PPRuNe Forums - Gnat / Hunter formation pics---and 1953

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)

- Aviation History and Nostalgia (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia-86/)

- - Gnat / Hunter formation pics---and 1953 (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/246616-gnat-hunter-formation-pics-1953-a.html)

Gnat / Hunter formation pics---and 1953

Clearing the family house and amazed at what I find. I originally posted this on the Mil site, but no response other than one person with whom I am in touch. So. I found seven b/w shots taken of the Gnat / Hunter formation at Valley c 71 / 72 --I think ?. Two show the Gnat line on the day--the rest ar air to air showing the formation and one shows Gnats taxying.

I also found a copy of the Great Events of the Year 1953---included in which are various shots of the Comet,Swift and Hunter, a shot of the review at Odiham ( 318 aircraft and 3000 personnel on parade ! ) another showing a line of Canberra's at LHR---still a construction site then and nothing has changed I know---plus a Tudor ? and a Comet. There is also a shot of the winning crew, the event in question being the England -New Zealand Air Race.

These shots may well be of interest to some here---there again, they may not of course. However, assuming they are and for general interest, would anybody be able to copy and post them at all please. I can't and I certainly couldn't take the ones from the book---however, others here may well have the expertise.

I also found a BEA holiday booklet---complete with pics of the fleet----inc Comet, Vanguard and--Herald. Plus an advert for Rothmans being offered by a Captain-----times have changed somewhat!.

Would love to see the pics but can't find them - where exactly did you post them before?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaps ten please (Post 2889751)

Would love to see the pics but can't find them - where exactly did you post them before?

Erm that's because I haven't ---as yet :) ---however----this may well be rectified in the near (ish ) future as a result of a couple of PM's :ok:

Watch this space please

Nice pics Jindy.

Anybody else remember when we had an air force?

ah well, the kneeling chap second from the right in Jinda's first piccy is sporting 208's evil-eye arm badge. As I recall, that was a Bolton production in about 1970. I don't recognise him. any ideas?

Flt Lt (as was) C M Phillips

IIRC they are L-R Nick Spiller, Mike Philips, Mal Grosse, and Ron Pattinson.

As Fantom says, the winged eye was one of my productions. So was the FIRQ-SAIQ tie. Anyone still got one?

Great pictures, thank you for sharing them. Will you be posting the others? The prospect of seeing a Tudor is quite tantalising.

blaireau

--- almost right; the guy on the left though is Phil Langrill

- the attic's revealing its secrets!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../Mira10315.jpg

A mottley collection from 229 OCU

Those pics from 1974 bring back many happy memories of Valley! I was lucky enough to have been a (pretty crap) student on both the Gnat and the Hunter.....but can still almost smell the Avtur and Avpin now.

Marvellous times - Valley life was pretty good as you had to make the most of it. No dual carriageway, only the Menai bridge and at least an hour to get off the island back then.

The Sandymount was our Sunday watering hole - and the Dragon Room in the OM (ahh.....Mary's legs!) a good late evening source of food after too many sherbets in the bar.

Did anyone ever end up marrying Jane-Anne.......??

..and what happened to 'Horizontal Hilary' with the hinged ankles....................

My thanks to Mark22 for his efforts:ok: Hope you enjoy the shots.

I have to admit to being in the first photo----the third or fourth Gnat along from the right as I recall ---as I was "co-opted" on a "you, you and you etc" basis to make up the numbers on the Line for the day in question.

Mike P is not a dozen miles away, I shall have to tell him his even more famous than he thought.

Mark22's picture of No 39 in the front reminded me of something:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...w/39course.jpg

Jindabyne,

Splendid photos. Is the chap in the middle of your photo in post #11 Tony McKeown?

ACW

ACW

Spot on! Known as The Mekon to his mates. Left as an Air Cdre - think he then joined GEC? Last saw him at Langkawi airshow around '96.