View Full Version : Help wanted airfield location
Can anyone recognize the airfield where this pic (taken from the internet - credit to the unknown photographer) was taken? It is maybe 1983 whre Hunter T.7 XL600 belonges to the RAF Laarbruch Station Flight!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/886x550/xl600_1983_fb0cc3507cfbdfc8aef82d2f23fd224b71abd043.jpg
Peter G-W
24th Feb 2020, 09:19
Looks like Prestwick?
Don't know how the tower looked like in the 80s but it seems to be different ...!?
Rocket Pants
24th Feb 2020, 11:56
It's definitely not Prestwick. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Rocket Pants
24th Feb 2020, 12:01
Back again! I'm pretty sure it's Newcastle, have a close look on Google Earth.
TheFrenchConnection
24th Feb 2020, 12:07
Hello RAFG
Looks like Newcastle Airport , as I remember 99% sure , just google " Newcastle Airport Our History " and see old b/w image ,
can't link still less > 10 posts
regards TFC
GeeRam
24th Feb 2020, 12:09
Back again! I'm pretty sure it's Newcastle, have a close look on Google Earth.
Does look like it.....good spot.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x482/image_d2d0b3056aca62fac4e161e2bb0fef4017a6975c.jpeg
mustbeaboeing
24th Feb 2020, 13:31
Agreed, it is Newcastle UK. NCL EGNT
What I remember from that era was that the hunters from 1 TWU went to Newcastle to act as MFF during an exercise - and pissed them off by leaving tramline groves in the taxiways from their pan to the runway.....
Asturias56
24th Feb 2020, 15:31
Looks like they haven't painted the buildings since the 1983 picture was taken........... :eek:
Harry Wayfarers
25th Feb 2020, 05:40
I was trying to figure out why Laarbruch would have had Hunter(s) but then I remembered that Laarbruch was Buccaneers and at Honington we had Hunters also except in camo paint scheme, Hunters were utilised for training crews on to Buccaneers.
One significant difference though, the Buccaneer was built like a brick toilet and could take the fast end arrester gear, the Hunter wasn't and could only take the slow end gear except that one day a pilot forgot that!
nipva
25th Feb 2020, 10:05
by leaving tramline groves in the taxiways
I presume that you mean damage caused by the gear and, if so, I am a bit surprised as the Hunter was not known for being harsh on taxiways/runways etc. In my 8 yerrs of flying this lovely aircraft and operating out of numerous bases I never experienced this.
HW Can you clarify your last post re 'arrester gear'? The RAF Hunters never had hooks so there was never an issue over which RHAG/PUAG to take. Do you mean the arrester barrier? Once again. for obvious reasons. the overrun barrier could have been the only option. I only know of one approach end barrier engagement and that was survived due to the brute strength of the F4. The subsequent circuit (at night) was quite spectacular due to the light show caused by the shredding bits of barrier being burnt by the F4's reheat. Why they didn't eject is another story.
sycamore
25th Feb 2020, 13:21
Hunter T Mk8 for Navy had `ooks,but only for runway arrester gear...
VictorGolf
26th Feb 2020, 13:21
Slightly confused here. Presumably the F4 in question was the Phantom not the Hunter F4?
nipva
26th Feb 2020, 13:41
Slightly confused here. Presumably the F4 in question was the Phantom not the Hunter F4?
My apologies. It was indeed an FGR2 Phantom of 92Sqn returning at night from Ramstein. The approach end barrier was unintentionally up and was 'arrested' by the undercarriage. The pilot, not realising what had happened, understandably reacted by selecting full burner to go round thus uprooting the whole barrier and carting it airborne into the night sky. Ejection was considered but.from what I recall. was discounted because the nav had a whole load of Hi-fi that he had just bought at the Ramstein BX on his lap. So the Hi-Fi probably saved an aicraft..
VictorGolf
26th Feb 2020, 14:35
Thanks nipva. Quite a story. Could have been a very expensive hi-fi!
treadigraph
26th Feb 2020, 14:38
Was it a Bang and Outsen?
One more time looking for the location and for the date of these Jags of IISqn RAF Laarbruch. Photo from the internet, photographer unknown,
Bloodhounds in the background. Number Tailscode were used from July 1980 on. Anyone an idea?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1059/xz3_22_jaguar_gr_1_raf_07_80_01_03_83_013830872ed7c944838c11 ea5ecd3105ebe22da8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1599x1046/xz361_25_jaguar_gr_1_2sqn_raf_07_80_01_03_83_6f98712f9b9bce6 15cc8674acee313d5135a2de4.jpg
maybe Wattisham?
C-Flight of 25Sqn (former Laarbruch) moved over in Oct.1981. Were the Bloodhounds built up there again?
DaveReidUK
13th Mar 2020, 09:04
maybe Wattisham?
C-Flight of 25Sqn (former Laarbruch) moved over in Oct.1981. Were the Bloodhounds built up there again?
There were certainly Bloodhounds at Wattisham - you can still see the pads on GE.
But they were some distance from the aircraft aprons, in fact the only hardstanding where I reckon you could photograph Jags with Bloodhounds in the background would have been the 23 ORP.
So it`s quite sure that this is Wattisham?
WT332 3Squadron in UK, but where and when ...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1761x1138/wt332m_3sqn_ae676aae0c947cd72b46dfb0ec7ead368e9c95e4.jpg
Self loading bear
13th Mar 2020, 10:37
WT332 3Squadron in UK, but where and when ...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1761x1138/wt332m_3sqn_ae676aae0c947cd72b46dfb0ec7ead368e9c95e4.jpg
looks like an air show. Different aircraft left and right and visitors behind some fence
DaveReidUK
13th Mar 2020, 13:29
Finningley 1967 BoB display.
TEEEJ
14th Mar 2020, 19:03
One more time looking for the location and for the date of these Jags of IISqn RAF Laarbruch. Photo from the internet, photographer unknown,
Bloodhounds in the background. Number Tailscode were used from July 1980 on. Anyone an idea?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1059/xz3_22_jaguar_gr_1_raf_07_80_01_03_83_013830872ed7c944838c11 ea5ecd3105ebe22da8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1599x1046/xz361_25_jaguar_gr_1_2sqn_raf_07_80_01_03_83_6f98712f9b9bce6 15cc8674acee313d5135a2de4.jpg
Could it be RAF Wyton?
The inset image is from 1993 where Canberra WJ636 was positioned at Wyton. Note the part of the Bloodhound radar tower and the buildings behind the fence?
See following link for W636 image
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7052106
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1059/wytonjag_dc80ede0b49d2928d36ef5dedd6d93308109ffd8.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1148x621/wyton_f2b9d493a3c57ea634fb21e165b7b087263900af.jpg
Google Map link
https://goo.gl/maps/Fmx4z23CPy8R8uSn7
xz3_22_jaguar_gr_1_raf_07_80_01_03_83_013830872ed7c944838c11 ea5ecd3105ebe22da8.jpg
xz361_25_jaguar_gr_1_2sqn_raf_07_80_01_03_83_6f98712f9b9bce6 15cc8674acee313d5135a2de4.jpg
The above are the image file names. It looks like it could be 1st March 1983 or the 07 80 for July 1980?
DaveReidUK
16th Mar 2020, 22:55
Could it be RAF Wyton?
Your guess is as good as mine.
I think the originator of the question has lost interest. They logged on a couple of days ago, in time to read my post answering their Canberra "where/when" question (but didn't acknowledge it) and haven't reappeared since.
I'm not inclined to spend any more time on other queries from the same source.
Phileas Fogg
17th Mar 2020, 03:31
by leaving tramline groves in the taxiways
I presume that you mean damage caused by the gear and, if so, I am a bit surprised as the Hunter was not known for being harsh on taxiways/runways etc. In my 8 yerrs of flying this lovely aircraft and operating out of numerous bases I never experienced this.
HW Can you clarify your last post re 'arrester gear'? The RAF Hunters never had hooks so there was never an issue over which RHAG/PUAG to take. Do you mean the arrester barrier? Once again. for obvious reasons. the overrun barrier could have been the only option. I only know of one approach end barrier engagement and that was survived due to the brute strength of the F4. The subsequent circuit (at night) was quite spectacular due to the light show caused by the shredding bits of barrier being burnt by the F4's reheat. Why they didn't eject is another story.
Hunter T8's, operated by the RAF, had hooks.
DaveReidUK
17th Mar 2020, 08:00
Hunter T8's, operated by the RAF, had hooks.
The T.8 did indeed have a hook, but are you sure the RAF ever operated any ?
nipva
17th Mar 2020, 12:08
The T.8 did indeed have a hook, but are you sure the RAF ever operated any ?
I think that you will find that HHA's XF995 briefly served as a T8C with the Buccaneer OCU at Honington but this would appear to be the only T8 ever to see any form of RAF service.
TEEEJ
17th Mar 2020, 22:08
I think that you will find that HHA's XF995 briefly served as a T8C with the Buccaneer OCU at Honington but this would appear to be the only T8 ever to see any form of RAF service.
WV322 was also a T8C in RAF service.
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Hawker Hunter T.8, s/n WV322 RN, c/n 41H-670792, c/r G-BZSE (http://m.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=118950)
It always confused me seeing images of RAF T.7s with tail hooks. I was reading Flight Craft 16: The Hawker Hunter in British Service by Martin Derry and Neil Robinson recently and that book suggests some T.7s ended up with T.8 tails.The book seems to suggest that during maintenance the tails of the two types were sometimes swapped about hence some T.8s without hooks and vice versa?
Would that be the case?
For example WV318 images showing with and without tail hook.
https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/WV318
XL568 with tail hook
https://www.aviationphotocompany.com/p934046062/h3DC5C6DB#h3dc5c6db
Phileas Fogg
18th Mar 2020, 03:04
The T8's were developed for the RN for training Buccaneer crews, when the RN Buccaneers went to the RAF one might presume that the T8*'s also went as part of the package
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Air_Force_conversion_units#237
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1366x728/237_63a5f2228a3f683d25c2e01e772f9b50177a3be8.jpg
DaveReidUK
18th Mar 2020, 07:43
Thanks for the additional info on the T.8Cs at Honington/Lossie.
It always confused me seeing images of RAF T.7s with tail hooks. I was reading Flight Craft 16: The Hawker Hunter in British Service by Martin Derry and Neil Robinson recently and that book suggests some T.7s ended up with T.8 tails.The book seems to suggest that during maintenance the tails of the two types were sometimes swapped about hence some T.8s without hooks and vice versa?
Would that be the case?
I don't see why not. Quite a few of the extant Hunters have a different back end from the one they first flew with, which isn't that surprising, given that an engine change involved splitting the aircraft in two:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x427/640px_hawker_hunter_ga11_wt806_7184268356__28fc99f438829e5b9 d9fb791563670737f658038.jpg
TEEEJ
18th Mar 2020, 21:02
Thanks, Phileas and Dave :ok:
nipva
19th Mar 2020, 13:33
'some T.7s ended up with T.8 tails'.
I presume that, in this instance, the hook would be inoperative due to the lack of wiring.
chevvron
19th Mar 2020, 17:27
We had one at Farnborough which, when dropped, could not be retracted again by the pilot; I think it was XF321.
sycamore
19th Mar 2020, 22:37
T8 hooks can only be reset by groundcrew,after they've been operated.....
Duchess_Driver
19th Mar 2020, 22:46
IIRC both 12 and 208 at Lossie had (the use of) T7s as SCT machines in the mid 80s. Not sure if they were borrowed/shared with/from each other or the OCU.
57 minutes around “Moon Country” with an Aussie Exchange Pilot (DS?) on 208 in ‘318.
chevvron
20th Mar 2020, 10:02
Your guess is as good as mine.
I think the originator of the question has lost interest. They logged on a couple of days ago, in time to read my post answering their Canberra "where/when" question (but didn't acknowledge it) and haven't reappeared since.
I'm not inclined to spend any more time on other queries from the same source.
Looking at Barkston Heath for another reason and noticed there are also Bloodhound pads there on the NW side with parking pans just outside the compound. Barkston had Safeland barriers so Jaguar ops would have been possible.
Thanks TEEEJ and all others for your help!
No Dave, I have not lost interested in this threat I started! But as being quite ill for some time and doing research as a hobby, I am not using pprune every day!
Would be very nice to get more assistance with further photos!
regards Steffi
TEEEJ
24th Mar 2020, 10:32
No problem, Steffi.
I do hope that you are keeping well! Please feel free to post further photos.
Regards, Tom :ok:
Good morning together.
now there is a Canberra of 16Sqn maybe around end 60s / beginning 70s at an unknown location. Any ideas welcome!
Stay safe guys!
regards Steffi
Please visit us at:
Royal Air Force Museum Laarbruch (http://www.laarbruch-museum.net/)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1614x687/unbenannt_6ccf91f5b6a181893fde02dff1cf7c05b25a83f8.jpg
Self loading bear
26th Mar 2020, 12:19
I found this picture with same building to be Wildenrath?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1334x750/e089fa7b_9c04_4228_a9d6_935361ba1c7e_b8c8c0a614db0a611ee2950 3346986bc7b931008.png
@Self loading bear
But there seem to be hills on the left side of the B(I)8.
No hills at Wildenrath if I remember right ...
Self loading bear
29th Mar 2020, 09:19
I don’t know about hills.
Perhaps somebody else can shed light on that?
Also possible that a built company had an order to build several of those buildings on various sites.
Or that the caption on the Wildenrath picture is wrong.
chevvron
29th Mar 2020, 09:46
I wuz gonna say Gib as it looks a bit llike the building the Rocks inhabited on the southern apron but there's no hill or bungalow with a chimney behind it at Gib.
TEEEJ
31st Mar 2020, 00:02
I wuz gonna say Gib as it looks a bit llike the building the Rocks inhabited on the southern apron but there's no hill or bungalow with a chimney behind it at Gib.
You are quite correct. It is Gibraltar. Not the southern apron but the northern. The hills are miles away in Spain. Thanks for your suggestion. I had a trawl through Gibraltar images and was able to match up the building with the chimney (ringed in yellow).
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1668x687/raf_gibraltar_fa4a4a0b1de53f9123a21543d04dbdd1fab8800c.jpg
DaveReidUK
31st Mar 2020, 06:34
Nice bit of detective work. :O
chevvron
31st Mar 2020, 08:14
Course; I never thought of the RAF 'movements' building northside which is the same design as the 'Rocks' building.
So is the bungalow with chimney over the border in La Linea?
treadigraph
31st Mar 2020, 09:19
No it was on the Gib side - it's been demolished recently if you click out to map view...
Google Street View (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.154948,-5.3436214,3a,61.5y,235.52h,91.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-2u7Z7Bli2Uwit5a6h0heQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en)
TEEEJ
31st Mar 2020, 19:32
Nice bit of detective work. :O
Thanks, Dave. Too much time on my hands! Nothing like a bit of geo locating to keep yourself busy lol! :O
TEEEJ,
thanks a lot! Geat job!
regards Steffi
One more B(I)8 of 16Sqn in 1967
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1009x624/wt345_1967_b11c519471bcf377ae066b6077793e12ce1f0b39.jpg
Shackman
3rd Apr 2020, 10:08
That looks like another wet day at Finningley.
DaveReidUK
3rd Apr 2020, 11:19
Hangars don't look like Finningley's.
chevvron
3rd Apr 2020, 11:23
Hangars don't look like Finningley's.
Still has 5 hipped roof 'C' types, but was the tower in that position?
DaveReidUK
3rd Apr 2020, 11:55
Still has 5 hipped roof 'C' types, but was the tower in that position?
Finningley's Type Cs are an earlier variation (see the original Canberra photo in post #23) and the tower is on the opposite side of the runway from the hangars.
chevvron
3rd Apr 2020, 12:01
With a Hastings and a Varsity visible, what about Lindholme?
DaveReidUK
3rd Apr 2020, 12:29
With a Hastings and a Varsity visible, what about Lindholme?
Yes, both tower and hangar fit.
Doesn't look like a display day, so maybe the ET 62 Noratlas was there for some other reason.
Thanks guys! Next pic may show an open day with a Canberra PR.7 of 31Sqn showing in the Static. Must be ca. end of 60s ...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1789x1135/wt597_1967_84348395fdb30595bef74cb6580134c22527cd64.jpg
Thanks! Can you provide a date?
chevvron
3rd Apr 2020, 15:08
Two control towers suggests Odiham, the present one being on the far side of the airfield from the hangars.
DaveReidUK
3rd Apr 2020, 16:24
Both WT507 and Magister MT-18 were present at the 1964 Waddington BoB Display (September 19th).
TEEEJ,
thanks a lot! Geat job!
regards Steffi
No problem, Steffi. :ok:
chevvron
3rd Apr 2020, 22:54
Yes, both tower and hangar fit.
Doesn't look like a display day, so maybe the ET 62 Noratlas was there for some other reason.
Just a guess but Lindholme may have been crash div for Finningley and Finningley runway Black so the Canberra and Noratlas divved in?
Both WT507 and Magister MT-18 were present at the 1964 Waddington BoB Display (September 19th).
Thanks Dave!! :D
Now one of my favourite shots, taken from our museums archiv. A PR.7 at an unknown airfield, photograph taken by another Canberra of 31Sqn, visible as a shadow ...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1759x1930/wh775_fc9478e53aaec292036c79cc4ab5f71fb3913af5.jpg
Maybe this location is in UK? Taken early 1983 ...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1261x1409/xx891j_15sqn_04_83_in_uk_88609b5bd85a80da1e766ec58b236f9a243 4e7b6.jpg
As there are no ideas of the previous two pics. Here is another one. Canberra PR.7 31Sqn at an unknown Open Day.
(from my collection, photographer unknown)
Any idea, Dave?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/998x475/unbenannt_980adb76c758b237320f71f8021cc5135a57aa6f.jpg
chevvron
17th Apr 2020, 13:57
Finningley again?
Cannot find the log at scramble 68-71 ...
DaveReidUK
17th Apr 2020, 17:02
Finningley again?
I would agree. You can just see the LH edge of the number "4" painted over the hangar window.
And Finningley had a windsock mounted on Hangar 4, also visible in the previous Finningley Canberra photo in post #23.
chevvron
17th Apr 2020, 17:25
Was there a 'solution' to RAFGs image at #68?
Thanks Dave! As is must be an open day? What date might it be?
regards Steffi
chevvron
18th Apr 2020, 12:25
Thanks Dave! As is must be an open day? What date might it be?
regards Steffi
White painted Vulcan at left so early '60s?
One more Canberra from my collection, photographer unknown, this time 16Sqn. Without date and location. Maybe also mid 60s? Is the white aircraft beside a Vulcan?
kind regards Steffi
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1604x1050/xm262_f71664f91fe160c45aaccb180269a7dd514b8bd1.jpg
chevvron
3rd May 2020, 10:36
No it's a Victor.
Canberra '262 spent most of its operational life at Laarbruch but I don't think they had 'C' type hangars there. Maybe its St Athan where it was 'retired' to before going to Catterick? I'd like to say it is Catterick 'cos there are 'C' types there and there was a Victor at the Fire School too but I don't think it is there.
DaveReidUK
3rd May 2020, 11:19
No it's a Victor.
Canberra '262 spent most of its operational life at Laarbruch but I don't think they had 'C' type hangars there. Maybe its St Athan where it was 'retired' to before going to Catterick? I'd like to say it is Catterick 'cos there are 'C' types there and there was a Victor at the Fire School too but I don't think it is there.
Catterick has earlier Type Cs than the one in the photo.
DaveReidUK
4th May 2020, 08:40
I reckon the Canberra, with the bloodhound behind it and the Vulcan to the left is St Athan
St Athan certainly had (still has) original Type C hangars, but AFAIK they weren't numbered, nor did any of them sport a windsock.
What makes you think that's where the photo is ?
Re the latest photo, it must be around 1960-ish. Apart from the Victor being white, the Canberra predates the change in the B(I)8 scheme from black to silver undersides and from a white to black serial..
Later photo of XM262 (at Leuchars, if I'm not mistaken):
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/500x307/xm262_later_scheme_e1c1224e2560972f55a031b4fceea4ea3bb87f9b. jpg
https://www.raf-in-combat.com/downloads/august-2017-english-electric-canberra-bi-8-part-2-61-photos/
pr00ne
4th May 2020, 21:40
One more B(I)8 of 16Sqn in 1967
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1009x624/wt345_1967_b11c519471bcf377ae066b6077793e12ce1f0b39.jpg
This is Coltishall. No ramp area like that at Lindholme.
DaveReidUK
5th May 2020, 07:05
This is Coltishall. No ramp area like that at Lindholme.
Coltishall's V-shaped apron would certainly explain why the lines in the concrete aren't parallel to the hangar in the background.
Coltishall's V-shaped apron would certainly explain why the lines in the concrete aren't parallel to the hangar in the background.
Okay, thank you!
What about #77?
DaveReidUK
7th May 2020, 12:58
What about #77?
Not yet, hopefully soon.
pr00ne
8th May 2020, 11:29
RAFG,
77 could well be Coltishall also. Tha is a Victor B1 next to the Canberra and V-Bombers and RAFG Canberra's were regulars at Coltishall Battle of Britain at Home days. The hangar is also right for Coltishall.
DaveReidUK
10th May 2020, 20:53
Based on an extensive study of RAF stations' boilerhouse chimneys :O, I'm forced to conclude that it probably is indeed Coltishall (again).
Based on an extensive study of RAF stations' boilerhouse chimneys :O, I'm forced to conclude that it probably is indeed Coltishall (again).
Thanks Dave! Very professional indeed. Can you recall a date when there was an Open Day showing this Canberra?
kind regards Steffi
DaveReidUK
11th May 2020, 13:41
Can you recall a date when there was an Open Day showing this Canberra?
Scramble has BoB display reports for Coltishall for 1959-61 and 1964, none of which list that Canberra nor any Victor in the static display. As per my previous post, I think 1962-63 are too late for that colour scheme, so most likely September 1958 - a few months after 16 Sqn had re-formed with the B(I)8.
Scramble has BoB display reports for Coltishall for 1959-61 and 1964, none of which list that Canberra nor any Victor in the static display. As per my previous post, I think 1962-63 are too late for that colour scheme, so most likely September 1958 - a few months after 16 Sqn had re-formed with the B(I)8.
Thank you, Dave!:D