Ark Royal Wessex in 1963-information sort.

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I have a set of pics of Wessex XM869 '305' from Ark which visited RAF Changi in September 1963, to be displayed at the Battle of britain airshow.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20XM869%20305%20Changi%20Sept%201963-S154A.jpg

Here's the Wessex arriving.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20XM869%20305%20Crew%20-Changi%20Sept%201963-S526As.jpg

Firstly, I would love to know the identities of the crew shown here.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20XM869%20305%20Changi%20on%20display%20BofB%20Sept%2 01963-S531A.jpg

and I obviously once knew what this is...after all it would have been mentioned on the 'display board' that can be seen on the far side of the helicopter.
Presumably a sonar device but I'd appreciate it if anybody give me some better info on it now though.

I've got so many pictures that I took as a teenager at Changi that I hope there's going to be a book soon.

David Taylor.

[Groundloop]

Isn't that an Anti-Submarine torpedo?

[Just a spotter]

Can anyone explain the origin and presence of the harp on the side of the aircraft?

JAS

[Load Toad]

Looks like one of these: File:18 inch Mk 30 Torpedo.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=1769941)

[Just a spotter]

Many thanks Speechless Two

Interesting story! :ok:

JAS

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Speechless Two:
Thanks so much for finding all that out. Yes I can see that it was infact 1962- Changi's September 15th Battle of Britain airshow.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20305%20lands-Changi%20Sept%201962-S155A.jpg

Here's 305 touching down...must have done this and then been moved over a little further to it's'display' place by the Maintenance dept.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20305%20Engine%20detail-Changi%20Sept%201962-S532A.jpg

Here showing the world how an engine is mounted in a chopper.

I thought I'd throw this one in as well.

http://www.davidtaylorsound.co.uk/share/Aircraft%20pics/Wessex%20XM918%2041%20with%20engine%20trouble%20Changi%20lat e%201963-S238A.jpg

Wessex XM918 from Hermes. Changi again and I believe this late 1963. From the position she's in, nicely blocking the entrance to the 'western dispersal', I guess she was having some engine trouble?

David Taylor.

[tek2]

I am very interested in your pictures of XM689. As we understand it my wifes uncle, Lt. Ian Gibson, was piloting in this Helicopter on a ship to ship transfer between HMS Centaur to HMS Eagle when the Gearbox caught fire and he was forced to ditch.

The records at RNAS Yeovilton show that Ian was killed but the crewman survived. I am now trying to research his naval career and get some pictures of XM869 C-305.

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Tek2- sorry the original photos have disappeared. over time they do tend to unfortunately, so that's one of the reasons I now have a website that I am slowly uploading my Changi photos to.

If you give it a visit, I have just put them on there again for you.

www.focalplanes.co.uk (http://www.focalplanes.co.uk)

Aircraft photos taken at Changi, Paya Lebar and Seletar between July 1961 and January 1964.

David Taylor

[david parry]

Tek 2 PM for you;)