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BBC programme "Skywatch" circa 1974

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BBC programme "Skywatch" circa 1974

Old 16th Sep 2010, 17:01
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Would very much like to have a copy of any CD that may be produced having had a small part in the construction and alignment of the targets and the ensuing Air Trafficking at Larkhill that transpired during the shooting of this documentary (was an adventure in itself). Being sent by the AOC Strike Command to RAF Upavon or Netheravon to rustle up "anything that will burn" we proceeded to load up some of the vehicles with diesel fuel, AvGas and Petrol so that they would light when struck.

On the day, the 20mm Gun on the Phantom was indeed memorable (as were staying out of the way of the many richochets) as I was in a FAC Position at the time and the Waddington Vulcan that dropped the 21 x 2000 pounders well shook the fillings in my teeth and showered me with lumpy bits of Salisbury Plain. Slightly less destructive were the runs of the Jaguar which I thought came from Coltishall.
Think the Harrier was 1 Sqdn at Wittering.

Please feel free to contact me by eMail should anything show up (even stills would be nice). Our DVD Player can play anything but a slice of toast.

Has anyone tried Aunty Beeb yet?

Fingers crossed.
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Old 17th Sep 2010, 09:49
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I was at Wittering when Skywatch was filmed, and to all of us on 233 OCU it was known as "Doomwatch" after a popular TV series of the time.
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Old 17th Sep 2010, 10:14
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This is a blast from the past, was a youngster at the time and living about a mile to the east of Wittering. I remember watching the program and rushing outside to see the aircraft going overhead.

I remember another aircraft leaving late evening, a Nimrod I thought; but it was many years ago.

Should show in again, what about BBC3 or 4!!
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Old 8th Oct 2010, 22:20
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Looooong time away from PPRuNe, used to have a very unsavoury user name Any hoo, I've got a dvd copy of said programme. Fabulous stuff. particularly enjoy the 2x 2Sqn Phantoms screeching over the centre of Birmingham to "shoot" the Pebble Mill studios spot on TOT from Laarbruch-Wittering.Brilliant times....
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Old 9th Oct 2010, 17:53
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Originally Posted by Gainesy
Good programme, presented by Raymond Baxter.
I don't think I ever saw an aviation programme introduced by Raymond Baxter that was not good. The last one I recall was the 50th anniversary of Heathrow in 1996, when he was 74. He was, of course, a WW2 Spitfire pilot and did some significant things with it at the time. Afterwards a BBC presenter for the rest of his life, and knew his way around motor racing as well. I don't think I ever saw him present a single inaccuracy, which doubtless came from proper reserach, briefing and personal knowledge rather than being a motor mouth "personality"; current BBC Director General please note for you news coverage, documentary coverage, etc.

He probably did more for RAF recruitment than a whole floor of paperpushers in Whitehall tasked with this.
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Old 9th Oct 2010, 20:52
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Heartily agree with WHBM. Apart from a very pleasant voice, Raymond Baxter had gravitas, a virtue almost totally lacking in today's TV presenters.
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Old 9th Oct 2010, 22:01
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John Farley either has a recording of RB in a Lancaster over Heathrow, or the words spoken by Raymond. Can't remember which but it was a moment of brilliance when a few well chosen words meant so much.

I will ask him to post it here.
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Old 9th Oct 2010, 23:35
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Originally Posted by PPRuNe Pop
John Farley either has a recording of RB in a Lancaster over Heathrow, or the words spoken by Raymond. Can't remember which but it was a moment of brilliance when a few well chosen words meant so much.
This might well be from April 1993, the 75th anniversary of the RAF's formation. There was a huge flypast of every type across Central London and on towards Heathrow on a Saturday morning, including about 9 Spitfires/Hurricanes in a line, and the Lancaster brought up the rear. RB was on board it, and the piece which doubtless went out live was shown again later that evening. He did all the commentary beforehand, then got on board and did the piece live from the air.

I still have the photographs of them all passing near the house at the time !

The TV clip may be in here - it seems to be in multiple parts.

YouTube - 75 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE PART1
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Old 10th Oct 2010, 17:23
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Originally Posted by WHBM
... Raymond Baxter ... was, of course, a WW2 Spitfire pilot and did some significant things with it at the time.
I know this is thread drift in adding my comments, but recall vividly an interview with RB in, I think, the late 1970's when he recounted how he and some other Spitfires in Western Europe were flying towards a forest clearing when a V2 lifted off right in front of them. He remarked that one of his colleagues managed to get a shot in that missed or, as he remarked, none of them would be here today. He mentions the incident briefly in his biography, although without the shooting comment.
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Old 22nd Dec 2011, 06:06
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Operation Sky Watch

Hi,

I actually took part in Operation Sky Watch in 1974. My squadron (No.6 Squadron) sent two Phantoms from RAF Coningsby down to RAF Wittering for the week long film shoot rehearsal. We did what was known as an operational turnaround i.e. both aircraft were re- armed, refuelled and serviced in a time span of 10 minutes and were then scrambled to fly again. We did a final recording on the Friday morning; this was originally going to be shown. In the early evening we did a live shoot which was actually put on air instead. People back at base that saw the programme said I was personally on camera for at least two minutes (quite a long time). I never did see the programme but it was shown again in 1975 when I was stationed at RAF Brawdy, South Wales……it was an honour and privilege to have such an opportunity to represent my squadron.

Kind regards

Colin Dunford
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Old 22nd Dec 2011, 06:14
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Could the BBC even do it these days

Live OB were the in thing, at that time in the BBC, and Raymond Baxter was an expert in his field, (ex RAF).

I was in the BBC at the time, it was very common to record the practices and rehearsals, to provide enough material shold it not be ALL RIGHT ON THE NIGHT.


Good luck with the digging, and share the results.

gld
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Old 22nd Dec 2011, 10:07
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It is referenced in the Imperial War Museum archives.
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/100033039
Catalogue No. TV 198
Production date 1974
Place made GB
Creator
  • Baxter, Raymond (Production cast)
  • BBC (Production sponsor)
Category film
Object description Extract from BBC documentary, Skywatch, narrated by Raymond Baxter, showing RAF aircraft attacking ground targets on Salisbury Plain. Scenes include Harriers from 1 Squadron RAF, led by Wing Commander Peter Taylor, attacking with rockets and cannon, Phantoms attacking with M61 Vulcan cannon, Buccaneers using 2 inch rockets, and Jaguars and a Vulcan using 1000 lb bombs.


Haven't followed the path to register and see if it is able to be viewed on-line but this bit of info may help. Cheers & good luck
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Old 22nd Dec 2011, 11:04
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I can remember watching the 'live' program on the BBC.

Skip forward a few years, and the BBC were due to show a program about the air-show at Biggin Hill. At the time, it was possible to listen to the BBC TV signal on a VHF radio. We were away from home that day, but had the radio to listen to, so we found the audio from the TV signal.

We were somewhat surprised to hear about low-level flypasts and strafing runs by Jaguars and Phantoms (poss), and even live bomb-drops from a Vulcan - which we assumed was actually happening at Biggin Hill!

We later discovered that the air-show had been badly disrupted by poor weather (most of the flying was cancelled), and the Beeb had decided to re-run the 'Skywatch' program.
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Old 23rd Dec 2011, 08:43
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I also remember Skywatch very well, as I was on 233 OCU at Wittering at the time, and we looked after a lot of the visiting aircraft on our pan. To us cynical ground crew it was always referred to as Doomwatch after the popular TV drama series of the time.
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Old 27th Jan 2013, 15:15
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Some kind fellow has put it on "Youtube"... Remember watching it as a kid.


Raymond Baxter's commentary as the the Jag does its laydown attack...
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Old 20th Oct 2016, 22:47
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Was part of the crew who built those vehicle targets. Was also sent by O.C. Strike to Netheravon with a chit that said; "Bring back anyhing that will burn and put it into those 'convoys'. Contaminated AVTUR, Petrol, Diesel et cetera was 'donated' by POL Flight and returned by 32-seater coach to the target area. That's why the coach burned so well after it was struck by the Jaguar's strafing run (I think).

Lots of vehicle spare parts got 'liberated' from the target vehicles before being shot up. One very polite S/Ldr asked me if there was any chance of an 1800 Alternator and perhaps a spare battery. He was indeed, obliged and quite happy afterwards with his 'souvenirs'.

It was a chore to have to defend the convoys for a night or two from marauding bands of romanies waiting in the wings to strip the remainder of the spoils.

After the detatchment to Larkhill was over, the trip back to base was doubly difficult as the two three-tonners and L/Rover we had, were crammed with 'collectibles'. The chaps didn't have to buy petrol for their vehicles for many months thereafter. Spare tyres and batteries were never a problem either.

I well remember being in the FAC Position and very close to the Vulcan Target such that it rained large chunks of Larkhill on us after the string of 21 two-thousand pounders went off consecutively.
My fillings are still rattling from that episode.

A couple of pongo officers were saved from eternal perdition by an airman from our unit after they went to sleep under their armoured car that, unnoticed, had begun to settle into the hillside.
A stupid sense of machismo almost did them in.

Halcyon days.
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Old 21st Oct 2016, 11:38
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Will watch the video on YT, but still might be worth seeing if IWM will copy it to DVD for you. They certainly do reprints of photos, I have a nice photo print on my wall showing a Heinkel He 111 making structural alterations to my workshop!
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Old 21st Oct 2016, 18:34
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The video seems to have been 'blocked' on YT. However, I found this link http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=992_1368481057Excellent program but showing it's age in picture quality.
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Old 22nd Oct 2016, 01:24
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Just watched it over post-typhoon breakfast. Seem to have some dust in my eye.
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Old 22nd Oct 2016, 04:55
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I was at boarding school at Stamford. We were allowed to watch it and could hear the aircraft taking off from Wittering as we watched live.
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