RAF B-29 Washingtons
 

Seeking photos of RAF Washingtons (other than familiar on-line images) that served with 15, 35, 44, 57, 90, 115 149, 207 and 192 Sqns, plus Washington Conversion Unit
to illustrate a magazine article. Also keen to locate photos of the two Washingtons that were ferried to Australia in 1952 for Vickers weapons trials. The website ADF-Serials has relevant pics but do not respond to messaging. All assistance appreciated and acknowledged.

Aeroplane Monthly did an extensive article about 25/30 years ago concerning the use of Washingtons in RAF Service.

When I was a high school student I had a mate who’s Dad worked at WRE / Weapons Research Establishment north of Adelaide. The good old days of A bomb tests and lots of interesting aircraft visiting.
WRE must have been near where RAAF base Edinburgh is today, not as far north as the old RAAF base at Mallala. There I saw my one and only B 29, wasn’t aware then a RAF “Washington”.

I used to get aircraft photo prints from the Adelaide “Advertiser”. May be a line of enquiry via Dr Google, one would assume they haven’t destroyed their historic photographic archives?. They might have something
Timing.. about mid ‘50s..?

Or as Fireburn says ‘52. 53.? I was at High School then, and always getting into trouble looking out the
window at the passing parade of aircraft on final approach to Adelaide Airport.
Did have its advantages ... I got kicked out of class one day when trying to spot the Vulcan.
It flew a figure of eight low level over Adelaide and out on the oval I had the best view in town.!
What a science fiction shape that was in the day. Sadly, crashed back at Heathrow.

All the images of A76 I've seen in Australian publications, are always attributed to the various RAAF Media/Public Relations/Historical section/departments. Worth contacting them?


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1bba3ad633.jpg

The Soviet Union seemed to like the design:
Tupolev Tu 4; 847 built (some of which were sold to China) by 'reverse engineering' (ie copying) a B29 which had force landed on ther territory; in service until 1988 in China.

Some metric conversion rebuilt by the way!
Truly almost everybody's first nuclear bomber.

There was an article entitled "Washington diary" published in Aeroplane Monthly Vol 2 No5 (May 1974) the article was written by Jeffery Brown and outlined the introduction of the B-29 into RAF service.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c1bfea044.jpeg
57 squadron 1951
Hope this helps

RAF B-29 Washingtons
 

donthaveone.
TYVM - that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after, and not one I've seen before . But do you by any chance have a higher res version? As it stands its very small!

Washingtons at Colerne
 

Excuse thread drift.
I remember seeing three Washingtons at the BOB airshow at RAF Colerne in 1953 .
They displayed if I remember correctly, one Formation fly-by !
Further drift! Same display the Brabazon did 2 fly-bys and a touch and go, this was after the cancellation!
OPF

The picture is only 191kb from an old black& white print. Maybe it would be better if I sent it to you as an attachment?

Over 40 years ago,I had a girlfriend whose father,'Todd Sweeny',had flown Washingtons,and had a very nice b&w photo of the one he was flying in formation at the coronation review at Odiham.Think I only met him once,and he had rececently retired as a W.Cdr,though I did subsequently see him once more on the prom at Bognor Regis,where he was working as a deck-chair attendant.When I was at Eastern Radar in the early 80s,in conversation with one of the RAF controllers,Paddy Mallooly if anyone remembers him,he said that he had flown as Todds Nav' when on comets at Watton.

There is an E Mail for you

SPIT,if that message was for me, I have looked at my PMs,and it's not there,Can you try again ?

TYVM - I'd be grateful if you would

Hi
Does anyone know what happened to the magazine called WASHINGTON TIMES ??? (not the American one)

RAF B-29 Washingtons
 

It was produced by Chris Howlett and I believe the last Issue was #9 in Spring 2006

On the RAF Watton site there is a list of Washington Times newsletters to read, the last is Issue 20 Autumn 2010
https://www.rafwatton.info/wp-conten.../06/wash19.pdf

donthaveone - thanks for that,I wasn't aware of the RAF Watton site.I worked at Eastern Radar(civil),which was at Watton in the 1980s,one of our controllers,Percy Dorman had flown as A/G or Siggie on Washingtons.


Having just read the 'Washington Times' article above,thought I'd mention that the grave of Group Captain Donaldson mentioned therein,is in the churchyard at Tangmere,Sussex,close to that of Sqn Ldr Neville Duke,quite appropriate really.