RAF strength 1953

[Discorde]

This pic showed up on Facebook recently - an impressive display of hardware at Odiham celebrating the recent Coronation, including a 600-ship flypast. Apologies if it's already been posted.


© Crown copyright

[MPN11]

Indeed a magnificent display of the technology of the day.

As to capabilities in 2022, one would have to regard this [sadly] as a Museum Collection.

[Timelord]

They are very impressively straight lines of aircraft and people.

[radar101]

Manpower-wise my father who was in then says about 250,000 personnel - helped by national service of course.

[Warmtoast]

FWIW Composition of the Odiham Coronation Review flypast.

[The Flying Stool]

Coincidentally, in 1953 the RAF lost over 400 Gloster Meteors in crashes/accidents!

[oldpax]

Fly past

Some famous pilots on there!What would this list look like now!

[ancientaviator62]

Looks like the last five a/c on the list were flown by company test pilots.

[DaveReidUK]

They could at least have taken the covers off that Hastings.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by The Flying Stool

Coincidentally, in 1953 the RAF lost over 400 Gloster Meteors in crashes/accidents!

I think the actual number for that year was around 150 (still a lot, though!).

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by oldpax

Some famous pilots on there!What would this list look like now!

And at least 3 of them with Battle of Britain victories to their name, Dennis Cowley-Milling, Bobby Oxspring and Paddy Barthropp.


Its also sad to see out of that long list of bases, only Shawbury, Waddington & Marham are left as active RAF bases.

[teeteringhead]

And another impressive fact about the Coronation Flypast and Static Display: I understand that ALL the aircraft involved were UK based, not a single one from Germany or farther afield.......

[washoutt]

The last four large aircraft in the second row, are those Boeing B-29's? Were they part of the UK Air Force?

[alfaman]

Originally Posted by washoutt

The last four large aircraft in the second row, are those Boeing B-29's? Were they part of the UK Air Force?

Apparently so- on loan, known as the Washington B1, phased out shortly after the photo was taken.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by washoutt

The last four large aircraft in the second row, are those Boeing B-29's? Were they part of the UK Air Force?

Washingtons not....oh bugger.
(I had a Dinky Toy one)

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by washoutt

The last four large aircraft in the second row, are those Boeing B-29's? Were they part of the UK Air Force?

Yes, as mentioned, in early 1950, the RAF acquired 87 early B-29A's (Washington B.1) on loan from the USAF, that had just been taken out of service and were due to go into desert storage.
These were a stop-gap in the nuclear role until the Canberra was able to take on that role, and all the B-29's were returned to the USA in early 1954.

[BEagle]

[...]all the B-29's were returned to the USA in early 1954[...]

Not quite all! One was lost over Morecambe Bay, another crashed near Marham and another near Coningsby.

Perhaps there were further losses?

[Planemike]

Originally Posted by ancientaviator62

Looks like the last five a/c on the list were flown by company test pilots.

By my reckonings the last six aircraft on the list were flown by company test pilots. That would figure as the aircraft were Ministry of Supply aircraft, not RAF squadron aircraft... Could be regarded as " the industry's " contribution to the great show....!!

[Planemike]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Its also sad to see out of that long list of bases, only Shawbury, Waddington & Marham are left as active RAF bases.

Wattisham sneaks onto the list via the Army Air Corps.....!!

[Pypard]

Originally Posted by Planemike

Wattisham sneaks onto the list via the Army Air Corps.....!!

...and Boscombe Down.