Fast Jets at Syerston today??
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Fast Jets at Syerston today??
Does anybody know if my eyes were playing tricks on me as I drove past RAF Syerston today? It looked like there were a couple of Harriers parked up on the dispersals at the north end of the airfield... Do they operate there regularly?
I thought it was just gliders that operated there!
Happy new year all.
I thought it was just gliders that operated there!
Happy new year all.
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Ahhhh thanks for that... I couldn't have too good a look for fear of wrapping the car around a tree!
Pity they aren't operating from there... I guess Syerston's days of fast jets are well and truly over!
Pity they aren't operating from there... I guess Syerston's days of fast jets are well and truly over!
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As far as I'm aware it had JPs (jets - though not so fast!) and for some reason I'm thinking along the lines of Hunters. That can't be right can it? Or was it the Gnat?
Pretty sure about JPs though!
Pretty sure about JPs though!
Sorry it is long but this is a potted history of the unit:
Being a late starter it was the 1st of December 1940 before the station opened under the control of No.1 Group of Bomber Command. During the following days Nos.304 and 305 Squadrons moved in with their Vickers Wellington bombers.
Many more night operations were performed before both of the Polish Squadrons departed to Lindholme on the 20th of July 1941, to be replaced by No.408 Squadron who came in the opposite direction with its Hampdens
On re-opening on the 5th of May 1942 the station became part of No.5 Group, with No.61 Squadron taking up residence. They had come here to convert onto the new Lancaster bomber and for the first few months were kept company by two other Conversion Flights belonging to other No.5 Group squadrons, who were also receiving their new Lancasters.
From November to July 1944 there was also a Bombing and Gunnery Defence Training Flight in attendance with several Wellingtons, Spitfires, Hurricanes, plus a few Martinet tug aircraft, all employed in brushing up the skills of No.5 Groups air gunners on air to air exercises.
On the 25th of October 1945 the station became part of Transport Command when No.1333 Conversion Unit arrived from Leicester East with its Dakota and Halifax tugs plus Horsa gliders.
Syerston was taken over by Flying Training Command on the 1st of February 1948 when No.22 Flying Training School (FTS) arrived from Ouston. This school specialised in training pilots for the Fleet Air Arm and employed both Tiger Moths and Harvards. By 1950 Prentice aircraft had replaced the Tiger Moths but in November 1953 the new Percival Provost had replaced the other types.
In 1959 the new Jet Provost replaced the piston engined counterpart, and these continued to pound the circuit for another ten years until the requirement for new pilots decreased in 1969, which resulted in this F.T.S disbanding on the 16th of January 1970.
For the next five years the station lay vacant and began to rapidly deteriorate, but in January 1975 the airfield aspect started to be used by the Central Gliding School and 644 VGS, both of which moving from Spitalgate. To this date Air CadetCentralGlidingSchool and 644 VolunteerGlidingSchools remain in operation. 643 VGS are temporarily based at Syerston due to changes in role of local air bases.
Being a late starter it was the 1st of December 1940 before the station opened under the control of No.1 Group of Bomber Command. During the following days Nos.304 and 305 Squadrons moved in with their Vickers Wellington bombers.
Many more night operations were performed before both of the Polish Squadrons departed to Lindholme on the 20th of July 1941, to be replaced by No.408 Squadron who came in the opposite direction with its Hampdens
On re-opening on the 5th of May 1942 the station became part of No.5 Group, with No.61 Squadron taking up residence. They had come here to convert onto the new Lancaster bomber and for the first few months were kept company by two other Conversion Flights belonging to other No.5 Group squadrons, who were also receiving their new Lancasters.
From November to July 1944 there was also a Bombing and Gunnery Defence Training Flight in attendance with several Wellingtons, Spitfires, Hurricanes, plus a few Martinet tug aircraft, all employed in brushing up the skills of No.5 Groups air gunners on air to air exercises.
On the 25th of October 1945 the station became part of Transport Command when No.1333 Conversion Unit arrived from Leicester East with its Dakota and Halifax tugs plus Horsa gliders.
Syerston was taken over by Flying Training Command on the 1st of February 1948 when No.22 Flying Training School (FTS) arrived from Ouston. This school specialised in training pilots for the Fleet Air Arm and employed both Tiger Moths and Harvards. By 1950 Prentice aircraft had replaced the Tiger Moths but in November 1953 the new Percival Provost had replaced the other types.
In 1959 the new Jet Provost replaced the piston engined counterpart, and these continued to pound the circuit for another ten years until the requirement for new pilots decreased in 1969, which resulted in this F.T.S disbanding on the 16th of January 1970.
For the next five years the station lay vacant and began to rapidly deteriorate, but in January 1975 the airfield aspect started to be used by the Central Gliding School and 644 VGS, both of which moving from Spitalgate. To this date Air CadetCentralGlidingSchool and 644 VolunteerGlidingSchools remain in operation. 643 VGS are temporarily based at Syerston due to changes in role of local air bases.
And it was, of course, the site of a fatal Vulcan accident in Sep 1958 when a test pilot exceeded the IAS limit at very low level (70ft....), then overstressed it in a rolling pull-up at an air show.
It was the first prototype Vulcan, being used as a test bed for Conway (not Olympus) engine development by Rolls Royce Hucknall. All on board were killed; fortunately no spectators were hurt.
It was the first prototype Vulcan, being used as a test bed for Conway (not Olympus) engine development by Rolls Royce Hucknall. All on board were killed; fortunately no spectators were hurt.
Avro Vulcan B1 VX770 being used by Rolls Royce for engine tests was giving a display. During a high speed run the aircraft broke up and crashed killing all the crew.
I thought it would be prudent not to post the picture.
I thought it would be prudent not to post the picture.
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Ex Rig,
You missed out Four Counties GC---until very recently that is ---it also used to be home to a plod detachment from Newton for a while.
Used to generate the odd "conflict of interest" between both of the above I believe
You missed out Four Counties GC---until very recently that is ---it also used to be home to a plod detachment from Newton for a while.
Used to generate the odd "conflict of interest" between both of the above I believe
VX770 breaking up at Syerston
Ooppss! Sorry! I have put a link at the bottom for those that want to see a chilling reminder of not exceeding VNe on a development aircraft with development engines.
God rest their souls...
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1...ton2vz4.th.jpg
PS. GPMG you only have to ask nicely you oversensitive p0nce!
God rest their souls...
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1...ton2vz4.th.jpg
PS. GPMG you only have to ask nicely you oversensitive p0nce!
Last edited by Lima Juliet; 2nd Jan 2007 at 13:43. Reason: Desire not to see what happened...
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Leon try reading the damn thread before posting on it!
5 post above yours the crash is mentioned and it is thought prudent not to show the photo, 3 posts above your someone is thanking them for not showing the phot.
What benefit does that photo have on this thread?? Apart from bringing back some sad memories to people on this site?
5 post above yours the crash is mentioned and it is thought prudent not to show the photo, 3 posts above your someone is thanking them for not showing the phot.
What benefit does that photo have on this thread?? Apart from bringing back some sad memories to people on this site?
