Vampire XD622 up for disposal

[Rionart]

Did a quick search with no joy, but apologies if this has beed covered previously.
Stumbled on this rather sad looking Vampire for sale today via a link in one of the daily's.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/396053/20141023-Schedule_1-Vampire_clean.pdf
I'm sure there must be stories and memories worth recounting from this old lady..

[BEagle]

Poor old thing - I gather it once served at RAF Jever in the late 1950s.

Its current state rather reflects the state of the RAF of today.....

[Herod]

They could have at least have had the decency to take the pictures in daylight.

[Fareastdriver]

Lot's of fumbling through log books but it doesn't seem to have been at Oakington. The fleet number cannot be seen if it's there so difficult to establish which FTS.

[newt]

So what are the ATC cadets doing about it? Why are they not raising funds to keep its in good condition:ugh:

[Not_a_boffin]

Probably in the same boat as many other ATC gate guardians. Being disposed of on central orders as an accounting / HS&E liability.

Lots of frames up for grabs.

[airborne_artist]

Ironic that the PDF file is called .....Vampire_clean.pdf

The aircraft is anything but :(

[ORAC]

In better days.... 1980

http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1023024F.jpg

2011

http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/641/641245.jpg

[David Thompson]

Delivered new to the RAFC and then to 118 Squadron until stored at Shawbury with 27MU . Sorry no specific dates except transferred to 8160M on 2 July 1971 at Church Fenton . Moved to an air cadet squadron near Tadcaster and then to Leeming for possible gate guard duties before arriving at Usworth in April 1982 .

[Vendee]

IMHO the Vampire was one of the prettiest aircraft we have produced. Any educated guesses on how much it will go for?

[NutLoose]

No.. The cockpit pod is wooden I think, so one would imagine looking at that it's got a fair bit of rot in it.

[NutLoose]

Vampire T11 XD622 for disposal in Sunderland (http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?133656-Vampire-T11-XD622-for-disposal-in-Sunderland)

It would appear they used to look after her until H&s rules got in the way.

[JAJM]

Poor old girl.

If I had the money and engineering know-how, I'd buy her on the spot and at least get her back in to a state where she could be displayed in a museum. She's a piece of history that has been left to rot. :-(

[Danny42C]

I had about 100 hrs on the Mks.III and V on 20 Sqdn '50-'51 and 608 (Aux) Sqdn in '51-'53. Never flew a T.11, but remember the other two as very nice-handling, docile little things with amazing forward visibility (at least to an old tail-dragger !)

Sad to see one like this. Scrap it and have done with it.

D.

[NutLoose]

Sadly she is even worse than the pictures in the tender show.

Scroll down.

Vampire T11 XD622 for disposal in Sunderland (http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?133656-Vampire-T11-XD622-for-disposal-in-Sunderland)

[Fareastdriver]

An accomplished cabinet maker or furnture restorer would have the skill to rebuild the pod. After all it was designed to be built by the furnture trade in the first place. The metal bits are fairly simple and the hood seems to be the important bit.

Not me, but would keep somebody happy in retirement.

[Heathrow Harry]

I think it would keep them very busy and a lot poorer but "Happy"..... :bored::bored:

[Trevor Collier]

I was one of the cadets that helped to restore this plane when the cadets were first given it back in 1984/85

[NutLoose]

Still exists :)

https://www.facebook.com/flugplatzmuseum/photos/a.917386201607898/3400374953308998/?type=3&theater

https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31531726_1976081299071711_8332910572047695872_n.jpg?_nc_cat= 110&ccb=2&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=e4m57MufqPAAX9O--G_&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.xx&oh=ee1a858b5330a408bb19746a88f2d555&oe=603963CA

[bobward]

My first ATC squadron had Vampire T11 (XD511) on charge when I joined in the mid 1960's.
Eventually she got rot in the nacelle, then Elfan Safety came along and took out all the instruments due to radium being present.
She was scrapped in the mid to late 1970's I think, with some bits going to a museum.

Sad end!

[SLXOwft]

My school was one of those lucky enough to be given a T.11 in the 70's (By HSA I believe) it bore 4 FTS markings. Some of the older pupils began to restore it; unfortunately vandals from another school objected to it, initially using knives to expose the woodwork. The headmaster decided to off load it when they smashed the canopy - I believe it ended up as part of an extant "cut and shut" exhibit. Sitting in its cockpit and the currently for sale one of Victor B.2 XH670's were first waypoints on my path ...

[Charlotte Bailey]

Danny - would you be able to tell me more about your time on vamps? I'm compiling a book of stories. Many thanks!


Bobward - would you be able to tell me a bit more about your T.11 time? :D

Trevor - I'm currently writing a book about the Vampire and collating stories from people 'who were there'. Would I be able to learn a bit more about your vamp experience? :D

[NutLoose]

Charlotte, I’m afraid Danny is no longer with us, he’s soaring with the Angels these days :(

He did write on here some fascinating insights into his service and some was produced as an online book.

if you have a while sit down and read their tales here, a fascinating insight from training during WW2 up until the modern era and a lot from Danny…it’s riveting stuff..

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww-ii.html?highlight=Danny42

however you may find the steam laundry also gives you some of what you seek.

Jever Steam Laundry - Home Page (http://www.rafjever.org)

[bobward]

Charlotte,
Our Vampire was a static gate guard. It had no guns or even an engine fitted. It just sat outside the squadron hut and was used to back up various classroom training on airframes, principles of flight etc.
I was on 221 (Great Yarmouth0 Squadron ATC from 1965 to 1972, after which I left for a while to start work. I went back as an instructor in 1976. When I did, the jet had been scrapped, and all the squadron had were a few instruments and the two de-activated ejection seats. Eventually the instruments went as well, as a safety inspection found they were radium painted and deemed a health hazard.

For the record our jet was XD511, and was in RAF Cranwell markings.

Hope this helps
Regards
B

[Shaft109]

Bobward -this crazy lady played with radioactive sources. This Spifire gauge is hot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xirtUF-iJXA

[Charlotte Bailey]

Thanks! :D

[Charlotte Bailey]

So would your instructor point out of the window and go, 'This is an aeroplane and this is how it works?' A sad end for a Vampire. And I'm not surprised Health and Safety stepped in, as they're prone to do, and took away even more of it (were the instruments you DID have from the vamp too?)

Also - does anyone know the procedure with which these airframes were acquired? Was it MoD defence disposal, or some internal airframe shuffling around?

Many thanks
Charlotte

[Geriaviator]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/950x713/front_page_cold_war_3903fd93e1d22a8e18fe7d8d5fc066ced1f8f773 .jpg


Hello Charlotte. Shortly before his death at the age of 97 our much loved contributor Danny, the RAF's last dive-bomber pilot, worked with me to produce the second of two e-books, In with a Vengeance relating his wartime experiences, Danny and the Cold War giving a fascinating glimpse into the post-war RAF. He liked the Vampire and I'm sure you would be interested in his comments on the grim accident rates of the 50s and 60s. Send me a PM with your email address (Prune does not permit attachments) and I'll send you copies.

Offer open to anyone, all we ask is a donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund, Danny's favourite charity. Glad to see a few from the Brevet thread still on frequency! Regards to everyone -- Michael

[SLXOwft]

Hi Charlotte,
To paraphrase the IWM website De Havilland's successor company, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, acquired a number of T Mk 11s which were bought back from the Royal Air Force in the mid-1960s for re-furbishing with a view to possible foreign sales. (actually '67/'68)

The aircraft were stored in the environs of their airfield at Woodford, the resale efforts came to naught and in 1973 the company donated them to various organizations including museums, ATC squadrons and schools. The one I referred to above being among them.

g@@gle directed me to a thread on fightercontroller.co.uk which includes a list of 41 and the original recipients. (https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205363) The intervening 48 years have not been kind to many/most of them.

WZ416/59 2033 Sq ATC, Hatfield, Herts
WZ425/22 South Wales Historic Aircraft Preservation Society, Cardiff Rhoose
WZ450 RAFA Wrexham
WZ476 unknown
WZ505/57 Bramhall County High School, Cheshire
WZ514 Private address, Bidstow Cheshire
WZ515/10 Skyfame Aircraft Museum, Staverton
WZ518 Stockport Aircraft Preservation Society
WZ553/40 Merseyside Aviation Society, Speke, Liverpool
WZ557/47 Yorkshire Aircraft Preservation Society, Acaster Malbis
WZ589/19 Lashendon Air Warfare Museum, Headcorn Kent
WZ590/19 Duxford
WZ608/56 HSA Bitteswell apprentices
XD395 HSA Woodford apprentices
XD403/41 Strathallan
XD425/16 Stranraer Academy
XD434/75 Manchester University Physics Department, Barton Airfield
XD435/26 1832 Sq ATC, Harpurhey, Lancs
XD447/33 Tattershall, Lincs
XD534/41 Cheadle Hulme School, Cheshire
XD535/54 Royal Umpire Museum, Croston, Lancs
XD540/55 Royal School for the Deaf, Handforth Cheshire
XD593/50 Newark Air Museum
XD595 Private address. Altrincham Cheshire
XD616/54 Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden
XE852/60 HSA Hawarden apprentices
XE855 Upton County School, Cheshire
XE856 1166 Sq ATC, Welwyn Garden City
XE872/62 Midland Aircraft Preservation Society. Displayed at Blue Lias pub, Stockton, Warks
XE874/61 RAF Valley for gate guard
XE935 Knebworth House, Hitchin, Herts – wings of XE985
XE979/54 Standish Hospital. Glos.
XE985 unknown – wings of XE935
XE995/53 Torbay Aircraft Museum, Devon
XE998 HSA Chadderton apprentices
XH312/18 ATC Sq, Knutsford
XH330/40 HSA Hawarden apprentices
XK623/56 Moston Tech College, Lancs
XK625/12 Historic Aircraft Museum, Southend
XK627/38 Hazel Grove Secondary School for Girls, Hazel Grove Cheshire
XK637 1885 Sq ATC, Royton Lancs

[MPN11]

https://www.pprune.org/11139723-post163.html

100 tomorrow, Danny ... sorry you missed the milestone.

[Geriaviator]

This thread has given our publishing 'business' a new lease of life with gratifying results for the RAF Benevolent Fund! Our thanks to recent donors. Could I repeat that you must PM me with your email address so I can send you copy or copies as Prune does not permit attachments.

Offer open to anyone, all we ask is a donation to the Fund, Danny's favourite charity, in accordance with his last wishes. Perhaps particularly appropriate this Remembrance Day.

[Charlotte Bailey]

Absolutely, more than happy to help out the RAF Benevolent Fund.