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Vickers Varsity

Old 14th Aug 2012, 17:24
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T-21,
Thanks for the link. Since WJ911 was used for SIGINT training, could the dome hold a rotating aerial, similar to an ALQ-78 ESM pod?

Picture here: http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-store-p3.html

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Old 16th Aug 2012, 18:47
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St. Mawgan Station Flight:

I joined the Royal Observer Corps in Cornwall in 1957 and on New Years Day 1958 had my first flight in a RAF aircraft aboard a Shackleton MR.2 of 228 Sq., pilot was Wing Commander Graham and on May 14th we had a ROC Cluster Meeting at St. Mawgan and flew aboard Varsity WL670. This was the first of several flights I enjoyed with this aircraft, subsequent flights being mostly on a Wednesday afternoon arranged at short notice by my indomitable Chief Observer who had a wonderful habit of totally ignoring official channels,

We were almost always taken aloft by a Polish Master Pilot and invariably asked where do you want to go ! On subsequent Cluster Meeting flights at times the going got a little "interesting" and the reason was usually that my C/Obs was by then at the controls !

Happy days and thanks to the ROC and RAF I later got the opportunity to fly on all marks of Shack, Argosy, Anson, Comet 2, Hercules.
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Old 25th Aug 2012, 11:57
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Varsity at Hullavington, and Watton/Cottesmore

Flew in the Varsity during my nav training at Hullavington 1963-1965. My uncle Flt Lt Geoff Walker AFC flew Varsities on 115 Sqn at Watton 1963-1966 and again 1966-1969. He sadly passed on 20 May this year, after a short illness. Aged 90. RIP
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Old 30th Aug 2012, 14:47
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The bombs used on the Varsity were indeed the 25lb Smoke and Flash. There were, IIRC, two tail types. One had a simple cruciform shape which was prone to damage, remember they were offloaded if not previously dropped. The other had I think 6 blades inside a cylindrical sleeve. If you write to OC RAF Pembrey Sands he should be able to help with size etc and provide photographs.

The 25lb PB was pretty similar in appearance to the US BDU-33 which weighs about 31lb. If you wanted a close look-a-like then an approach to RAF Lakenheath might be helpful. There are any number at the RAF bombing ranges but more are blown open for safety reasons and the tails are always bent on impact.
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Old 30th Aug 2012, 16:26
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I remeber Geoff on 115 when I was baby pilot on 360, 66-69. Don't think I flew with him but did blag a couple of Varsity trips.
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Old 6th Sep 2012, 00:13
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Varsity bomb-aimer's selector panel

Hi, Russruspy.
Sorry about the gross delay in replying.
The set-up I described is as I remember it, but after all these years, I could be wrong. The bomb-sight was controlled by the left hand and the bomb release button was held in the right. I seem to remember that the selector box was located left, slightly high and back a bit, and one had to twist around to get to it.
Visual bombing at 18,000ft from the Varsity was great fun, especially when there were Hunters doing ground attack practice in the same airspace.
Cheers,
Tea Planter
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Old 20th Sep 2012, 11:50
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Vis-a-vis Duxford's WJ945, she is currently being dimsantled by my old mate Barry Parkhouse for a trip to Cornwall. She is going to join Mike Collett's collection at Newquay where the old lady will undoubtedly get the attention that she's sorely needed for so many years. Piccies here;

PlaneTalk • View topic - Varsity WJ945 @ Duxford - 21Sep12

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Old 20th Sep 2012, 18:05
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Oakingtons Line Shoot Book

I recall being highly amused by the line shooters bible in the OCU crewroom at Oakington and always wondered what happened to it when the rusty axe fell. If any of you guys have it secreted in the loft/garage/shed would you consider handing it over to a reputable museum, Newark springs to mind (there are some that aren't)
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Old 28th Dec 2012, 16:57
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Sorry; I meant to post this on Christmas Day but forgot (I blame the Speckled Hen). 4 FTS Valley, 1961 taken by one of my course mates (Colin Williams I think).
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 07:46
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Thanks JW411 nice shot in the early fluorescent paint scheme. WL629/G ended on the Catterick dump in 1974. Other aircraft with 4 FTS were WJ921/C,WJ917/B,WL623/K,WJ939/? 4 FTS used the Varsity from 1960 at Valley does anyone know when they stopped flying the Varsity at Valley ?

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Old 29th Dec 2012, 07:54
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Very good article by Ben Dunnell in the last copy of "Classic Aircraft" magazine for Dec 2012, nice flying shot in colour of WJ918 of the RAF College Cranwell in 1969. In 1970 I flew in her on a 4hrs 25 min navex over Scotland with an overshoot at Leeming . Really enjoyed my ATC trips in the pig.
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 11:15
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I flew the following at 4 FTS: WF326, WJ912, 917, 920, 921, WL623, 628, 629, 631, 635 and 670.

I'm surprised you don't know it already but the 4 FTS Varsities moved to Oakington in March 1962 to become 5 FTS. I went with them.
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 13:48
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Somebody asked; the course number was 11 V/V Course and remained so when we got to Oakington.
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 14:05
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Tea Planter, 18,000 feet was going some. Why that high? I recall bombing at around 4,000 feet. Looked at my log book to see that 4 flights were all DNCO with low cloud and we even flogged across to Jurby to get good viz.
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 14:51
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RAF Oakington Ford Anglia 1967

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Old 29th Dec 2012, 15:06
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Oakington @ B29 Washingtons.

In about 1957/8 as a teenager I spent some time spotting at Oakington having cycled from Watford via several other airfields including Duxford and Waterbeach,I can remember quite busy Varsity activity but what puzzled me was why there were I think 2 Washingtons parked outside the hangars.I'm sure someone will know why.
Colin.
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 16:30
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JW411

....great to see your winter photo from Valley.

For anyone interested, there were 11 Varsitys on the strength of 4 FTS in early 1961 They were:

WL 670 'A' - WJ 917 'B' - WJ 921 'C' - WF 326 'D' - WJ 912 'E' - WL 631 'F' - WL 629 'G' - WL 635 'H' - WL 628 'J' - WL 623 'K' - WF 427 (code n/k)

As was mentioned earlier, all were transferred to 5 FTS Oakington in March 1962 with the exception of WF 427 which was allocated to CNCS Shawbury in Mar 61
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Old 29th Dec 2012, 16:31
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Basil:

Why is the starboard prop feathered? Is there a story?
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Old 30th Dec 2012, 07:37
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Regarding the nice Oakington colour photograph believe the aircraft is WF325 coded "Y". Thanks to everybody for contributing to this site,amazed how popular the Varsity is and what a splendid work horse to the RAF.

King6024 Do you mean RAF Watton ? they too had Varsities and the last Washingtons in service. Google RAF Watton and there is a section on B-29 use there.

Last edited by T-21; 30th Dec 2012 at 07:44.
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Old 30th Dec 2012, 13:40
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amazed how popular the Varsity is and what a splendid work horse
It was very easy to work on, there was plenty of space around everything.

My only criticism of the Varsity, it had the most complicated Intercom, all those bl**dy Type 102 relays, of any a/c I worked on in my 13 years.
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