RAF Station Gate Guardians
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there still a huge scrap pile of broken-up buccaneers at Williamsons scrapyard on the edge of Elgin? Forgot to look last time I was up there. There must have been a few there because it really was a large pile (mid-90's) and it made the local press when they were getting them down there IIRC.
On the subject of far-north gate guards, there a F-4 at Benbecula outside the "Eyrie" club at the road end. I think that went around 2000, not long after the Eyrie club did (It's now the Uist Community Horse Riding School). I'm sure that no F-4's ever got off the ground from there!
ps - first post.
On the subject of far-north gate guards, there a F-4 at Benbecula outside the "Eyrie" club at the road end. I think that went around 2000, not long after the Eyrie club did (It's now the Uist Community Horse Riding School). I'm sure that no F-4's ever got off the ground from there!
ps - first post.
Marham has three "Gate Guardians" though only two can be seen from the gate! The Tipp't-up Tonka (on a stick), the Parade Square Victor (looking the wrong way!) and a back-yard Canberra - hidden on a back road. They may be more?
In the mid 80's there was a Gannet in 431 MU's lower yards - it was later sold to a museum - in Germany I believe - but I'm not sure.
Nobody's mentioned the Whirlwind at Odiham - I remember doing all the Mods required to get it ready to put into long term storage!!!
In the mid 80's there was a Gannet in 431 MU's lower yards - it was later sold to a museum - in Germany I believe - but I'm not sure.
Nobody's mentioned the Whirlwind at Odiham - I remember doing all the Mods required to get it ready to put into long term storage!!!
Gate Guardians
Back in the '70s Marham also had Valiant XD818 which now resides in the RAF museum (or was the last time I visited). It lived outside the Ops block, so not strictly a gate guardian I suppose, and was painted in camo, although it was repainted in anti-flash white when the museum took it over. At one stage the 4 engines which had been sitting in it for years were removed, sent to Rolls Royce for refurbishing, and flogged to the Swiss to go in their Hunters, as I remember. I went inside it one day (cant remember how) and was amazed how roomy it seemed down the back compared to the claustrophobic Vulcan and rather cramped Victor
The Marham Valiant was also a film star in its own right - it acted as the 'Badger' in a SSVC movie about air defence. Complete with surly looking 'Russians' in leather helmets peering out of the windows pretending to look at the F4 which had just intercepted them.
I had a good look around the Valiant when doing the AAR introduction course at the AAR school; it was indeed a lot roomier than the Tin Triangle!
I wonder which Arfur Daley managed to flog the engines as 'nice little runners, squire, fully reconned by Rolls Royce' to the Swiss?
I had a good look around the Valiant when doing the AAR introduction course at the AAR school; it was indeed a lot roomier than the Tin Triangle!
I wonder which Arfur Daley managed to flog the engines as 'nice little runners, squire, fully reconned by Rolls Royce' to the Swiss?
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: NEAR TO ISK
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I knew the Crash & Smash Team Chief who moved XD818 from Marham to Hendon, he told me that when they got the wings off out of interest they decided to NDT the main spars to see if they were cracked, they were not.
"Beagle I had a good look around the Valiant when doing the AAR introduction course at the AAR school; it was indeed a lot roomier than the Tin Triangle!"
I agree with you, there is a Valiant Cockpit at Dalcross Airport that I spent some time trying to restore, lots of room I agree much more than the Vulcan, but you have to be slim to get between the seat to get to the flight deck.
"Beagle I had a good look around the Valiant when doing the AAR introduction course at the AAR school; it was indeed a lot roomier than the Tin Triangle!"
I agree with you, there is a Valiant Cockpit at Dalcross Airport that I spent some time trying to restore, lots of room I agree much more than the Vulcan, but you have to be slim to get between the seat to get to the flight deck.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: england
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Loader (when DCINC) instigated the move to get the Hurricane for High Wycombe. If I remember correctly when he was CINC he asked for the Spitfire at Colt to be moved to High Wycombe. I always thought it a strange move. Perhaps the Bomber command memorial should be at High Wycombe as well. The only outward sign of bomber command is on the main gate pillars, which have the bomber command crest. There were 2 bomber command crests on the back gate, they were nicked 4-5 years ago.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Still it led to what is perhaps the worst plastic gate guardian of them all, you listening Benson?
The Benson PRU Spit, on its airfix plinth, has a twisted and anhederal tail. It looks awful and is really disgraceful.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
On the road to Lossie, at what was the BP Stn but is now the Fox or some such there is a Buccanneer. Better, when filling your car up, if you look up, you will see a Pavespike suspended from the roof. It is all coroded and salt stained
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: In a house(with wheels)
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One could argue that Lyneham has two,
1. the rather sad looking comet in need of some tlc
2. 47 AD C47 Dakota again now starting to look in need.
perhaps someone could drag one of the lifex Klassics from round by the washdown and make it three.
1. the rather sad looking comet in need of some tlc
2. 47 AD C47 Dakota again now starting to look in need.
perhaps someone could drag one of the lifex Klassics from round by the washdown and make it three.
>The Benson PRU Spit, on its airfix plinth, has a twisted and anhederal tail. It looks awful and is really disgraceful.<
Not as bad as the abomination outside SHQ at Cosford. This has slight anhedral on the mainplanes and looks thoroughly sorry for itself. A sad metaphor for the state of today's RAF, perhaps.
Not as bad as the abomination outside SHQ at Cosford. This has slight anhedral on the mainplanes and looks thoroughly sorry for itself. A sad metaphor for the state of today's RAF, perhaps.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: In a house(with wheels)
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps, as 197 is about to go to the strip in the sky, we could use that.
It's a nice shade of green un like the two by the washdown, which look like they haven't seen the inside of a paint shop since losing their two tone paint.
I did hear that 197's fate lies with QQ for testing? but that may just have been a rumour.
It's a nice shade of green un like the two by the washdown, which look like they haven't seen the inside of a paint shop since losing their two tone paint.
I did hear that 197's fate lies with QQ for testing? but that may just have been a rumour.
Cool Mod
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: 18nm N of LGW
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a Hunter at Ford open prison - I think of 802 Squadron.
Looks absurd at times especially on Sunday market days but..........there is a large lump of runway still intact.
Looks absurd at times especially on Sunday market days but..........there is a large lump of runway still intact.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Herts
Age: 81
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Appropriately enuough Scampton has had 2 Lancasters at the gate. The first - Queenie" is now in the museum at Hendon - the second is now at East Kirby doing the taxi runs at the Lincs Museum.
When Queenie was there, underneath her was a Grand Slam, a 4000lb cookie, a 2000lber and a 1000 lber. The 2000 had a slot cut in it and the public (who could park in a layby made just for the purpose) were invited to contribute to the RAFBF. One day a civvy came up to the guardroom and said they couldn't get any money in because the slot was blocked. For whatever reason, nobody had bothered emptying the thing for years. When it was opened up over £1000 was extracted.
When Queenie was there, underneath her was a Grand Slam, a 4000lb cookie, a 2000lber and a 1000 lber. The 2000 had a slot cut in it and the public (who could park in a layby made just for the purpose) were invited to contribute to the RAFBF. One day a civvy came up to the guardroom and said they couldn't get any money in because the slot was blocked. For whatever reason, nobody had bothered emptying the thing for years. When it was opened up over £1000 was extracted.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Herts
Age: 81
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Slightly off topic - - When the Korean War broke out, the Americans were severely embarrassed by a lack of tanks. On the other hand practically every small town in the USA had a WWII Sherman mounted in front of the courthouse.
Hundreds of these were quietly retrieved, refurbed and shipped to Pusan.
In the field they were known as Pedestal Tanks.
Hundreds of these were quietly retrieved, refurbed and shipped to Pusan.
In the field they were known as Pedestal Tanks.
I remember a Lincoln gate guard at Locking when on an ATC Summer Camp there in 1958.
There are plans, finance permitting, to install a Nimrod near to a crash gate at Kinloss where it will be visible to passers by. It will be fitted out with u/s kit and, it is hoped, open to visitors. Unfortunately there isn't a big enough space near the main gate
There are plans, finance permitting, to install a Nimrod near to a crash gate at Kinloss where it will be visible to passers by. It will be fitted out with u/s kit and, it is hoped, open to visitors. Unfortunately there isn't a big enough space near the main gate