V-Force dispersal query
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Tarrant Ruston
Whist I cannot get over excited regarding the discussion on dispersals, Micks, Micky Finns and Kinsmans (did anyone mention the latter?) and have not, I have to say, read every reply. However, I felt that as a particular airfield caught my eye I ought to say something. I served 38 years in the RAF as aircrew and Nav Radar and flew the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan and can assure the odd doubter and uninitiated that Tarrant Rushton did exist as a dispersal airfield. It was one of 148 Sqn's, a Valiant Sqn, and I flew one of our Sqn's Valiants into it when I was stationed at RAF Marham in the early 60s (date of flight in and out can be supplied from my Log Books). Our crew stayed in a local pub. The SMO, an RAF policeman and an ATC officer came down from Marham by road. The idea was that we flew in an aircraft and opened up these type of dispersals from time to time to exercise the facility ready for any future dispersal of aircraft. Name of the Irish SMO and Air Traffic Officer can be supplied. Unfortunately not that of the policeman or his dog. The latter I believe to be deceased, otherwise it would be in the Guinness Book of Records for longevity!
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I well remember the Vulcan detachments to VL (Yeovilton) in the mid-60s. One always knew when something was "up" when the Beverleys and Hastings appeared. At that time,the RAF personnel would be billeted in their own secure & self-contained camp,on the far side of the airfield,and therefore some distance from not only the main accomodation site,but the airfield "Technical Site" as well. I knew the RAF Corporal who was permanently based at Yeovilton,to look after the RAF accomodation,as he was,like me,a "folk-singer",and performed locally as half of "Terry & Alan" ; Alan was the Corporal,Terry was a Lt/Commander (test pilot !!).
The (2) Vulcans had a dispersal very close to the threshold of 09, and seemed to get airborne pretty niftily ,following a firework display from the balcony under the VCP ! At one time,it was my lot to help to lovingly tend to the many needs of our Marconi 264,which lived in a field nearby; in order to get there,of course,we had to drive past 09 threshold,and were always stopped,searched etc.,by very zealous-looking chaps with doggies,Sterling SMGs ,etc, which was always JOLLY INCONVENIENT !! We used to argue that,in order for us to be a Master Diversion Airfield in the first place,the needs of the 264 (which was later written-off by a herd of cows whilst ...um....I was on weekend Radar Watch in ...um...the Tower,but that's another story !) took precedence,but we soon learned that you can't argue with a Rock Ape !
The (2) Vulcans had a dispersal very close to the threshold of 09, and seemed to get airborne pretty niftily ,following a firework display from the balcony under the VCP ! At one time,it was my lot to help to lovingly tend to the many needs of our Marconi 264,which lived in a field nearby; in order to get there,of course,we had to drive past 09 threshold,and were always stopped,searched etc.,by very zealous-looking chaps with doggies,Sterling SMGs ,etc, which was always JOLLY INCONVENIENT !! We used to argue that,in order for us to be a Master Diversion Airfield in the first place,the needs of the 264 (which was later written-off by a herd of cows whilst ...um....I was on weekend Radar Watch in ...um...the Tower,but that's another story !) took precedence,but we soon learned that you can't argue with a Rock Ape !
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Prof.Hennessy has reissued The Secret State with a graphic (P.334) by a Nav Rad with 49 flightpaths skirting Arctic Sweden. Some launch from airports. He also (P.212) has 26 RAF "Bomber Bases" (here noted *) in a 1967 CoS paper guessing Sov. targets in UK.
Let me try to link what Wynn tells us, with what posters here have said.
Valiant/Marham* Tactical Bomber Force: QRA: 1 a/c p.Sqdn from 1/10/60-9/12/64. No dispersal (US custodials).
Medium Bomber Force. 1 a/c p.Sqdn QRA (progressively) from 1/1/62 - 30/6/69, stated to be 14 a/c, late-1963. Dispersal Exercised 1961/62 as Mickey Finn. First Whole Force/no notice was MF III, 13-15/11/63: CiC BC: "16 of our 29 dispersals were used by 47 a/c" (p.337). MF IV, 26-29/10/64: 25 dispersals were used by 35 a/c, the remainder ({? =4} of our dispersals) was activated by personnel only" p.338.
11/63 Class A: MBF Main Bases: Coningsby*/Cottesmore*/Scampton*/Waddington*: Vulcan; Honington*/Wittering*: Victor.
Other MBF Class A Bases: OCUs: Finningley*/Gaydon*; PR: Wyton*.
9. Wynn, P.306 agrees. Coningsby was inactive from 17/11/64, Gaydon from 6/65. ex-TBF Marham was idle, but available as an MBF dispersal, from 9/12/64 until Victor K.1 arrived 7/65 (and used by Waddo in ?1968).
Posters say (duplicates edited out):
Coningsby: Burtonwood (only between early-1963 and 11/64, when 9 & 12 Sqdns. moved to Cott. and B'wood had come off RAF care & maintenance);
Cottesmore: Ballykelly*, MoA Boscombe Down*, Leconfield*, MoA Llanbedr, Lyneham*, MoA Pershore*, St.Mawgan*, Thorney Is., Valley*, RNAS Yeovilton*;
Scampton: RNAS Brawdy*, Kinloss*, Leeming*, RNAS Lossiemouth*, MoA Thurleigh (Bedford*);
Waddington: BAC Filton*, Leuchars, Machrihanish*, Manston*, Wattisham, HSAL Woodford;
Wittering: Bruntingthorpe (though Action Stations has it empty after USAF/TAC left, 9/62) (Wynn has Coltishall)
That's (6*, then 5 Main Bases, plus: 3*, then 2 nearly-Main, plus: 24 dispersals (16 of them are *). Posters have also offered: Carnaby, Chivenor, Fairford, MoA Farnborough, Shawbury, MoA West Freugh. (posters noted Valiant Detachments at College of A Cranfield, Cranwell, MoA Tarrant Rushton). No posts for "1966 given up": Elvington, Middleton St.George, Prestwick.
More input from the horses' mouths, please. (Done; this post updated 25/11/10 to No.149)
So we're trying to identify "Our 29 dispersals" 11/63 for the 6 Main Bases. If: 3 were Finningley, Gaydon and Wyton (in 1963 Marham had its discrete TBF Q Task), plus the 16* here posted then: the further 10 1963 dispersals might be: Bruntingthorpe, Burtonwood, Coltishall, Cranwell, Elvington, Llanbedr, Middleton St.George, Prestwick, Wattisham...plus 1. All these are in Wynn's list (P.307). His extra one was Stansted.
Let me try to link what Wynn tells us, with what posters here have said.
Valiant/Marham* Tactical Bomber Force: QRA: 1 a/c p.Sqdn from 1/10/60-9/12/64. No dispersal (US custodials).
Medium Bomber Force. 1 a/c p.Sqdn QRA (progressively) from 1/1/62 - 30/6/69, stated to be 14 a/c, late-1963. Dispersal Exercised 1961/62 as Mickey Finn. First Whole Force/no notice was MF III, 13-15/11/63: CiC BC: "16 of our 29 dispersals were used by 47 a/c" (p.337). MF IV, 26-29/10/64: 25 dispersals were used by 35 a/c, the remainder ({? =4} of our dispersals) was activated by personnel only" p.338.
11/63 Class A: MBF Main Bases: Coningsby*/Cottesmore*/Scampton*/Waddington*: Vulcan; Honington*/Wittering*: Victor.
Other MBF Class A Bases: OCUs: Finningley*/Gaydon*; PR: Wyton*.
9. Wynn, P.306 agrees. Coningsby was inactive from 17/11/64, Gaydon from 6/65. ex-TBF Marham was idle, but available as an MBF dispersal, from 9/12/64 until Victor K.1 arrived 7/65 (and used by Waddo in ?1968).
Posters say (duplicates edited out):
Coningsby: Burtonwood (only between early-1963 and 11/64, when 9 & 12 Sqdns. moved to Cott. and B'wood had come off RAF care & maintenance);
Cottesmore: Ballykelly*, MoA Boscombe Down*, Leconfield*, MoA Llanbedr, Lyneham*, MoA Pershore*, St.Mawgan*, Thorney Is., Valley*, RNAS Yeovilton*;
Scampton: RNAS Brawdy*, Kinloss*, Leeming*, RNAS Lossiemouth*, MoA Thurleigh (Bedford*);
Waddington: BAC Filton*, Leuchars, Machrihanish*, Manston*, Wattisham, HSAL Woodford;
Wittering: Bruntingthorpe (though Action Stations has it empty after USAF/TAC left, 9/62) (Wynn has Coltishall)
That's (6*, then 5 Main Bases, plus: 3*, then 2 nearly-Main, plus: 24 dispersals (16 of them are *). Posters have also offered: Carnaby, Chivenor, Fairford, MoA Farnborough, Shawbury, MoA West Freugh. (posters noted Valiant Detachments at College of A Cranfield, Cranwell, MoA Tarrant Rushton). No posts for "1966 given up": Elvington, Middleton St.George, Prestwick.
More input from the horses' mouths, please. (Done; this post updated 25/11/10 to No.149)
So we're trying to identify "Our 29 dispersals" 11/63 for the 6 Main Bases. If: 3 were Finningley, Gaydon and Wyton (in 1963 Marham had its discrete TBF Q Task), plus the 16* here posted then: the further 10 1963 dispersals might be: Bruntingthorpe, Burtonwood, Coltishall, Cranwell, Elvington, Llanbedr, Middleton St.George, Prestwick, Wattisham...plus 1. All these are in Wynn's list (P.307). His extra one was Stansted.
Last edited by tornadoken; 25th Nov 2010 at 11:33.
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Cottesmore: Ballykelly, MoA Boscombe Down, Mao Llanbedr, Lyneham, MoA Pershore, St.Mawgan, Thorney Is., Valley, RNAS Yeovilton. (Wynn says: Leconfield, Leeming);
Cunning Artificer
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Waddington: RR Filton, Leuchars, Machrihanish, Manston, Wattisham, HSAL Woodford
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Don't forget Bedford. Late in the day, late 60s or early 70s it was activated during a Mickey Finn but they did not scramble with the main force. they remained at readiness for 28 days with no personnel exchange between Waddo and the dispersal. Redifusion even lent them TV(s) for free as the period was too short for a proper rental agreement.
IIRC West Freugh was another. Fairford too?
IIRC West Freugh was another. Fairford too?
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 19th Nov 2010 at 18:37.
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Interestingly there has been no mention of the Vulcan B2's with 230 OCU B Sqdn at Finningley. I have distinct memories of doing twelve on, twelve off, shifts in a caravan out on the airfield -QRA or ORP not sure. If the intent of a Mickey Finn was to launch everything, then it meant everything.
Equally vivid is the memory of the Duty Officer being firmly directed away by the SWO from our table in the mess at breakfast. Unshaven, torn anoraks, big wet-weather boots and rolled down thick white socks, navy-style blue sweaters, etc. these were not recognised dress for the start of a new day. Couple that with a group of very pissed-off guys who had been up all night and an insurrection was easily on the cards.
Equally vivid is the memory of the Duty Officer being firmly directed away by the SWO from our table in the mess at breakfast. Unshaven, torn anoraks, big wet-weather boots and rolled down thick white socks, navy-style blue sweaters, etc. these were not recognised dress for the start of a new day. Couple that with a group of very pissed-off guys who had been up all night and an insurrection was easily on the cards.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
To fill in Allison's point about Finningley.
Finningley was a Waddington responsibility as far as manning with operational crews.
When the alert was sounded 230 OCU woud generate 4 aircraft and OCU aircrew would complete combat checks, weapons would be loaded and the aircraft would wait for Waddo crews to arrive and bring them 'on state.'
To that end Waddo expected to get 4 crews assembled, kitted, and on the road in under 2 hours, at Finningley in 3 and on state before 4 hours were up. I had to ensure that crews allocated to the Finningley aircraft were the most reliable at reporting in when the hooter went. In that first 2 hours Waddo also had to generate the QRA spare so needed at least 8 crews, including the QRA crews inside the 2 hours and a further 16 crews asap to continue generation. Typically Waddo would have 20 aircraft up inside 5 hours hours or 24 including Finningley.
On one occasion when we also had the rump of the Mark 1 aircraft a total of 31 aircraft (including 5-6 at Finningley) were generated and we ran out of crews. The OCU staff then formed scratch crews to bak fill the Waddo spare aircraft. I ended up, as a Mk 2 Nav Rad, on a Mk 1 aircraft on QRA and at the same time was the Wing Operations officer for the exercise. We simply ran out of officers of all descriptions on the station.
Finningley was a Waddington responsibility as far as manning with operational crews.
When the alert was sounded 230 OCU woud generate 4 aircraft and OCU aircrew would complete combat checks, weapons would be loaded and the aircraft would wait for Waddo crews to arrive and bring them 'on state.'
To that end Waddo expected to get 4 crews assembled, kitted, and on the road in under 2 hours, at Finningley in 3 and on state before 4 hours were up. I had to ensure that crews allocated to the Finningley aircraft were the most reliable at reporting in when the hooter went. In that first 2 hours Waddo also had to generate the QRA spare so needed at least 8 crews, including the QRA crews inside the 2 hours and a further 16 crews asap to continue generation. Typically Waddo would have 20 aircraft up inside 5 hours hours or 24 including Finningley.
On one occasion when we also had the rump of the Mark 1 aircraft a total of 31 aircraft (including 5-6 at Finningley) were generated and we ran out of crews. The OCU staff then formed scratch crews to bak fill the Waddo spare aircraft. I ended up, as a Mk 2 Nav Rad, on a Mk 1 aircraft on QRA and at the same time was the Wing Operations officer for the exercise. We simply ran out of officers of all descriptions on the station.
Finningley was a SFD for Scampton in the late 1970s. Many a fun detachment there, particularly taking the pi$$ out of obnoxious Finningley staff giving plastic sergeants and baby navigators a hard time...
IIRC, the dead dog mob used Leeming as their SFD, whilst the geriatrics of 27 just continued to count boats.
IIRC, the dead dog mob used Leeming as their SFD, whilst the geriatrics of 27 just continued to count boats.
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Your up-date shows;
Cottesmore: Ballykelly*, MoA Boscombe Down*, Leconfield*, MoA Llanbedr, Lyneham*, MoA Pershore*, St.Mawgan*, Thorney Is., Valley*, RNAS Yeovilton*;
No mention of Leuchars. Am I misreading what you're after?
Cottesmore: Ballykelly*, MoA Boscombe Down*, Leconfield*, MoA Llanbedr, Lyneham*, MoA Pershore*, St.Mawgan*, Thorney Is., Valley*, RNAS Yeovilton*;
No mention of Leuchars. Am I misreading what you're after?
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My Dispersal experiences
I joined in 1967 as a Gen Mech, did the training and off to Waddo. In Feb '68 I was detached to Machrihanish to the MBD facility. I was 18 and enjoyed the experience and responsibility. There was a three man permanent staff, Sgt Malcolm Dobson, an MT Fitt, SAC Fred Sharley a Ground Electrician and myself a Gen Mech. Spent a year there, had one Mick and one Mickey Finn. Malcolm was posted to Singapore where he sadly died, had a couple of temp MT Fitts and in Jan/Feb '69 myself Fred and Sgt 'Tug' Wilson closed the dispersal shipping most of the equipment to Cottesmore for 9Sqdn departure to Cyprus.
Me COs rec and a fitters course after which I did a year at Valley which was where I learnt Sub Aqua and did little else for a year, posted to Goose Bay but did a quick relief detachment at Leuchars.
Waddo had, Wattisham, Brawdy, Yeovilton, Manston, and forget some of the others as dispersals in my days.
One good memory was at Leuchars, remember launching a bird with the earthing cable still attached, renaming 43 Sqdn the Fighting Cooks and kidnapping their Cockerel, which was repatriated after our support Argosy, I hitched a lift home for the weekend, was stopped on the runway for negotiations prior to departure to Waddo!!
Good times, good memories!!
Me COs rec and a fitters course after which I did a year at Valley which was where I learnt Sub Aqua and did little else for a year, posted to Goose Bay but did a quick relief detachment at Leuchars.
Waddo had, Wattisham, Brawdy, Yeovilton, Manston, and forget some of the others as dispersals in my days.
One good memory was at Leuchars, remember launching a bird with the earthing cable still attached, renaming 43 Sqdn the Fighting Cooks and kidnapping their Cockerel, which was repatriated after our support Argosy, I hitched a lift home for the weekend, was stopped on the runway for negotiations prior to departure to Waddo!!
Good times, good memories!!
I do hope the Met staff at Finningley were not obnoxious ...................
I WAS THERE, deputy to the SMetO !
We had a marvellous team under a great boss, Mac Cameron, and the ethos was most certainly that we were there to serve the customer to the best of our ability.
OC Flying / Ops? once caught me having a charp in a snowstorm but, as he pointed out, it had indeed been properly and accurately forecast, warnings issued and after that it was up to the client to shovel snow!
I WAS THERE, deputy to the SMetO !
We had a marvellous team under a great boss, Mac Cameron, and the ethos was most certainly that we were there to serve the customer to the best of our ability.
OC Flying / Ops? once caught me having a charp in a snowstorm but, as he pointed out, it had indeed been properly and accurately forecast, warnings issued and after that it was up to the client to shovel snow!
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Scampton Runway
Rather than start a new thread maybe someone on here can enlighten me.
Up to the end of 1970 when I finally left Scampton for pastures new the runway headings were 05/23. I am quite clear about this as every morning I had to phone the tower to get clearance to cross to the far side of the airfield.
Looking on Google Earth I see that the headings are now 04/22. Must have been a hell of a job to swing 9000 feet of concrete a few degrees. Anyone here in the know ?
Up to the end of 1970 when I finally left Scampton for pastures new the runway headings were 05/23. I am quite clear about this as every morning I had to phone the tower to get clearance to cross to the far side of the airfield.
Looking on Google Earth I see that the headings are now 04/22. Must have been a hell of a job to swing 9000 feet of concrete a few degrees. Anyone here in the know ?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And Gibraltar in 1963 and Coningsby about 2000. Given the cost of changing the numbers and the plates SATCO didn't want to change but the change was forced on him 