Bovingdon, I saw the first half hour of so of '633 Squadron' yesterday for the umpteenth time; amazing how you can always notice something not seen before.
In this instance in the opening shots, Cliff and Co arrive back from an operation and park right in front of a freshly painted helicopter landing circle and shortly afterwards, the camera pans towards the hangars and you see a rather conspicuous long wheelbase Landrover parked there, not even in camo colours!
NB For you younger people; helicopters hadn't been invented at the time of the 633 op and Landrovers weren't built until about 1948.
Course then there was the often used 'stock shot' of Mossies landing and in the background you could see a row of Ansons lined up all with shining white tops; I'm sure that would have been allowed in wartime!.

OUAQUKGF Ops

13th Jun 2022, 11:00

Although Liberator B24 41-23728 was never based at Bovingdon it departed on its last flight from that airfield on May 3rd 1943. With 31 Missions completed it was returning to America carrying Lieutenant General Frank M Andrews and party. Interesting links below.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x606/media_408397_hot_stuff_a95e23bd7709912bff23dad1649dd2fb3bf8c 865.jpg
Photo Credit Roger Freeman Collection American Air Museum in Britain.

https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=1532&MemID=2033

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/149

Interesting video link given on latter.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/792x612/121001181_3158863780881800_288169949708875127_n_hot_stuff_31 9a27ce1417e0197877fd384044aa465a27db72.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/603x436/e74a1e1df6ba0b8413b3abf04f843e73_hot_stuff_789d939e4b3c13fb2 63f92a161692ffb5ed706ac.jpg

XV490

13th Jun 2022, 13:46

Although Liberator B24 41-23728 was never based at Bovingdon it departed on its last flight from that airfield on May 3rd 1943. 31 Missions completed it was returning to America carrying Lieutenant General Frank. M Andrews and party. Interesting links below.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x606/media_408397_hot_stuff_a95e23bd7709912bff23dad1649dd2fb3bf8c 865.jpg
Photo Credit Roger Freeman Collection American Air Museum in Britain.

https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=1532&MemID=2033

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/149

The general also gave his name to Andrews Field (https://andrewsfield.com/history-of-andrewsfield/) (commonly 'Andrewsfield' these days), the US-built airfield at Great Saling, near Braintree.

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Jun 2022, 15:05

Fellow PpruNer goldox brought the existence of this film 'Stop Press Girl' (1949) to our attention in another thread (What Airfield is this ?) Old Eric Rylands probably chuckled when he saw the luxuriously spacious Passenger Cabin depicted in this Movie. And as to the Tea Cups and unsecured bottles of booze in the Pantry (Galley) Well quite shocking My Dear !
One cannot be sure whether this Movie was shot before the commencement of, or during the period of The Berlin Airlift 1948-49. The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation HP Halifax 8 G-AKEC which is seen in the film completed 79 Freight and 159 Tanker Sorties to Berlin during that period.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x81gest

Scenes from Bovingdon commence at approx 4.09mins.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/722x546/screenshot_2022_06_16_at_14_59_36_stop_press_girl_1949_part2 _colorized_sally_ann_howes_gordon_jackson_james_robertson_ju stice_comedy_sci23039141_593a19a4be01bdb8cca308a3683e3addeb0 df80f.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/726x543/screenshot_2022_06_16_at_14_56_14_stop_press_girl_1949_part2 _colorized_sally_ann_howes_gordon_jackson_james_robertson_ju stice_comedy_sci328575010_bd4608be2e67d1831f6eb1efcce375dca4 22cb32.png
Departing R/W 27 Bovingdon.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/730x543/screenshot_2022_06_16_at_14_38_11_stop_press_girl_1949_part2 _colorized_sally_ann_howes_gordon_jackson_james_robertson_ju stice_comedy_sci404480762_0ff16a1991ed1d4c4170b52e9b2f71c74b 93278c.png
R/W 35 was used for the Horse and Cart sequence. Note neglected state of runway. View here towards Berkhamsted with the woods of Ashridge Park distant centre right.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1246x823/screenshot_2022_06_16_at_16_07_54_handley_page_halifax_c_mk_ viii_g_akec_1355_lancashire_aircraft_corporation_10db82c909c 024eb277b5c26afd6fcc6cb7d9c10.png
1950 at Hurn for The Daily Express Air Race. Piloted by Captain A.N. Marshall - LAC Station Manager Bovingdon. Placed 24th at an average speed of 267 mph. Photo credit Dave Welch with many thanks.

G-AKEC was damaged beyond repair in December 1952 when it was parked at Blackpool and blown against Halton G-AHDV in strong winds.

Sue Vêtements

30th Jun 2022, 22:49

Very interesting thread. My sister used to live in Tring, so I'll have to ask her what she knows about the area

anyway, look at this picture of the B17. Is it me, or does it appear to have the cheek gun on the port side only ... and only the port side chin turret gun mounted too?

compare it with the second pic

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x698/11621300335_d0c6df565a_b_war_lover_3_b1af486b9391e07275257d0 b490ef4a20450760b.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x602/11621527063_1d51ce9dbb_bwar_lover_2_bfb0660248ecfe54e2bdfdb3 74fa9838d0a5e793.jpg

OUAQUKGF Ops

1st Jul 2022, 13:46

I think you would need a B17 enthusiast to answer your question - so many built, various 'marks' etc. From this link it seems that turrets were possibly attached and perhaps detached for filming.....https://www.pbase.com/easystreet/notes_on_the_filming

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1045/39186642084_e76d6155a7_h_9d5feae6c37191cf864589db7daf8cfe320 121b2.jpg
Photo credit Warbirds Information Exchange.

treadigraph

1st Jul 2022, 13:59

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th Jul 2022, 16:33

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1130/s_l1600_wicker_1959_e5a609e34af2791557b1a5959cebbd0b2e379169 .jpg
Bovingdon's Hangar Queen 1959.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x590/media_408347_atc_cadets_1d5e95774b5ff331ca959df54cf9a15e9b10 752d.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/484x800/media_379180_atc_cadets_3bd739ecea35d9a844d1cf765f7dfd983b92 db28.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/840x240/screenshot_2022_07_06_at_14_37_07_roger_freeman_collection_f re_743_american_air_museum_in_britain_ae6486ff258d9c06a8df5f 40af560e9fe71e653d.png

Photo and Text Credit Roger Freeman Collection American Air Museum in Britain.

chevvron

7th Jul 2022, 20:22

Very interesting thread. My sister used to live in Tring, so I'll have to ask her what she knows about the area

My great aunt and her husband lived in Tring right oppostie the Rothschild Museum, my mother in Pitstone .
I think you'll find most memories about that area will involve either Cheddington or Halton because sometimes an arriving aircraft couldn't make Cheddington so it landed at Halton instead in spite of the fact the grass runway was only about 1200yds.
Years later, 3 Vulcans, 2 Comets and an Argosy landed at Halton too.

brakedwell

8th Jul 2022, 06:46

If you want more info about how the War Lover B-17s arrived in Britain, try and get hold of a copy of Martin Caidin's "Everything but the Flak". I don't doubt there's a touch of exaggeration in the telling but it's still a cracking read!

Incidentally, I chanced across a video the other day which shows a 1960ish Tiger Club display probably at Redhill - including a parachutist exiting a crazy flying Tiger Moth G-ACDC at relatively low level - pretty sure that would have been Mike Reilly who died doing a drop from the B-17s into The Channel while filming The War Lover. See if I can find it again...

When I was on Coastal Command Comm Flight in 1959/1, I flew several flights in one of our Ansons for Columbia Pictures to film movies of cumulus clouds, which were used as backgrounds in the War Lover film. I also remember Shirley Anne Field visits to the Officers Mess quite well!

chevvron

8th Jul 2022, 08:47

When I was on Coastal Command Comm Flight in 1959/1, I flew several flights in one of our Ansons for Columbia Pictures to film movies of cumulus clouds, which were used as backgrounds in the War Lover film. I also remember Shirley Anne Field visits to the Officers Mess quite well!
I saw Shirley Ann in a film of about 1970 vintage; I won't tell what it was about but she told one of the characters 'you kinky b@stard' so perhaps that's why you got to know her 'quite well'.

OUAQUKGF Ops

8th Jul 2022, 18:44

I've long searched for a decent photograph of The French Air Attache's Fouga Magister at Bovingdon or indeed anywhere. I've come across this image taken at Glasgow in 1975 of The Air Attache's runabout (rumoured to be on a golfing mission) and also noted that this particular aeroplane was seen at Northolt in 1970 (where I believe it was subsequently based) . Registered as F-TFTR/547 I have been unable to establish its date of manufacture or history. I wonder if this is the same aeroplane I watched in my youth ? Possibly so, it appears like me, to be suitably aged and battered.........

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x900/34877369664_4168d7ed0b_h_fouga_magister_7296a14cf92ade24e6cb 5fb13241ef970a0966f2.jpg

brakedwell

8th Jul 2022, 20:22

I remember the Fouga Magister in the hangar next to our Coastal Com Flight hut. It was always a bit grubby and I never did see it fly.

chevvron

9th Jul 2022, 06:33

Used to go out saturday mornings; saw it a few times when we were pulling our gliders out but we flew until dark on sunday evening and never saw it return so it must have sneaked back early mondays when you lot were doing your power checks which we could hear from our school in Chesham if using 02.

chevvron

9th Jul 2022, 08:41

Anyway, look at this picture of the B17. Is it me, or does it appear to have the cheek gun on the port side only ... and only the port side chin turret gun mounted too?

compare it with the second pic
Er I don't think they're guns, just broomsticks made up to look like them.

chevvron

9th Jul 2022, 08:46

I've long searched for a decent photograph of The French Air Attache's Fouga Magister at Bovingdon or indeed anywhere. I've come across this image taken at Glasgow in 1975 of The Air Attache's runabout (rumoured to be on a golfing mission)

Now why go to Glasgow for golf? Surely Prestwick or Leuchars would provide better courses.

OUAQUKGF Ops

9th Jul 2022, 09:39

Now why go to Glasgow for golf? Surely Prestwick or Leuchars would provide better courses.

From Fighter Control Website:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/754x75/screenshot_2022_07_09_at_10_33_50_france_fouga_cm_170_magist er_1975_fightercontrol_3__d8e932518b4c8f1c4a37e4a49d3578a8a4 482be6.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x1026/0105928_6723ff832a43cb9cba3cb26e7771f5d67353c13b.jpg
Glasgow 1975. Photo Credit Lewis Grant with thanks.

chevvron

10th Jul 2022, 10:57

Not being a golfing person, my sole experience at Glasgow during my 9 month stay in 1972 was the 9 hole municipal course in Bellahouston Park.
I can see something in the back seat of the Magister but my little 11" screen doesn't show it clearly - looks more like a person.
By the way, when Bovingdon closed to powered traffic at the end of '68, did the Magister move to Northolt?

OUAQUKGF Ops

10th Jul 2022, 11:36

I Googled 'French Air Attache Golfer' and this came up - I'm not sure that he is our man ! ( But he was French and a Military Attache ). Incidentally in 1974 I believe the French Air Attache was a Colonel Perrotte and that he was a regular visitor in his Fouga Magister to Baldonnel in the period 74-76. Later, on reflection, perhaps his visits to Ireland were related to the purchase and introduction of the Fouga Magisters which entered service with the Irish Air Corps in 1975 ?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/292x375/screenshot_2022_07_10_at_12_31_47_chambrun_count_de_captain_ artillery_corps_military_attache_french_embassy_playing_golf _stock_photo_alamy_9576de1b54fa91727c8d03f84fe9631a2740c487. png

KING6024

14th Jul 2022, 11:25

I've lots of time thinking of my youth in the 1950s now that I'm stuck in a care home bed.I often went to Bovingdon both as a CCF cadet and a spotter.I flew in Ansons and also a Devon.I've a vague memory of being on standby to fly in a Meteor T7 if the weather cleared.I flew in an Anson right hand cockpit seat and can rememember priming the engines.I also flew in a couple of Chipmunks although not from Bovingdon.
From a spotting point of view there were always the C47s and occasional Packets.A Coastal Command Neptune was a visitor along with Shackletons,Coastal Command was based at Northwood.Unfortunately I do not have any pictures.

Colin

chevvron

14th Jul 2022, 11:44

KING6024

14th Jul 2022, 12:12

Hi Chevvron, yes I'm a member of the 6024 Preservation Society,I was on the main line Support Crew until 2012.If you are interested 6024.com is worth a look.

chevvron

14th Jul 2022, 13:40

I once had the pleasure of doing a 'driving course' in a GWR pannier tank on the Swindon and Cricklade railway.

uxb99

14th Jul 2022, 21:43

An airworthy Fouga Magister used to live at North Weald in the 80's.

OUAQUKGF Ops

15th Jul 2022, 06:58

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x562/265097_orfordness_55_derelict_places_53b8d547779d0112dd02f62 fb1b56a2991460a03.jpg
Orfordness Photo Derelict Places

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/527x800/diu387ywaaaokt3_disney_63ed2d549c47b80b4a8facd73a3c163b59d80 263.jpg

I found this on the internet while digging for Disney but have no idea of the origin of the document which presumably at one stage was quite sensitive.........

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x620/diu387gx4aexrto_disney_8c0c741ee45c0c012478e4b978a6894dfceac d96.jpg

The Disney Rocket Assisted Bunker Busting Bomb - conceived and designed by Commander (later Captain) Edward Terrell RNVR in 1943 as a counter to Nazi U Boat and E Boat Operations from the European Atlantic Seaboard. An Admiralty Project which initially suffered obfuscation from The Air Ministry amongst others, the bomb was first used operationally by the 92nd Bomb Group of the USAAF in early 1945. At that time The Royal Air Force was not equipped with suitable aircraft capable of carrying Disneys externally so the Americans who had always shown an interest in the Project adopted the weapon for use by the Boeing B17 Flying Fortress. The Initial trials at Orfordness which were to test the stability of the bomb whilst in its supersonic trajectory were flown from Bovingdon in the spring and early summer of 1944. The Bomb had a Length of 16'6" - Diameter of 17" at tail - 15" at body. Weight 4500lbs. To be dropped from 20,00 feet with the 19 (3inch diameter) Rocket Motors activating at 5000 feet. It was calculated that using the Norden sight somewhere between five and seven hits on a shelter/bunker could be achieved out of every hundred bombs released.

Unfortunately no location is given for this photograph but it could well be Bovingdon. On the left is Lieutenant-Commander J.B. Murray a pilot of the Fleet Air Arm and assistant to Terrell who is centre with an RAF Armaments Officer (un-named ) to the right. I can only speculate that this individual might be Flight Lieutenant F.C.Cowdrey who was at Bovingdon and whose medals were sold a few years ago.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/682x557/screenshot_2022_07_12_at_14_06_50_746_a_highly_unusual_and_i nteresting_american_bronze_star_group_of_f_8d0afc9b113412e6f 14e0bfdd88253f257d87596.png

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/424x363/p1030596_2__5ca685f1bd6dbd56912b56ae03d90224f04085bb.jpg
Bovingdon 1944. Cass Hough, Admiral Sir Charles Kennedy-Purvis (A strong Proponent for Disney), Edward Terrell, Col Al Key Trials Pilot, Col Ben Kelsey Test Pilot and Chief of the Operating Engineering Section of 8th AF HQ Bovingdon.

Algene Key was one of the Key Barnstorming brothers. A short film here of their 27 Day flight endurance record in 1935 at Meridian, Miss in a Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZPa9an0AE

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x561/ben_with_friends_and_jenny_resize_small_acb35bbde74376a47c56 6b02d0b5c49b1ad58cc6.jpg
Ben Kelsey learnt to fly when he was 14 at Roosevelt Field, Long Island.

I noticed that Woodbridge was mentioned somewhere as being involved in the initial bombing trials. However I can find no evidence that the airfield was used apart from a mention by Terrell that he was on board a laden B17 with Al Key taking off from an airfield near Woodbridge when due to a malfunction a violent swing occurred and the takeoff was abandoned. What does transpire is that Terrell based himself and his team in the town of Woodbridge for the duration of the tests at nearby Orfordness.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/755x800/large_000000_a6f0661fb1493bf238273a66944cfe91d362e250.jpg
Woodbridge Emergency Strip

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/358x386/p1030598_downsize_2__7270bfa417a11bdf12b8800520a9fe1eb723ff3 6.jpg
However the Bomb and Ballistics Unit of The Ministry of Aircraft Production arrived at Woodbridge Aerodrome in May 1944 with a couple of Lancasters and a Halifax for testing Bunker Busting Bombs at Orfordness. Initially all accommodation and admin was under canvas at the side of the vast landing strip. The strip first used in July 1943 achieved 4,120 landings by June 1945. Some interesting footage on link below.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060021135

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/395x500/34008caf_cf78_4cbe_9217_fd464e78eac0_ballistics_imaging_buil ding_8ad484d0bf18926143083f126e473f6c1d48436b.jpg
Ballistics Observation Tower Orfordness

The first Disney trial did not go well. The aiming point was in the sea just off King's Marsh on the Orfordness Range however the first Bomb detached itself from the B17 and rocketed to earth narrowly avoiding two farm workers and their Fordson Tractor whilst the second Disney went off course and plunged too far out to sea. Fortunately the weapons were being tested without warheads.
Trials were much delayed by weather, a minimum clear ceiling of 20,00 feet being required. The B17 was escorted by two armed fighters. Disney was declared stable in its supersonic state and produced a most horrible howl which would put the wind up anyone. This stage of the trials was concluded satisfactorily by June 1944. A very good static detonation was achieved on the range at Shoeburyness and development continued until the end of 1944. The only live demonstration was given to Officials and sceptical RAF Brass by Ben Kelsey who flew from Bovingdon to Ashley Walk Range in The New Forest where the crew achieved an almost pin-point targeted explosion which caused the earth to shake.

Video follows of 92nd Bomb Group Podington , Bedfordshire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIhNRJGdzIk

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1031x687/screenshot_2022_07_13_at_06_09_30_schnellbootbunker_2_widers tandsnest_77_festung_ijmuiden_the_netherlands_82ee826e94b937 b27ae92474d17451dd9842c536.png
Schnellbootbunker 2 Ijmuiden Photo LandmarkScout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuJRiaEIAeY

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1525x1375/p1030599_2_resize_6310af2718e2aafb3bd0ee3097d0ba382b31516d.j pg
92nd BG attack Ijmuiden Schnellbootbunker 2 on March 14 1945. Nine Aircraft bomb in elements of three. Four rocket plumes seen indicate that two rockets have failed to fire. At the end of the inlet bottom left you can see Schnellbootbunker 1 which was abandoned after heavy bombing at the end of 1944 (617 squadron paid a visit on December 12th 1944) and both facilities suffered very heavy bombing. Schnellbootbunker 2 was first bombed with Disneys by nine B17s of 92 BG on February 10th 1945. 'Photo reconnaissance later showed that only one bomb had hit but the damage seemed encouraging' (Freeman 'The Mighty Eighth'). However Terrell's account of this raid reads: 'The first element consisting of three aircraft, recorded hits from 20,000 feet. An area of concrete of about 8550 feet and over twelve feet deep was completely destroyed and vanished. The bombardiers reported flames coming out of the entrance to the shelters, indicating that the bombs had penetrated and exploded inside.' Of the results of the bombing on March 14th Terrell writes in his book that of 18 bombs dropped, 'six struck the target' of which one partly penetrated 'Eighteen and a half feet of concrete but failed to explode , remaining embedded in the cement flooring.' After Liberation this Disney which was still 'live' was detonated in situ by Terrell's party with Scientists present to record the effects of Blast and Fragmentation within walls of concrete. One really cannot be sure how many Disneys hit the main bunker perhaps at best two and more likely only one.
Further Reading: Admiralty Brief by Edward Terrell O.B.E. Q.C. Published by Harrap 1958.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/848x600/u_boat_pens_at_ijmuiden_6fb640c3565acd5dc69a8c888f91130e7886 049c.jpg
The Schnellbootbunker2 Ijmuiden date unknown but probably at the closing stages of the war.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/567x462/p1030600_2__2cd3f6f2deac523efa64e10454e8bb9ab47fcb45.jpg
Edward Terrell at the V2 Structure at Watten, Pas De Calais in 1945. This facility used for Disney target practice by the 92BG after the allied invasion and prior to the attacks at Ijmuiden Netherlands. Penetrated here to a depth of 21 Feet.

OUAQUKGF Ops

16th Jul 2022, 11:41

If you are not bored by Bunkers you might find this of interest....

..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jmSHSdCAX0

OUAQUKGF Ops

24th Jul 2022, 12:31

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x649/s_l1600_whirlwind_22_squad_bov_mar56_1662a032da032451957593e 9aab37911afb77c08.jpg
Whirlwind HAR2 XJ727 March 1956. A visitor from 22 Squadron Detachment Martlesham. Photo Late Arthur Pearcy.

In February 1956 XJ727 had been busy......

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1315x543/screenshot_2022_07_24_at_10_52_35_services_of_the_life_boats _in_january_february_and_march_1956_66_lives_rescued_9416e7b bf2e6fdd26dd73c5fef5bb7d994cabac4.png
Excerpt from 'Life-Boat' 1956 Journal RNLI

More Here:Aircrew Remembered: Aviation Obituaries (http://aircrewremembered.com/pinn-ronald-harry-albert.html)

XJ727 was eventually upgraded to HAR 10 specification and served with 2 FTS and The Central Flying School (Helicopters).

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/980x646/screenshot_2022_07_24_at_12_42_36_whirlwind_xj727_3f1db5ab59 e7544e27eb1d36c2ec27862a392b52.png
At Shawbury during the 1970s. Incidentally XJ727 was one of the helicopters used at Wittering in 1974 to train Harrier Pilots in hovering techniques. Photo L.A. Rodger.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1033x646/screenshot_2022_07_22_at_13_46_55_royal_air_force_westland_w hirlwind_har10_xj727_43f12e5dbe4432664c31ff0728a82ef52bd8e30 4.png
XJ727 at Halton with No 1 School of Technical Training in 1989. Photo Neil Brant.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1290x803/screenshot_2022_07_24_at_12_49_07_westland_whirlwind_har_10_ 8661m_wa_98_royal_air_force_149ea5574054753371bac09b4cbbfed4 2d65a553.png
On the Dump at Dishforth June 1994. Photo the Late Sid Nanson, with thanks.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/805x528/screenshot_2022_07_24_at_12_38_14_flickriver_alanwz581_s_mos t_interesting_photos_8cc879ec6245f66d74ccb839e4529de5717162c a.png
For spares RAF Manston History Museum 1998. Photo eLaReF.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/richboroughpowerstation_27_01_08015_feb4fb35623e35848720636d e74e729f9491de4f.jpg
Paintball site at the disused Richborough Power Station in 2007. Photo oblivion State.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x675/xj727thetford_2018_c959a67fee5cb6395a2ec3486f1ddcb866782010. jpg
Recorded as XJ727 (perhaps in part !) Photo Matthew Last.

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th Aug 2022, 15:50

An interesting tribute here by his son. Paston-Williams was stationed at Bovingdon with Fighter Command (Communications) Squadron in the Nineteen-Fifties.

http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/lancaster-lm658-crew-list/squadron-leader-h-bill-paston-williams-a-f-c/

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th Aug 2022, 16:05

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/896x1185/tudor_wreck_d72495ff425948a29dcf6292148f3d2c6e2c925a.jpg
Damping Down The Tudor October 26th 1951.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1424x650/s_l1600_lincoln_bovingdon_reduced_e7f35c92f47513d4b15f41247c 822b1ffea57c4b.jpg
Avro Lincoln.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x770/s_l1600_fouga_magister_f6c94ad9291f65bb8b274053c91489b659065 ea2.jpg
At long last an image of what I take to be The French Air Attache's Fouga Magister. Serial Number 78. Date 1962

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1600/s_l1600approach_chart_77c2a760e9a26e6dde5487ecb6b1a65a7b6abc 57.jpg
RAF Issue November 1944.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x1600/s_l1600_bovingdon_1944_app_cht_d5b880b6c7ac4b3b36e712a57c671 bba774f7ef8.jpg
RAF issue November 1944. Note Aprons yet to be completed and splendid Tower Call Sign: 'EarlsCourt'

brakedwell

8th Aug 2022, 06:59

The Fouga! That brings back memories! I was on Coastal Com when the photo was taken, and I am sure the building (shed) on the right was our CCCF. HQ.

chevvron

8th Aug 2022, 08:54

That looks like the first hangar coming from the guardroom whereas when I saw it in '65/6/7 it was parked outside the second hangar and we parked our gliders in the first one along with a lone Mosquito which had been left behind after '663' and the 'snow blower'..

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Oct 2022, 12:03

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1050x645/s_l1600_1957_0f5689420022479147adae52f600f83adb70ceab.jpg
Dated 1957

Quite a good read here about service with The USAF 7531st Air Base Squadron. Once you have got into the link you need time before accessing pages 103-126 as they don't all come up at once: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Peon_to_Pentagon/bahlK0vVBjYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=bovingdon&pg=PA107&printsec=frontcover

Another Tit-Bit here pages 121-123:www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Fleet_Air_Arm_Boys/ZzhIEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=bovingdon&pg=PA122&printsec=frontcover (https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Fleet_Air_Arm_Boys/ZzhIEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=bovingdon&pg=PA122&printsec=frontcover)

chevvron

5th Oct 2022, 16:29

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th Oct 2022, 07:56

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/792x423/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_10_59_14_august_7_1954_the_illustra ted_london_news_jet_fighters_high_over_england_and_a_new_air _record_i_w_37398925_998bee396cbb728c4c3cb1ee7a6ca0026ec0937 4.png
Photo: British Newspaper Archive. Illustrated London News August 7th 1954

Lieut-Cmdr J.R.S. (Jack) Overbury of The Naval Test Squadron on his return to Bovingdon 29 July 1954 having set a point to point Class C1 London (Bovingdon) - Amsterdam (Schipol) Record 224 miles in 23 minutes, 39.7 secs at 571.5 mph in his Sea Hawk.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x583/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_11_00_11_august_7_1954_the_illustra ted_london_news_jet_fighters_high_over_england_and_a_new_air _record_i_w_715482875_87c14a68e584a969a42348392c27d7e0724ea3 4b.png

Photo: British Newspaper Archive Illustrated London News August 7th 1954

Jack Overbury 1925-1960 served in The Royal Navy from 1943. He graduated from 12th Course ETPS Farnborough in 1953. From 1954 until 1956 he was on the strength of The Naval Test Squadron at Boscombe Down. During this time he set another record on 2nd July 1955 flying a Sea Venom from Rome to Malta at 538 mph.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/512x430/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_17_46_23_print_of_de_havilland_dh_1 12_sea_venom_f_a_w_21_xa539_trim_2__29c6b13bde34c023fc1035d4 ddac4f1ea7a8d7e5.png
Prototype de Havilland Sea Venom 21 XA539. Overbury was one of several pilots who carried out Deck Trials on HMS Albion with this particular aircraft at the end of August 1954.

Jack Overbury left the Navy and joined Saunders Roe in 1957 as the Assistant Chief Test Pilot. Here he flew early development flights on the SR53 Prototype XD145 and the ill-fated XD151.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/868x732/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_17_57_32_the_sr53_test_effort_trim_ 695403d140f821d2273479a028dfc67b47cd24c7.png

It was during this period that Jack met with a mishap displaying a Turbulent at Sandown on the Isle of Wight and ended up in hospital.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/573x595/s_l1600_overbury_trim_2_e02f36fecc44331f166f484c25c47595915b d1a4.jpg
And here we see Elizabeth
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/950x764/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_19_39_29_16_year_old_cadet_pilot_ma rgaret_seaward_of_the_women_s_junior_air_resize_674762b60eb3 3fa5cf69630942357bd56e52284c.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1140x213/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_19_38_48_16_year_old_cadet_pilot_ma rgaret_seaward_of_the_women_s_junior_air_82700f85f8cb5d4a333 a03685b853356aa72a0cb.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1262x1600/page_3_womens_own_bd9e80c1d197cb6e8be7c9a47d5e82c2cdca3ca1.j pg

In 1959 Jack Overbury was employed as a Test Pilot by Huntings at Luton. I think the couple moved to Studham near Whipsnade. Unfortunately Jack was killed in 1960 when Jet Provost G-AOUS suffered a sequence of events that resulted in a structural failure.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/950x702/ad5f384c0e8fd141de53ffe40a32de46_resize_3_a6d4dedb10e91282fa 08fac10977b9980c8f36ac.jpg
Photo: BAE Systems Heritage - Percival Hunting Collection. G-AOUS at Luton. Date Unknown.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/552x437/hunting_jet_provost_1_265e456ca41527bfcb0d0d918665123ea65afa 15.gif
Photo: Langford History Society. Wreckage at Langford Common Bedfordshire 16th November 1960.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/552x405/hunting_jet_provost_2_langford_common_beds16_nov_1960_3ced61 56264b914aafad38fb83d049d321cd6bdc.gif
Photo Langford History Society

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x667/g_alzv_as57_ambassador_autair_lpl_27jan65_6150773137_resize_ b8f7c2c420f26772b904a4d9d621b3dfb9100fde.jpg

At sometime around 1964 Elizabeth who had been instructing at Luton Flying Club joined Autair International as a First Officer at Luton Airport. Initially she mainly flew Ambassador aircraft graduating to the 748 (In those days you could fly both types concurrently). In 1968 she was among the first Autair Pilots to be sent for Ground School and Flying Training on the BAC111 with British United Airways at Gatwick before returning to Luton for further training and line flying on Autair's newly introduced BAC111s.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/787x342/screenshot_2022_10_06_at_17_15_05_corrections_and_clarificat ions_02b8aec285b1b25a0732080c77112a966639031f.png
2021 Correction published by The Guardian.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x705/p1030629_2__2852288001be0024ee3a513e732b57ffa173f774.jpg
Photo: Elizabeth Overbury/Graham Simons. Senior First Officer Palma Majorca 1969

With the collapse of Court Line in 1974 Elizabeth found employment with Dan Air as a Captain on their HS748 Fleet.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/316x342/dan_elizabeth_overbury2_dan_air_remembered_fde325850036152e4 9b55ebbc3652694adf5e7b6.jpg
Photo: Dan Air Remembered.

I'm afraid that Elizabeth died some years ago now. I have been unable to track down her obituary. She re-married in 1977. I have found an interesting snippet on the following link - for the second part of the video click on 'read the full conversation'. It shows Elizabeth as sparky as ever. Just as I remember her from all those years ago at Autair. It was tough for her being a young widow and being mucked around by an inexperienced tea boy come Crewing Officer (Me). I remember she had a very smart White Volvo Sports Car in those days.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1574322671709552643

chevvron

7th Oct 2022, 08:53

Photo of the Autair Ambassador isn't Luton, I think it's Liverpool.

OUAQUKGF Ops

7th Oct 2022, 08:59

Yes indeed it is Liverpool - The Old Liverpool Terminal - Somewhat smarter than Luton don't you think? I just thought it was a good photograph of The Ambassador.

Postscript: Inferior images removed and replaced with this:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/793x1000/s_l1600_overbury_8ee3bff9b17f99ee4d3ce562890494be89c059ae.jp g
Jack Overbury on his return to Bovingdon from Schipol.

OUAQUKGF Ops

18th Oct 2022, 09:13

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/696x425/screenshot_2023_10_13_at_22_07_36_bl_0000669_19450920_071_00 04_pdf_eaef04aba9e8cc0a17fde650d4e97789d687b229.png
Image: British Newspaper Archive.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/807x423/screenshot_2022_10_18_at_13_54_14_the_pan_am_series_part_xii i_farewell_boeing_314_and_hello_dc_4_94822eed99f5d541a38da34 fabccdb8a4a2e4780.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1462x273/screenshot_2022_10_18_at_14_07_04_pan_am_historical_foundati on_1456805dcd998be041be1ef46f3fe16b5b3d7cdf.png
Source Pan Am Historical Foundation.

In the event the early post-war American Transatlantic services to London were operated into Hurn Airport. Heathrow was then not operational and presumably Bovingdon (ideally situated) was not used because it was then still a military airfield.

Slight drift here:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/forgotten-first-flight-180975833/

OUAQUKGF Ops

22nd Oct 2022, 12:32

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/647x848/screenshot_2022_10_20_at_14_48_22_2005_12rd_pdf_5e44fdeb917a 7822ddc80c467c542e73c6d8b2c3.png
Extracted from 8th Air Force News 2005 with thanks.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x688/screenshot_2022_10_20_at_22_00_07_fre_010064_jpg_jpeg_image_ 5719_3934_pixels_scaled_19_resize_cdc89f08594882d8efa30fd83d 03e94d01e28055.png
Col Kelsey (left) Major Hough (2nd Right) and other members of The First Fighter Group. June 1942. Probably at Goxhill, Lincs. Photo: Roger Freeman Collection American Air Museum in Britain.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1265x615/media_19801_264e3a9a5784411eadfbd2a9e0080dcb4c2b6943.jpeg
'Mother' and 'Baby' 1944. The 'Mother' would usually be at a much greater height than this. 'Mother' ships were sometimes at an altitude of 18,000 feet above the 'Baby' at the initial rendezvous point. Photo: American Air Museum in Britain.

Little is mentioned about the part that Bovingdon's USAAF Operational Engineering Section played in the early days of the ill-fated 'Project Aphrodite' in which war- weary B17F/G aircraft were developed to be used as remote controlled Flying Bombs. For a general overview use this link:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/project-castor-the-story-of-b-17-and-b-24-bombers-converted-into-flying-bombs-and-aimed-to-destroy-luftwaffes-v-1-sites/

The first flight trials took place at Bovingdon on the evening of 24th June 1944. Colonels Cass Hough and Al Key flew the B17 'Baby' while Major Henry J. Rand operated as the Controller in the B17 'Mother' ship. Cloud restricted 'Mother's' height from a planned 20,000 feet to 6,000 feet but the trials were considered a reasonable success. During June 1944 Ten aircraft were converted to 'Babies' at Burtonwood, Lancs and flown initially to Bovingdon. Intensive crew training at Bovingdon and Honington ? commenced in great secrecy probably towards the end of June 1944, with each volunteer requiring 25 hours flying time. The Project came under the control of the U.S. Third Air Division H.Q. at Elveden Hall, Suffolk. At this stage further aircraft were being converted at Honington Airfield, Suffolk where technical and operational support for the Project was then based. Volunteer crews included men drawn from the 388th BG (B17) Knettishall, Suffolk and the 458th BG (B24) Horsham st Faith, Norfolk. The latter were experienced in the use of Azon guided weapons and some of their B24s were used as 'Mother' ships. The U.S. Navy also participated as 'Project Anvil' using war- weary PB4Y-1 aircraft.
The first mission was planned to operate from RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk towards the end of the first week of July 1944 (I think the explosives were loaded there on July 7th). The Technical Support Section moved in from Honington en-masse. However lengthy delays, mainly weather related were encountered. It became clear that a very busy Emergency Landing Strip was not suitable for Bombers each loaded with 20,000lbs of high explosive, plus Escorts, sitting around waiting for the weather to improve. The Americans were not made to feel welcome at Woodbridge. One account has the ten drones parked up wing-tip to wing-tip in an isolated corner of the airfield together with the Project's tented encampment. There were complaints from the RAF about tarmac damage caused by the heavily loaded aircraft. To cap it all, much to the Americans' concern, a Luftwaffe Junkers 88G-1 nightfighter lost and low on fuel landed on the strip to be captured intact during the early hours of 13 July 1944.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x774/screenshot_2022_10_22_at_09_58_46_captured_ju_88_g_1a_britis h_resize_3dee1eee35bdb973142d16038026b3b5de91eca3.png

On or around 15 July 1944 the Mission was cancelled and the Project decamped from Woodbridge to their new base which had been known as RAF Winfarthing now renamed RAF Fersfield in Norfolk. Here they remained for the duration of the Project although a few of the last missions are thought to have been flown from the parent Airfield at Knettishall from where technical and operational support was supplied to Fersfield.

(Further Reading: 'Final Flights' by Ian McLachlan Published by PSL 1989. and 'Aphrodite Desperate Mission' by Jack Olson published by Putnam 1970.)

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1422x1430/screenshot_2022_10_23_at_07_38_29_operation_aphrodite_wikipe dia_4c3c51467cec84913de2c7aa507ea118c3ae9220.png
Source: Wikipedia N.B. The above is not wholly accurate. For instance on August 4th 1944: The Crash 'Near Orford' and the crash at Sudbourne are one and the same, the pilot being killed and the engineer surviving.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/677x384/screenshot_2022_10_20_at_15_09_07_1110bombers_pdf_2__0f78ec5 1f76e0de603358afe08be7ea8c3cac071.png
Lieut Colonel Roy Forrest, Commanding Officer USAAF Fersfield seated in Gremlin Gus 11.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1039x713/screenshot_2022_10_20_at_15_09_52_1110bombers_pdf_de5005ca94 2deea8c86b5805f45facfac5de5381.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1175x710/3845b17d5810b90c5f21808022ecbcea38f964ec_salvaged_42_30595_a d4d23157b347407fbb454878ab2363cd50f9861.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/423x322/screenshot_2022_10_22_at_09_46_23_doughildreth_flightaware_2 73a1539c31336da5e146b0b1eae15388d466b8c.png
Ack: Flight Aware and Doug Hildreth.

The first image, which was probably taken at Fersfield , appears in the first edition of Roger Freeman's classic book 'The Mighty Eighth' (1970) and is there mis-identified. The B17 is 42-30595 Gremlin Gus 11 and as far as I know it was the only B17 so 'modified'. It was adapted to carry Hydrostatic Bombs the loading of which necessitated the removal of much of the top fuselage which was then replaced by a fairing on completion of loading. Unusually the cockpit was left exposed to the elements. It is said that the windshield came from a large motor car and that the B17 was nick-named 'The Roadster'. It was designed to sink the German Battleship 'Tirpitz', which the RAF finally managed to do on November 12th 1944. As can be seen in the last photograph this B17 was salvaged in 1946 and looks to possibly be back in the USA rather than in Britain.

A couple of interesting links:https://www.forcedlandingcollection.se/USAAFe/USAAF140-441030-mugwump.html

https://thefrontlines.com/story/WW2-project-aphrodite/
Captured Ju 88 Radar Nightfighter (http://aircrewremembered.com/captured-ju-88-radar-nightfighter.html)

OUAQUKGF Ops

23rd Oct 2022, 14:43

I know I should get out more and it has now stopped raining - however I have been looking at this somewhat overlong silent movie shot at USAAF Honington. Right at the end of the reel from 28.52m is footage of what looks to be a B17 drone taking off and taxying. The departing B17 and particularly the taxying B17 look very much like 'Gremlin Gus 11', the tail letter H being that of the 388th Bomb Group. What do you think ?? I've also added a tit-bit about another B17 which is seen in the Movie.

https://eafa.org.uk/work/?id=214 (https://eafa.org.uk/work/?id=2140)

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/11721

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1090x727/screenshot_2022_10_23_at_15_20_15_work_east_anglia_film_arch ive_ec25a90459ad0b68f8fe0ff96d8e59ed215b6461.png

'Scuse Thread Drift.

OUAQUKGF Ops

27th Oct 2022, 08:18

I was deputy Satco at Bovingdon 67 to 69 and while there I worked closely with the MOCA civil Fire Crew who had been there for years previous. They told me that before the USAF left they buried tons of spares in the grass areas as well as burying a complete Lightning aircraft adjacent to the fire ground. I never got to excavate, but there will be some interesting finds if ever it is dug over. When the Battle of Britain filming finished the film company buried their dummy bombs in the grass adjacent to what was the underground avaition fuel storage facility. The fuel tanks were removed in 69 by flooding the gravel pits in which they were buried, then the empty tanks floated to the surface for removal. The largest aircraft that visited when I was there was a DC6 which came in to have seats fitted by a local firm. The Fouga Magister was resident as were Bassetts Ansons Pembrokes & Devons. The Ansons were sold off from Bovingdon in 68 and two went to Biafra flown by some intrepid pilots from Elstree who did their tail dragging conversions with the RAF before departing. Another Anson set off in the hands of a PPL accompanied by an air hostess from Luton for the States and on the first leg to Prestwick ended up in Ireland. I don`t know if they ever crossed the real pond. My time at Bovingdon was interesting as 3 films were made there during my time these being Mosquito Squadron, Battle of Britain & 633 Squadron. Mitchell, Messerschmit, Spitfires and Hurricanes were all mustered by Grp Capt Hamish Mahaddie as needed.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x749/s_l1600_germanair_at_bovingdon_1968_21196acd72ac93a7ab4bc19a 25e3763a0f09c02e.jpg
1968. Thought to be the DC6 mentioned above.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/chesham-for-safety-in-planes-aka-aircraft-seat

Aircraft Seats are still produced in Chesham (Buckinghamshire not Berkshire) by this company Flying Service Engineering. I expect Chevvron remembers their old factory towards the bottom of Nashleigh Hill.

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th Nov 2022, 14:29

From Bovingdon 1943. What is it ?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/678x900/bovingdon_1943_78ff7b3247ec2a03fb214fc0eff89c2c95d937c8.png

OUAQUKGF Ops

28th Nov 2022, 08:31

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1427x190/screenshot_2022_10_20_at_17_51_27_warbird_information_exchan ge_view_topic_vertical_rocket_installation_in_a_b_17_fortres s_1943_75da48b56f72e3c20e23ea60baf8d73faed20bc0.png
Ack Warbird Information Exchange

OUAQUKGF Ops

28th Nov 2022, 08:57

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/438x605/screenshot_2022_12_15_at_11_09_27_bl_0000324_19530108_008_00 08_pdf_27ea2c043dea099d1ae82d030548880b0c9dc083.png

Note Court appearance of Tudor Fleet Captain Marian Kozubski.

Although not based at Bovingdon the Avro Tudors of William Dempster Line were to be seen at the airport during the early 1950s. The photograph below was probably taken at Stansted.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1056x1674/screenshot_2022_11_28_at_09_04_45_vintage_aviation_recollect ions_richard_nash_3c231fd87ae47fb59e579fc40df8532889d42aab.p ng
Ack Ruud Leeuw.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/233x620/screenshot_2023_01_15_at_17_26_12_bl_0000681_19511027_143_00 07_pdf_a695758237922d6a5ac6c0c51b411756a0feb634.png
Daily Herald October 27th 1951. BNA.

This accident has already been covered on this thread. However I've just come across this extract. Interesting that Customs were not always available at Stansted in those far off days.

OUAQUKGF Ops

30th Nov 2022, 17:40

An interesting selection here with many, but certainly not all, photographs taken at Bovingdon.
92nd BG based at Bovingdon August 1942- January 1943. Alconbury January 1943 - September 1943. Podington September 1943 - July 1945. Having first arrived at Bovingdon from the USA with new B17s the 92nd had to forfeit their aeroplanes and be content with hand-me-downs from the 97th Bomb Group who were at the time based at Polebrook.
Click on image.

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/B-17/92BG.html

OUAQUKGF Ops

30th Nov 2022, 18:32

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/849x854/41_9042_the_berlin_sleeper_235f45a406ba2b96ddd6ca01238877e17 d468a71.jpg

B17 41-9042 'Berlin Sleeper' previously with 97th BG Polebrook but transferred to 92nd BG Bovingdon September 1942. Later said to be with the 303rd BG at Molesworth and renamed 'Ridge Runner'. This photograph is one of a sequence of four very similar and unattributed. In one of the images the camouflage over the Hangar Doors can be glimpsed and is very similar to that of No 1 Hangar at Bovingdon. The 'Life Magazine' photographer Margaret Bourke-White was active with the 97th BG at Polebrook in the autumn of 1942 but none of her images show 41-9042 or any American Red Cross Mobile Canteens in Hangars. There is already a photograph of the 'Berlin Sleeper' being towed down the runway at Bovingdon posted on this thread (#197) and it seems reasonable to attribute the location of the above image to Bovingdon. The American Red Cross Clubmobile here above consists of an adapted E83W FORDSON together with a trailer - the registration in this case JWL619.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/675x681/screenshot_2022_11_30_at_19_49_25_meet_the_donut_dollies_the _unsung_women_who_gave_out_sweet_treats_on_the_front_lines_3 6d4a10ec92773f930c662c7956b2e5dd9532b02.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/922x875/screenshot_2022_11_30_at_17_48_41_reverse_lend_lease_panzern et_c106dce7e100b46db4850eee15f7d041bcbb657a.png
Photo Credit Panzernet. Possibly Bovingdon.....

A bit of light-hearted drift here - Snetterton not Bovingdon.

.The Butterfly Balcony: Women In Wartime - ARC Clubmobile (http://www.butterflybalcony.com/2014/10/women-in-wartime-arc-clubmobile.html)

ShyTorque

30th Nov 2022, 19:33

XJ727 was eventually upgraded to HAR 10 specification and served with 2 FTS and The Central Flying School (Helicopters).

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/980x646/screenshot_2022_07_24_at_12_42_36_whirlwind_xj727_3f1db5ab59 e7544e27eb1d36c2ec27862a392b52.png
At Shawbury during the 1970s. Incidentally XJ727 was one of the helicopters used at Wittering in 1974 to train Harrier Pilots in hovering techniques. Photo L.A. Rodger.

I flew that same airframe at Shawbury in March 1979. They were really quite big for a primary trainer!

OUAQUKGF Ops

30th Nov 2022, 19:41

Good to hear from you !

chevvron

30th Nov 2022, 22:16

I've been wondering for some time about the history of Bovingdon post WW2.
Bovingdon was one of the 7 civil airfields (Ministry of Aviation?) designated as 'the' airports to serve London in the immediate post war era prior to Heathrow taking on most of the services,others being places like Blackbushe, Fairlop and Stansted.
At some time in the '50s Bovingdon was transferred to RAF control, presumably as more and more services moved to Heathrow and its then 'relief' airport at Gatwick.
Looking through some of my 'archive' material about the history of Farnborough ATC, I found this:-
'The arrival of senior ATCO (Air Traffic Control Officer) Ken Pearson from the civil airport at Bovingdon in 1954 brought a new impetus to developments in the ATC organisation at Farnborough'
I believe this same Ken Pearson later served as SATCO at Heathrow at some time and a move from Bovingdon could have meant he was destined for greater things, so could 1954 be when Bovingdon was transferred from civil back to RAF control?

chevvron

30th Nov 2022, 22:21

I flew that same airframe at Shawbury in March 1979. They were really quite big for a primary trainer!
The first helicopter I got my hands on at Farnborough and handled the controls was a Napier Gazelle engined Wessex Mk1 which was even bigger!

ShyTorque

30th Nov 2022, 22:56

The first helicopter I got my hands on at Farnborough and handled the controls was a Napier Gazelle engined Wessex Mk1 which was even bigger!

Yes, at the time I went through training the RAF also used twin Gnome engined Wessex 5s as the advanced trainer. A flying emergencies trainer; the emergencies checklist was the thickest of any aircraft I flew. To get through them all on the course it seemed that you needed to practice a couple on every sortie!

chevvron

30th Nov 2022, 23:10

Yes, at the time I went through training the RAF also used twin Gnome engined Wessex 5s as the advanced trainer. A flying emergencies trainer; the emergencies checklist was the thickest of any aircraft I flew. To get through them all on the course it seemed that you needed to practice a couple on every sortie!
We had 2 of those, XL728 and XS241.
I would sometimes look at the next days flying programme to see if there was anyone programmed for solo C/T (continuation training) and saw OC Flying's name, so I knocked on his door and he was only too happy to take me up.
He handled the checklist of course, then proceeded to teach me hovering over a fixed spot, air taxying, liftoffs and touchdowns etc for the next hour; all great fun for a mere ATCO.

OUAQUKGF Ops

1st Dec 2022, 09:18

I've been wondering for some time about the history of Bovingdon post WW2.
Bovingdon was one of 6 civil airfields (Minsitry of Aviation?) designated as 'the' airports to serve London in the immediate post war era prior to Heathrow taking on most of the services,others being Blackbushe, Luton and Southend.
At some time in the '50s Bovingdon was transferred to RAF control, presumably as more and more services moved to Heathrow and its then 'relief' airport at Gatwick.
Looking through some of my 'archive' material about the history of Farnborough ATC, I found this:-
'The arrival of senior ATCO (Air Traffic Control Officer) Ken Pearson from the civil airport at Bovingdon in 1954 brought a new impetus to developments in the ATC organisation at Farnborough'
I believe this same Ken Pearson later served as SATCO at Heathrow at some time and a move from Bovingdon could have meant he was destined for greater things, so could 1954 be when Bovingdon was transferred from civil back to RAF control?

A difficult question to answer. I don't know when control of Bovingdon was handed back to The Air Ministry. Probably not earlier than 1954 more likely 1955-56. You can see from the link that in 1952 The Ministry of Civil Aviation were already thinking about divesting themselves of the airfield. The Americans returned to Bovingdon in May 1951 with the C47s of 7531st Air Base Squadron and the RAF Fighter Command Communications Squadron had been based there since the early-fifties with the Coastal Command Communications Squadron also present from the mid-fifties. So together with the civil traffic it was a pretty busy airfield during that period. Incidentally as a footnote if you look on this link not only is there mention of Bovingdon reverting to the RAF but also a sketch which indicates the possibility of additional runways at Heathrow north of The Bath Road.............

http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-129-53-c-52-220-20.pdf

brakedwell

1st Dec 2022, 09:33

I joined the Coastal Command Com Flight from 152 Sqn in Bahrain in September 1961, living in the Officers mess at CC HQ at RAF Northwood. We used to traval up to Bovingdon in a J2 daily, where we had 4 Ansons and a Valetta based. We moved to live at Bovingdon about 6 months later. Then I left when my Argosy course started in Sept 1962. Apart from the Met men, I can't remember any Civilians in the tower.

chevvron

1st Dec 2022, 12:55

I can remember military flying from Bovingdon in the early '50s, mostly Meteors, Dakotas, Ansons and the occasional Vampire, the approaches for civil and other military aircraft being mostly out or our eyesight where we lived in Chesham at the time which was on low ground adjacent to the cricket and football fields (which both still exist) but a house move in about 1954 to higher ground to the north west of Chesham meant we had a much better view of other traffic.
I do however remember one momentous sight from this earlier home; I heard a noise, looked outside and glimpsed a large aircraft with '6 propellors facing backwards' heading in the general direction of Bovingdon; on running indoors to tell my older brother, he hit me saying I was lying! I don't for one minute expect a B36 actually landed at Bovingdon, it must have just been a flypast for some reason
Addirionally from that era before '54, the noise of an approaching Meteor with its engines slightly out of sync produced a wailing noise which, to a 3/4 year old, I found frightening and I would run indoors and hide - until the day my brother locked me out in the garden and I realised it would not harm me!

OUAQUKGF Ops

1st Dec 2022, 16:31

" I would run indoors and hide " Yes most evenings I do this too when the American Special Forces C130s rattle the chimney pots......My late wife called them 'Tractors' having met a C130 head on up the lane and just over the treetops whilst she was walking our dog.........

Warmtoast

2nd Dec 2022, 09:14

As I mentioned earlier in this thread 14-years-ago! Post #3

I was posted to the Fighter Command Communications Sqn at Bovingdon in April 1956, but only spent a couple of months there before being posted to FEAF at Changi.In 1956 RAF Bovingdon was a busy station. In 1956 it housed both the Fighter Command and Coastal Command Communications Squadrons equipped with Avro Ansons and DH Devons. Servicing was carried out by civilian contractors with only a few RAF ground staff.

In addition the USAF 7531st Air Base Squadron had a detachment based here to service the frequent flights with personnel and freight to the USAF HQ 3rd AF in Ruislip from various USAF bases in Europe. USAF C47s and C123's were regular daily visitors. Also attached was a communications detachment from HQ 3rd AF in Ruislip to provide long-range ATC communications for the USAF.

The USAF departed in 1962 and the RAF left the airfield in January 1969. What used to be the airfield is now occupied by The Mount Prison.

Whilst I was there many of the pilots posted to desk jobs at the Fighter and Coastal Command HQs (RAF Stanmore and Northwood respectively) kept up their flying hours by flying the Avro Ansons based at Bovingdon.
The rather smart DH Devons on strength were used as VIP transports to the flying stations in their commands by the C in Cs, AOCs etc of Fighter and Coastal Command and were not available for casual hours building flights.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Bovingdon/RAFBovingdon-DownwindforRwy22.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Bovingdon/Image12.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Bovingdon/Bovingdonc1956.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Bovingdon/aerialbovingdon1.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Bovingdon/Berkhampstead-AirViewLarge.jpg

And here's a view of nearby Berkhamsted in 1956. The LMS main line to Birmingham and the north can just be seen as it passes through a cutting and tunnel in the centre top. Also visible is the Grand Union Canal which runs part of its course alongside the railway.
I took this photo for my then girlfriend who lived in one of the large houses at the bottom of the photo.

brakedwell

2nd Dec 2022, 09:23

The AOC of Coastal Command had a VIP Valetta, there were no Devons in the CC com. and I remember only one in the FCCS.

chevvron

2nd Dec 2022, 09:41

First 2 pictures above (#481) showed the view along runway 09/27 looking west which just happened to point almost directly at my second place of residence in Chesham.
I saw that view several times when we first did gliding at Bovingdon on detachment from Halton in the period 1965 to 1967 although we didn't go that far downwind; cadet flying regs required us to turn base and final on the airfield boundary and not go behind the downwind boundary.
At extreme right is the straight bit of taxiway with trees not far away which we were allocated for the first ever launches.
Regretfully most of the runways have now been totally obliterated by building works in connection with yet another film studio, the famous 'sunday market' has I believe moved to North Weald.

chevvron

2nd Dec 2022, 10:03

The AOC of Coastal Command had a VIP Valetta, there were no Devons in the CC com. and I remember only one in the FCCS.
I logged a flight in VP958 on 13 Jul 1965; not sure which comms squadron this was, it was just the SDO offered to do a couple of trips with cadets one evening when we were there gliding.
I'm sure there were more Devons present at that time, one of which was on a 'queen mary' having taken off its undercarriage by attempting to cross the Bovingdon to Chesham road (through the traffic lights of course)

OUAQUKGF Ops

3rd Dec 2022, 12:04

We might in some locations in Britain be suffering from a shortage of eggs at the moment but back in 1947 and 1948 the fickle hand of Nature resulted in localised shortages of milk in north-western England. Perhaps largely forgotten now an airlift was organised to transport milk from Northern Ireland to England . Quite a few of the Bovingdon Operators rallied to the cause.........

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/337x200/screenshot_2022_12_03_at_12_42_44_a_milky_way_from_northern_ ireland_to_england_69b8cbc4a2166aaf3855196a9e5bf6f347d367b3. png

See link below:
https://derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/3820/milk-air-lift-1947-1948

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/220x390/screenshot_2022_10_18_at_09_02_33_off_to_s_africa_daily_hera ld_wednesday_29_september_1948_british_newspaper_archive_83f 7c8164b58e51b94ffc927927d8823481ad640.png

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/163x443/screenshot_2022_12_03_at_12_20_38_bl_0002318_19480929_099_00 06_pdf_a515376b70609bbd2dcccf1239f9190cbd31d071.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/622x353/p1030645_2__5980f5a76edcf49c04f73b1d6519701fe0dfbe95.jpg
Sister Halifax to ill-fated G-AJNZ of World Air Freight at Bovingdon.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x600/9_isle_of_man_hiking_raad_ny_foillan_9e07dd9943414386226eea9 4e5b9153627c943cc.jpg
Looking south-west from below Cronk ny Arrey Laa IOM

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/690x517/screenshot_2022_12_03_at_12_33_53_1948_09_28_halifax_c_mk_8_ g_ajnz_world_air_freight_cronk_ny_arrey_laa_port_erin_400d12 5a17d722bd704f8210dfc877c4cb1e27ca.png
Wreckage from G-AJNZ remaining on Cronk ny Arrey Laa IOM. Credit: Peak District Air Accident Research.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/18826

Although at this stage Skyways (based at Dunsfold) had not been incorporated with the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation who were based at Bovingdon and participating in the milk airlift, I've included this incident.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x959/s_l1600_g_ahbu_lancastrian_634641ff0396814cca238b36145598692 49bd021.jpg
Lancastrian 3 written off Nutts Corner 3.10.1947.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/478x786/screenshot_2022_12_03_at_10_39_50_bl_0002318_19471003_128_00 03_pdf_belfast_crash_enhanced_d623dd7059e738e5209608574181d1 d701f5ac61.png

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19471003-0

Acknowledgements: Newspaper Extracts - British Newspaper Archive. Also North-West Air News for Lin

chevvron

3rd Dec 2022, 12:43

Er wasn't there another airfift under way just after that time in which Bovingdon based aircraft played a major role?

JEM60

4th Dec 2022, 09:52

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Dec 2022, 12:37

Chevvron in answer to your query about the date that Bovingdon transferred to Air Ministry Control - On good authority: April 1st 1956.

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Dec 2022, 16:33

May have posted this before, but can't scroll through 25 pages!!. When I was 15 or so I used to cycle to Bovingdon from near Aylesbury. Took some time!!. Was near the traffic lights on the Chesham road, a Meteor T7 on approach towards Berkhamstead. Touchdown was late. Played merry tune on the throttles, decided it wasn't going to work properly, swerved off to the right in a cloud of dust, collapsed the port undercarriage, another cloud of dust as he limped drunkenly along the skyline to the left in another large dust cloud. Fire engines scrambled. No fire, nobody hurt . Cycled home, told my parents, who were disbelieving, until, lo and behold, it was reported in the next day's Daily Telegraph!. My parents from then on tended to believe me!!. Loved Chesham and visits to Bovingdon. In Chesham, met the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Been married 51 hears now
Like you I spent time at the end of the runway and one day came across a Vampire which had just overshot the runway and crossed the Chesham Road without any great damage visible.
I wonder when the traffic lights were installed ? I found a press cutting, only a line or two, which sadly I've deleted by mistake - Air Transport S.A. Short Stirling (Belgian) overran August 1948 (Newspaper dated August 19th). The press in those post war days didn't miss a trick:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/311x210/screenshot_2022_12_04_at_15_59_21_bl_0002077_19480514_014_00 02_pdf_4e269e7bd0cc5a37170ed22e2936912682347a91.png
Evening News May 14th 1948.
REGISTRATION F-BCJX Societe Aero Cargo (Lyon)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/302x276/screenshot_2022_12_04_at_16_38_57_bl_0002490_19551007_057_00 03_pdf_baa3c016ed0e962ca774ae09c88ec54bfb947493.png
Bucks Examiner October 7th 1955
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/298x107/screenshot_2022_12_04_at_15_28_40_bl_0000769_19550809_246_00 17_pdf_ed28c9bdc794884b432dce2ab6c6b215ac8a5ebd.png
Newspaper report dated August 9th 1955

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/272x721/screenshot_2022_12_04_at_16_01_32_bl_0002490_19580711_132_00 09_pdf_eaff565f03e787f1939b39c67e19263cd585f3b4.png
Weekly Paper Bucks Examiner July 11th 1958

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/306x121/screenshot_2022_12_04_at_16_43_24_bl_0000760_19580707_001_00 01_pdf_56fcc6b6de0b5a1ae394c2edcef020ce0a9f7f24.png
From a Daily Paper Dated 7th July 1958 referring to previous incident above.

Source British Newspaper Archive.

chevvron

4th Dec 2022, 16:39

April 1st 1956 sounds reasonable. So I wonder why the SATCO transferred from Bovingdon (an MTCA airfield) to Farnborough (an MoS airfield) in 1954.
The change of operator was I suppose logical; civil traffic might have been reducing with the prospect of Gatwick being re-opened but USAF military passengers from Bushey Hall and Ruislip probably increased; even after the 7531st departed in '62, Bovingdon still got their fair share of C130s, C124s, C123s, C119s and C54s etc.as well as FCCS and CCCS traffic plus the French Air Attache.(not counting the B17s and Mosquitos during the various films being made)
We got other military traffic passing over and near Chesham too; at White Waltham some 15 miles south of us, Gannets were being assembled, test flown and delivered out to Lossiemouth; we could hear them taking off from White Waltham and they would route overhead Chesham at about 2,000ft!

sycamore

4th Dec 2022, 18:03

QUAops,just a correction to the photos in 485#; the picture is taken looking SouthWest from the crash site ,not NE.The `Calf of Mann` is the small island ,visible in the distance,off the SW tip of the IoM...

OUAQUKGF Ops

4th Dec 2022, 20:53

Yes I'm terribly sorry you are quite right. I'm afraid Google Earth ran circles around my screen leaving me (and The IOM) completely disorientated......

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th Dec 2022, 16:14

I made mention of a Belgian Stirling which overran at Bovingdon on the 18th August 1948. I've managed to establish the registration and correct Operator but I wouldn't have been able to do so without reference to Geoff Goodall's superb Aviation History Site. The Stirling really was a big beast - see image of sister-ship below. It would appear that OO-XAL was damaged beyond economical repair and subsequently scrapped at Bovingdon. My thanks to Geoff Goodall whose text I reproduce.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1196x1397/screenshot_2022_12_05_at_16_54_16_geoff_goodall_s_aviation_h istory_site_2377e5bc033caff905b49a332b330c8d8f1b472e.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1018x136/screenshot_2022_12_05_at_16_58_15_geoff_goodall_s_aviation_h istory_site_114cbcae1f8102dc43c1f5a4bf93a744b7f3976a.png
The four Crew members and one Passenger were unhurt on arrival at Bovingdon.

Source Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site with thanks.

DaveReidUK

5th Dec 2022, 18:46

It would appear that OO-XAL was damaged beyond economical repair and subsequently scrapped at Bovingdon.

Air-Britain, however, show the Stirling as having been repaired at Bovingdon and recovered to Brussels in October 1948.

oo-stirling.pdf (ab-ix.co.uk) (https://ab-ix.co.uk/pdfs/oo-stirling.pdf)

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th Dec 2022, 20:59

Thanks Dave - I noted that before I posted and also that Air Britain stated that OO-XAL continued its flight to Darwin after the engine change was completed. Well one would think perhaps not after a month or more AOG and pax already carried to Darwin and Sydney by OO-XAK. As to where OO-XAL finally ended up is quite rightly open to debate. Either way it was struck off the Register 29.10.48. The whole outfit sounds so dodgy that I wouldn't be at all surprised that they decided to cut their losses and sell the damaged aircraft for scrap at Bovingdon.

However after another glass of wine: According to this (scroll down) it was flown Brussels - Cairo 1st-2nd October 1948.
http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/short-stirling.14370/

OUAQUKGF Ops

5th Dec 2022, 21:15

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1248x836/screenshot_2022_12_05_at_22_10_46_c_cileheemsnl_pdf_303ca3ee d9ba8823066fae6052c6766047223634.png

Image extracted from this tribute to Cecile Heems: https://www.vieillestiges.be/files/articles/C%C3%A9cileHeemsNL.pdf

XV490

7th Dec 2022, 08:46

chevvron

7th Dec 2022, 10:46

Can someone confirm when, and perhaps why, the traffic lights were installed? Did a particular incident lead to their introduction?

Earlier in this now-mammoth topic there's a reference to a bus being hit by an overshooter, with resulting casualties. If true, there would surely have been wide press coverage. Anyone know the facts – or the fiction?
I remember the traffic lights between Whelpley Hill and Bovingdon Village as always being there even in the early/mid '50s; they were on the main Chesham to Hemel road very close to the 02 threshold.
There were 2 bus services operating the route from Chesham to Hemel, these being the green London Transport service 316 and a local (to Chesham) service called 'The Rover' as it was operated by the Rover Bus Company owned by a person called 'J.R.G Dell'. Whilst the Rover ran along Whelpley Hill then turned round and came back before turning left direct to Bovingdon village past the traffic lights, the 316 bypassed Whelpley Hill then turned right off the main road and then left again about a field away from the road with the traffic lights on it so maybe this diversion was as a result of a bus incident. The traffic lights were used by ATC to halt road traffic when landing on runway 02 and for both landing and departing traffic on 20. I can recall at least 2 incidents where either a landing aircraft on 02 touched down short of the main road or an aircraft overan and went across the road after landing on 20 so that would seem to prove the traffic lights were needed.
One evening when we arrived for gliding, there was a Devon on a Queen Mary parked next to Hangar 1 and the story was that when landing on 20, pilots aimed to touchdown well past the threshold due to the fact the threshold was co-incident with a 'hump' in the runway and especially if you were carrying a high ranking officer, it looked bad if you touched down on the numbers because you tended to take off again when you hit the hump and on this occasion, the aircraft touched down late then the pilots discovered there was a brake problem and the aircraft ended up crossing the main road. The local farmer had a gate just across the road from the end of the runway so this would aid in recovering the aircraft and in fact, after the airfield was closed, a landowner used to land on the runway then taxy across the main road through this gate to park in the adjacent field.