RAF Bovingdon - 1960s
Brakedwell:
Going back to the two excellent Hastings photographs that you posted a few days ago alongside one of which you stated that "GA was the 99 Sqn code". Actually, GAW and GAY were the "last three" of the international radio callsign which, in this case, were MOGAW (WD477) and MOGAY (WJ332). It went something like this:
M = British Military
O = Transport Command
G = Aircraft Type (Hastings) J was also used
A = Base/Unit (Lyneham)
Y = Aircraft individual letter
I shall attempt to attach a rather
poor shot of WJ332 showing the owner as being 53 Sqn in the diamond on the fin.
Going back to the two excellent Hastings photographs that you posted a few days ago alongside one of which you stated that "GA was the 99 Sqn code". Actually, GAW and GAY were the "last three" of the international radio callsign which, in this case, were MOGAW (WD477) and MOGAY (WJ332). It went something like this:
M = British Military
O = Transport Command
G = Aircraft Type (Hastings) J was also used
A = Base/Unit (Lyneham)
Y = Aircraft individual letter
I shall attempt to attach a rather
poor shot of WJ332 showing the owner as being 53 Sqn in the diamond on the fin.
Jock, I think the photo 0f 332 must have been taken a long time ago when 53 sqn had it. It went to Colerne after being on 99 sqn, which was effectivily disbanded and all the crews were posted to RAF Colerne. Only the Adjutant and myself remained at Lyneham on 99 until the Britannia Crews started to arrive a few months later. I was left in charge of the 99 sqn second pilots toys, an Anson and two Chipmunks, then I set of on my journey to 152 sqn with Twin Pioneers and Pembrokes in Bahrain in the summer of 1959.
Last edited by brakedwell; 13th Dec 2022 at 00:58.
The Disappearance of B17 43-39338
The B17Montblanc website (2nd link) is well worth exploring in full. On its first display click on the Refs.
https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/cras...-alps-8-killed
https://www.b17montblanc.org/lincidente/
https://www.aerosteles.net/steleen-bourgstmaurice-b17
For The Record
DH Hornet F3 64 Squadron. Their Hornet F3s were later camouflaged and used in the Intruder role.
On September 15th 1949 one of two Hornets (F3 PX305 of 64 Squadron) which was to participate in Battle of Britain celebrations at Gibraltar was flown from Bovingdon to Gibraltar by Flt Lt H.Peebles at an average speed of 357.565 mph, a British point to point record. On September 19th with the same aeroplane Group Captain A.C.P. Carver flew from Gibraltar to Bovingdon, cruising at 25,000 feet in two hours and thirty minutes (+21 secs!) with a record average speed of 435.871 mph. It is said that he landed at Bovingdon with 15 minutes of fuel remaining.
Source BNA
PX305. Location unknown. Written off Butterworth after engine failure and belly landing October 28th 1954.
Illustrated London News October 1st 1949. Source BNA.
Acknowledged with thanks to Air Britain as captioned.
Evening Express June 5th 1953, Source BNA.
Fred Dunkerley with his Miles Gemini G-AKKB. Photo: Lancashire Aero Club.
Dunkerley a Rochdale Cotton Mill owner learnt to fly at the Lancashire Aero Club in 1947. He did this in order to facilitate visits to a Cotton Mill he had an interest in at Annsborough, County Down. He went on to become a well known and successful air racing competitor. He also set a few point to point class records in G-AKKB viz
London - Hague June 5th 1953
Hague - London June 5th 1953
London-Hague-London ditto
As The Hague records were made on the same day as his Brussels records I assume they were flown from/to Bovingdon.
London (Croydon) - Dublin July 28th 1953
Dublin - London (Croydon) July 28th 1953
London-Dublin-London ditto
London (Croydon) - Belfast August 25th 1953
Return attempt abandonded after engine failure over sea and single-engined landing at Liverpool.
Western Mail August 21st 1950. Source BNA.
Note 6th place achieved by 'Wally' Lashbrook Chief Pilot and Ops Manager of The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation Bovingdon.
Fred Dunkerley with Miss Murphy and his Miles Sparrowjet at Shoreham. Photo Key Aero Forum and Miss Murphy with thanks.
G-AKKB at Kemble in 2006. I believe she is still flying...... Photo Michael Brazier with thanks.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 12th Jan 2023 at 21:43. Reason: Correction
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Ah, KP208, I recall her displayed by the A325 outside the Para's museum at Aldershot back in the '70s... I see she has now moved to Colchester Barracks... I think the Aldershot museum is now the site of a Tesco superstore.
Bourne End Rail Crash 1945
Ah, the hole-in-the-ground story again. Has anyone actually ever found one of these fabled dumps on any former US airfield? I'd read that one at Stansted had been raided, but the diggers swore to keep mum about what they'd found. 
Just read a nice story about how US servicemen from Bovingdon turned out in force to help at the site of a nasty train crash at nearby Bourne End in September 1945.
Apparently, a USAAF pilot spotted the incident just after t/o and alerted the tower.
Just read a nice story about how US servicemen from Bovingdon turned out in force to help at the site of a nasty train crash at nearby Bourne End in September 1945.
Apparently, a USAAF pilot spotted the incident just after t/o and alerted the tower.
Site of Bourne End Rail Crash in relation to Bovingdon Aerodrome. Outskirts of Berkhamsted just north-west of site.
Photo credit as captioned.
Crash site photographed in 1946. Pix Farm centre to right of railway. Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead to south-east.
Crash site in 1955 - looking south-east and showing points system.
Source BNA.
Looking north-west.
Source BNA. USAAF 'Wrecker' vehicle from Bovingdon.
The Scotsman Oct 1st 1945 Source BNA
Reference to USAF Bovingdon.
Link to Book here. Go to page 68: https://www.google.co.uk/books/editi...sec=frontcover
Extract from The Hartlepool Northern Mail 25th October 1945. Source BNA.
The last paragraph is particularly poignant. Apparently the driver had worked the previous 26 days. Unsocial hours too, typically on this occasion 04.23 hrs departure from Perth.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 7th Oct 2023 at 22:01.
In the first photo, the red dot is about 200 yds away from the cottage where my aunt and uncle lived, just west of what used to be the A41; my uncle worked in the sawmill between Bourne End and the airfield., however I don't think they moved there until late 1945.
Loss of HP Halifax G-AIAP Eagle Aviation 25th November 1950
Belfast Telegraph November 25th 1950. BNA.
Liverpool Echo November 25 1950. BNA
Nottingham Journal November 28th 1950. BNA
Apart from the official accident report (which I haven't seen) there is a paucity of easily accessed information about this crash. Initial Press reports obviously emanated from one source only. I thought that the best bet was to get hold of David Hedges' book 'The Eagle Years 1948-1968' which arrived in the post from Blackbushe yesterday. I hope that he won't mind if I quote from his book: 'On November 15th (1950) , Halifax G-AIAP was chartered by BOAC on a cargo run to Singapore on what was to be its last operation. It had to make an emergency landing at Luqa; Malta having been damaged in a severe storm and it remained there until repairs had been carried out. Following a routine stop at Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta, on November 25th, the aircraft swung on take-off and crashed into the airport buildings. Two of the crew of six were killed and others were injured including Captain Harold Watkins who was thrown out of the aircraft and suffered head injuries. The subsequent explosion and fire destroyed the aircraft.'
Having read this I had a look at the image above which alas has no provenance or any information on time and place. It is a bit water stained but if you blow it up a tiny bit what could be a lightning strike to the starboard nav light can be discerned. I dunno what you think about this ? Could be at Malta and quite possibly damage on the port side too judging from the crews' stance ?
Harold Watkins was the Chief Pilot of British Eagle until the bitter end. He went on to become Chief Pilot of Donaldson International at Gatwick.
Eagle Aviation never had their main operating base at Bovingdon but their Halifaxes were a common sight there period 1948-1950. G-AIAP was their sole surviving example at the time of its demise. It operated the last civilian movement of The Berlin Airlift on August 15th 1949 piloted by Captain 'Pancho' Villa having completed 390 airlift sorties (ref Arthur Pearcy). A couple of snaps to finish up with:
Ack Hedges 'The Eagle Years ' with thanks.
This, Eagle Aviation's first Halifax operated the Company's first commercial rotation on May 9th 1948 - Bovingdon-Verona-Bovingdon with a cargo of cherries. Withdrawn from use after the end of The Berlin Airlift and scrapped at Bovingdon in July 1949.
Photo A.J. Jackson via 'The Home of The Eagle' with thanks.
The 'Red Eagle' at Bovingdon in 1949. So called because of its livery in the colours of Vigntor Airways of Norway (LN-OAT) delivery not taken up. It operated through The Berlin Airlift and was scrapped at Luton in 1950.
Awaiting its fate at Luton 1950.
http://www.britisheagle.net/History-British-Eagle.htm
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 6th Jan 2023 at 22:31.
Hullo Bear, well spotted........ looks like a section is lying on the ground. I think that clears up the mystery of the photograph. On another tack Chevvron hasn't posted on PPRuNe for 4 days now - I suspect he might be unwell.
I can just about make out Bourne End Lane on the photo but I know the house belonging to my relatives was demolished in the mid '60s and the sawmill where my uncle worked appears to have been re-purposed. They moved east to Boxmoor before this happened but as a point of 'interest' about half a mile east of Bourne End is the burial site of 'the last highwayman' to be executed, J B Snook, hanged roughly midway between Bourne End and Boxmoor on 11 May 1802; there is a memorial stone there although I understand he was 'dug up' and re-interred on 'the moor' (presumably Boxmoor where there is a graveyard)
Last edited by chevvron; 7th Jan 2023 at 16:52.
Eagle Aviation Footnote
For the period April 1950 until November 1952 Eagle Aviation's main operating base was at Luton Airport. During this period they were operating Avro Yorks, a few Dakotas and the one remaining Halifax. Initially the big drawback with Luton (I'm not talking about removing York Wing Tips in order to hangar them there) was the lack of Customs. All overseas movements outbound and inbound from/to Luton had to clear Customs at Bovingdon.
Luton News August 3rd 1950. BNA
Limited Customs Facilities became available at Luton on a trial basis in May 1951. So it was no longer a matter of the aeroplane calling at Bovingdon for clearance - rather that a Customs Officer would motor over from Bovingdon to Luton to do the business..........
The Pictorial May 8th 1951. BNA
Luton News August 3rd 1950. BNA
Limited Customs Facilities became available at Luton on a trial basis in May 1951. So it was no longer a matter of the aeroplane calling at Bovingdon for clearance - rather that a Customs Officer would motor over from Bovingdon to Luton to do the business..........
The Pictorial May 8th 1951. BNA
A Flight in a B29
Photo credit: Bovingdon Airfield Website.
I hasten to add that this is not the B29 in question. Note the starry band on the fuselage and fwd u/c door. Shadows from the past line the fence on the Chesham Road.
Extracts from the Lynn News and Advertiser Friday May 24th 1946....
It would appear that the development of 'Bombs' was still a subject of discussion at Bovingdon.
Photo and text: Philip Moyes 'Bomber Squadrons of the RAF.'
PD131 LS-V, one of 15 Squadron's modified Lancaster B 1's used in the Bombing Trials at Farge where it dropped a 22,000lb Grand Slam. Photographed at Bovingdon on 20th May 1946. Presumably this is the Lancaster referred to in the newspaper article..
Postscript: I've been trying to find out what the serial numbers were of the three B29s involved in Project Ruby. The photographs in the Lynn News reproduce so poorly but I'll post them here for what they are worth. Warbirds Information Exchange quote serial numbers 4521747, 4521750 and 4521751. Further they remark that a photograph in a contemporary (1946) article about Project Ruby in 'Flight' shows B29 4521752 as does a photograph held by The R.A.F. Museum. The newspaper aerial photograph is also of 4521752 said to have been taken from an RAF Lancaster. The pilot photographed is Lt-Col Hawes. Unfortunately the name of his B29 is indecipherable.
Photo source BNA.
Note the wavy-line black under-markings on some B29s have been adopted by this date.
Now finally here for the real Ballistics Enthusiast (of which I am not one) is a very, very, very slow silent movie. You will have enough time to make a cup of tea between frames - tho you will need something stronger by the end........ Don't forget, like many things, you saw it first on PPRuNe
Here is a taster: I can't vouch for the veracity of this compilation, when Lancasters are referred to as Lincolns. LATER after a large glass of wine I've just read in Moyes that 15 Squadron were equipped from 1947 onwards with Avro Lincolns and that at least four of these were modified with lengthened bomb bay doors to carry Tallboy DP Bombs. LINCOLN RF 352 carried out tests with these in 1947 which probably accounts for the brief reference in the movie. The movie timeline extends into 1947 because at 15.12m you can see a chap holding a small board which looks as though it is dated early August 1947.
Operation Ruby/Harken - Farge U Boat Pen - Germany 1946.
LINK:https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x832nqx
LINK re USAAF contribution: https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/News/A...halls-history/
POSTSCRIPT: This photograph is said to have been taken at Bovingdon 0n May 20th 1946 and shows Lancaster PD131 L-SV and B29 521752. Pretty sure it's Bovingdon, dispersed on the pan south-east of the control tower with R/W 35 beyond. Whelpley Ash Farm which used to have a big dutch barn is by the Chesham Road in the background.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 4th May 2023 at 21:45. Reason: B29/Lanc image added. Location firmed up.
Dakota Drift
Hurn 1948. Photo: Hampshire Airfields.
G-AGKG was with BOAC from September 1944 until October 1949. Then to Field Aircraft Services where sold to Union of Burma Airways as XY-ACL in March 1950.
Source as captioned.
Sadly written off:https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19530110-0
Source as captioned. (Mosquitoes were bad at Bovingdon that Spring).
Prior to being sold to Union of Burma Airways this Dakota had served as ZS-BJZ with Suidair International Airways of Rand Airport Johannesburg (They traded c 1947-1950).
Not without excitement:https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19470306-0
The swamp was drained- a road built and the aeroplane was salvaged and flown out in August 1947.
At Rangoon. Photo:Late Capt Charles Eather.
I was interested to see what appears to be an Airspeed Oxford under the Dak's port wing. It transpires that the Burmese Air Force had both Oxfords and Consuls armed up to the teeth. Which are which in the next snap I know not, it purports to show Oxfords.
XY-ACP was then registered with Field Aircraft Services in 1955 as G-AOFZ and in July 1956 re-registered as VP-YON with Hunting Clan African Airways.
At Mongu in what was Northern Rhodesia but is now in the Western Province of Zambia.
In February 1960 this Dak was restored to the British Register as G-AOFZ and served with Derby Airways/BMA until April 1966.
At Hucknall in 1963. Capt. Jim Shaw left. Photo Dave Welch with thanks.
Not without a slight upset in six years:https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19640929-0
G-AOFZ was next off to Gulf Aviation Bahrain in April 1966. I'm afraid that I have looked high and low for an image of her in Gulf's livery but it seems her tenure with the airline was so brief that photographs are hard to come by. In lieu I offer G-AMZZ who served with the company from 1960 until withdrawn from use in May 1971. This is the genuine article unlike the Dak in the Museum at Sharjah.
Sharjah 1962.
Unfortunately in August 1966 G-AOFZ was destroyed when:https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19660817-1
I've tried to source an image of the airstrip at Azaiba without any luck as it has long since disappeared. I've transcribed some brief (very) posts from PPRuNe.
' There was an airfield called Azaiba used by Petroleum Develoment Oman and Gulf Air Charter for PDO just to the East of Seeb. It is now built over. '
(From Mearns Loon )
' I seem to remember Azaiba was situated about 15 miles northwest of Muscat slightly inland on the flat ground to the west of what became Seeb. I only landed there a couple of times. Bait was on the edge of Muscat town in a small valley. '
(From brakedwell)
The only image I came across was this of a pranged York at Azaiba. I hope Michael Stokes doesn't mind me using it. I suspect the photo might have been taken by his Dad, Captain Jimmy Stokes who was very well known to all in GF, joining the company in 1961.
Last edited by OUAQUKGF Ops; 21st Jan 2023 at 14:57. Reason: Corrections