British Air Attache DH Devons
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I visited Melun-Villaroche airfield outside Paris a few years ago. The Museum there had pictures on display , including an RAF detachment with a Devon based there in the fifties. I think I took copies, I'll try to find them.
HL
HL
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huntaluvva
Depending on which date the photos were taken that would either be the Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight or (from 4.51) the Allied Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight.
Would be interesting to see the photos.
Depending on which date the photos were taken that would either be the Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight or (from 4.51) the Allied Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight.
Would be interesting to see the photos.
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Just a quick note to publically thank Cornish Jack and Warmtoast for their help with this one, and to re-iterate the plea for further information on the other Air Attache Devons (see my list on page 1) - or other RAF/RAE Devons for that matter.
All help v much appreciated.
Lee
All help v much appreciated.
Lee
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Lee, I was stationed at Fontainbleu 1966/67 with Allied Air Forces Central Europe. We had a communications Flight based at Lebourget Airport, which consisted of a Devon and a Pembroke aircraft. Unfortunatly no photos or reg no's. When De-Gaull threw every one out of France I moved to Brunsum and I assume the aircraft went to mastricht or possibly Gielenkirchen.
Bill
Bill
Pretoria, November 1966
Lee: Not sure that this will help you too much, but the AA in Pretoria certainly had an ex-Queen's Flight Heron, still bright red, in November 1966. After our Argosy went seriously U/S in Matsapa, Swaziland, our co-pilot and myself hitched a lift to Joburg, got a train to Pretoria and presented ourselves at the AA's residence. Can't recall his name, but he and his wife gave us an excellent dinner and he flew us back to Matsapa in the Heron next day.
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harbourm: Interesting. I have AAFCE's aircraft as being based at Melun-Villaroche, near Fontainebleau, not Le Bourget? Can you recall whether it was in fact so? Prior to it being AAFCE it was AFWE at Toussus-le-Noble.
ICM: Herons also of interest! This particular aircraft would have been XM295 which was used by AA Pretoria from June 65 until December 67.
I might add that, whilst my main interest for this particular thread was the AA aircraft, I'm keen to hear from any RAF/RAE Devon personnel.
Any more for any more?
ICM: Herons also of interest! This particular aircraft would have been XM295 which was used by AA Pretoria from June 65 until December 67.
I might add that, whilst my main interest for this particular thread was the AA aircraft, I'm keen to hear from any RAF/RAE Devon personnel.
Any more for any more?
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Lee
It was Le Bourget when I was there in 1966/67 until the closure of AAFCE. I was MT and used to drive the aircrew up to Le bourget whenever required which was most days.
One interesting fact was that the blue cleat line on the Devon was red and not blue.
Bill
It was Le Bourget when I was there in 1966/67 until the closure of AAFCE. I was MT and used to drive the aircrew up to Le bourget whenever required which was most days.
One interesting fact was that the blue cleat line on the Devon was red and not blue.
Bill
This particular aircraft would have been XM295 which was used by AA Pretoria from June 65 until December 67.
Do you know where XM295 went after Pretoria? The reason I ask is that in 1968, I had a trip in an ex-Queen's Flight Heron. It was an IMC day at Shawbury and so I was in the UBAS crew-room, when 27 MU phoned and said they had an aircraft going to Aldergrove to pick up some parts and did anyone want to go for a ride.
So a group of us flew over Ulster in the Heron, which the MU was using as a hack. We caused much consternation at Aldergrove, when a bright-red Heron appeared out of the clouds on final. We were met by the Station Commander, who was not impressed by the scruffy students in flying suits who dis-embarked.
Could this have been XM295?
Ironically, I made another trip to Aldergrove a week later, this time in a Devon, thus adding another DH type to my list. I realized not long ago that I've flown (or flown in) more de Havilland types than those of any other manufacturer.
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This is where this kind of research comes to the fore. Unfortunately it's often only with the passing of time that recording of such information is seen as important by many of those best placed to do so at the time - a fact I try and impress on as many as I can these days to try and make researching that little bit easier in the future. 
It could have been one of two aircraft that you flew in: XM295 and XM296 were both at 27 MU Shawbury in mid 1968; both of them were ex-Queen's Flight, with for former being sold and eventually re-engined (ugh!) and the latter being transferred to 60 Sqn at Wildenrath. They then relinquished XM296 to the RN who operated it until the type was withdrawn from use and she currently resides in the USA - still airworthy, I'm glad to say.
It could have been one of two aircraft that you flew in: XM295 and XM296 were both at 27 MU Shawbury in mid 1968; both of them were ex-Queen's Flight, with for former being sold and eventually re-engined (ugh!) and the latter being transferred to 60 Sqn at Wildenrath. They then relinquished XM296 to the RN who operated it until the type was withdrawn from use and she currently resides in the USA - still airworthy, I'm glad to say.
Lee,
Thank you for your information. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me nor did I note the serial numbers. I do remember the interior of the Heron was quite impressive - sort of First Class on a miniature scale, but even the Queen had to step over the main spar! However, the spar was very nicely carpeted, to protect the Royal shins.
My most recent exposure to a Heron was three years ago, when I first visited the Classic Flyers museum at Tauranga and saw ZK-BBM:
I had completely forgotten that the early Herons were fixed-gear. She is a little bit worse for wear, but I was told potentially airworthy.
However, in the hangar behind, was this immaculate, airworthy Devon:
and (excuse the slight thread drift) this Dominie:
I flew in the Dominie two years ago, on a nostalgia trip. My first ever flight was in a Dragon Rapide at Ramsgate Airport.
Thank you for your information. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me nor did I note the serial numbers. I do remember the interior of the Heron was quite impressive - sort of First Class on a miniature scale, but even the Queen had to step over the main spar! However, the spar was very nicely carpeted, to protect the Royal shins.
My most recent exposure to a Heron was three years ago, when I first visited the Classic Flyers museum at Tauranga and saw ZK-BBM:
I had completely forgotten that the early Herons were fixed-gear. She is a little bit worse for wear, but I was told potentially airworthy.
However, in the hangar behind, was this immaculate, airworthy Devon:
and (excuse the slight thread drift) this Dominie:
I flew in the Dominie two years ago, on a nostalgia trip. My first ever flight was in a Dragon Rapide at Ramsgate Airport.
I have just found this Flight PDF from 1955, which has a description of the first Queen's Flight Heron and a photo of the interior:
heron | de havilland | 1955 | 0406 | Flight Archive
heron | de havilland | 1955 | 0406 | Flight Archive
I recently re-read "Heavenly Days" by James Pelly-Fry. Towards the end of the book he tells stories of sharing a Devon with the Air Attache in Ankara when he was in Tehran in 1957-1958. There is a photograph of the front end of the Devon but no clues as to its identity.
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Lee,
I caught Devon VP978 on camera a few times at Changi in 61-62, then again at Seletar in November 1963.
You can track the 'minor and major' servicing done on both VP977 and VP978 at 390 MU Seletar by looking at the 390 MU ORB's at Kew. Some interesting references to where the Air Attaches were based in those records I note.
I've put a post with photos on my Singapore aircraft website:
FOCAL PLANES
David Taylor.
I caught Devon VP978 on camera a few times at Changi in 61-62, then again at Seletar in November 1963.
You can track the 'minor and major' servicing done on both VP977 and VP978 at 390 MU Seletar by looking at the 390 MU ORB's at Kew. Some interesting references to where the Air Attaches were based in those records I note.
I've put a post with photos on my Singapore aircraft website:
FOCAL PLANES
David Taylor.
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David
A belated thanks for that. I hadn't realised 389's ORB was at Kew; it's on my list of documents to try and look through next week when I visit.
Thanks for the photos too. I'll drop you a direct line in due course.
All the best
Lee
A belated thanks for that. I hadn't realised 389's ORB was at Kew; it's on my list of documents to try and look through next week when I visit.
Thanks for the photos too. I'll drop you a direct line in due course.
All the best
Lee
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Air Attache Devons
Hello
I don't know if you are still interested in this subject but my father, Thomas McNamara was the AA in Djakarta for two years in the early fifties. The aircraft (which he took delivery of) Devon, VP978 replaced a very dilapidated Avro Anson that was there when we arrived.
i can remember quite a few details of this period and if you are still interested, please contact me at this address. [email protected]
Sincerely
Rory McNamara
I don't know if you are still interested in this subject but my father, Thomas McNamara was the AA in Djakarta for two years in the early fifties. The aircraft (which he took delivery of) Devon, VP978 replaced a very dilapidated Avro Anson that was there when we arrived.
i can remember quite a few details of this period and if you are still interested, please contact me at this address. [email protected]
Sincerely
Rory McNamara
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I am searching for information (and hopefully some photos) about my grandfather who was Air Attache in Bangkok in the 1960s. While searching the internet this forum came up. My grandfather's name was Peter Dickson Squires, I think the same Dickie Squires you have mentioned above. If anyone has any information they are willing to share I would be hugely grateful.
'Dickie' Squires was, indeed the Air Attache in Bangkok in the early/mid 60s. I was lucky enough to have been his Nav/Sig/ RH seat man.
This is the gentleman with self on right ... the Devon was a VERY cosy operating environment. He was a complete breath of fresh air in post and your grandmother was just as welcoming. I've just remembered that I have a few slides of that period which feature him and his lady and possibly even your Mum, as a child. They will take a little time to recover as we are still recovering from having our house destroyed in the 2013 'surge'. I'll repost if successful.
This is the gentleman with self on right ... the Devon was a VERY cosy operating environment. He was a complete breath of fresh air in post and your grandmother was just as welcoming. I've just remembered that I have a few slides of that period which feature him and his lady and possibly even your Mum, as a child. They will take a little time to recover as we are still recovering from having our house destroyed in the 2013 'surge'. I'll repost if successful.