RAF Chipmunks
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A few chippie pictures of mine which I hope may bring back a memory or two for you all.
Sorry about the dust etc but just updating my system so little time available but at least it prompted me to reinstall the slide scanner this afternoon.
Sorry about the dust etc but just updating my system so little time available but at least it prompted me to reinstall the slide scanner this afternoon.
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Wonderful pics Clicker old chap ! The Raspberryripple WK518 and WZ845 pics are most certainly taken at RAF Manston when they served with No 1 AEF. I even recognise the Austin Alegro in the car park 
. It's quite possible the other pic of WK518 was taken at RAF Coningsby ... someone might be a able to positively ID the location. My quess is that the Blue Band scheme was mid 90's (94 ?)
Not sure if you know ... But WK518 is now displaying this scheme ...
Here she is in the former High Viz Black ...
Best ...
Coff.
PS. One rainy day I helped the Engineers fabricate those Rudder Locks ... Nice bit of pop riveting ... contact adhesive applied to the rubber on the inside of the lock ... dayglo tape and "Remove Before Flight" ribbons ... Great fun a very long time ago
. It's quite possible the other pic of WK518 was taken at RAF Coningsby ... someone might be a able to positively ID the location. My quess is that the Blue Band scheme was mid 90's (94 ?)Not sure if you know ... But WK518 is now displaying this scheme ...
Here she is in the former High Viz Black ...
Best ...
Coff.
PS. One rainy day I helped the Engineers fabricate those Rudder Locks ... Nice bit of pop riveting ... contact adhesive applied to the rubber on the inside of the lock ... dayglo tape and "Remove Before Flight" ribbons ... Great fun a very long time ago
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 8th May 2013 at 06:55.
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Yes I'm certain the Red/Whites were at Manston as I was a CI for a few years with London Wing (409 Sqdn).
WK18 features in my pax log book for 16th Jan 77 as very likely that day and I noted the callsign Alpha 46 as well.
Another date would be 2nd Jun 79 when I note a Wessex (XS675) flight over Pegwell Bay.
I'm almost certain that the silver WK518 is at Coningsby, given your update, date on the slide etc. The background suggests its on the western side of the BBMF hangar looking towards what is now the Typhoon pan.
Wasnt aware re the new paint job, will have to pop back there sometime.
Talking about colours, I always referred to the ETPS red/white/blue as the raspberry ripple but the scheme on WK518/WZ845 as just red/white. I'm I wrong?
WK18 features in my pax log book for 16th Jan 77 as very likely that day and I noted the callsign Alpha 46 as well.
Another date would be 2nd Jun 79 when I note a Wessex (XS675) flight over Pegwell Bay.
I'm almost certain that the silver WK518 is at Coningsby, given your update, date on the slide etc. The background suggests its on the western side of the BBMF hangar looking towards what is now the Typhoon pan.
Wasnt aware re the new paint job, will have to pop back there sometime.
Talking about colours, I always referred to the ETPS red/white/blue as the raspberry ripple but the scheme on WK518/WZ845 as just red/white. I'm I wrong?
Last edited by clicker; 8th May 2013 at 07:02.
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Clicker ... Alpha 46 ... I think (it's a long time ago and I could be wrong) that callsign belonged to a John Powell a former Lightning guy ... a really nice softly spoken chap ... loved his aeros 
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The Raspberry Ripple scheme was a standard Training Command scheme that replaced the earlier Grey & Day-Glo scheme ... The Chipmunk did have an earlier RR variation in that the entire wing leading edge was painted red (the metal section of the wing) ... replaced with just the wing tips outboard of the ailerons painted red. ETPS adopted the RR scheme adding the blue as you say ...
Best ...
Coff.
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 8th May 2013 at 07:52.
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Idle Stop ... Just had a dig into the history books
TDoE (as MRAF) did his basic flying training on, then, a brand new Chipmunk WP861 at WW but he did his 1st solo in WP912 20/12/1952 ...
BEagle ...
Were either of these two Chipmunks on the ULAS fleet ?
WP861 went to New Zealand whilst WP912 is at Cosford
TDoE (as MRAF) did his basic flying training on, then, a brand new Chipmunk WP861 at WW but he did his 1st solo in WP912 20/12/1952 ...
BEagle ...
Were either of these two Chipmunks on the ULAS fleet ?
WP861 went to New Zealand whilst WP912 is at Cosford
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A couple of gratuitous Chippy pictures. WG474, AKA G-BCSL which I flew and part -owned from 1979 until a year or so ago. Fabulous times!
Landing on Southport beach for the airshow (copyright Steve Le Vien)
Take off from Kenyon Hall Farm strip
Landing on Southport beach for the airshow (copyright Steve Le Vien)
Take off from Kenyon Hall Farm strip
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Chipmunks
Wasn't ALWB the Chipmunk that had the Rover gas turbine (APU as in Argosy ?) fitted, & belonged to Dave Bonner at Shoreham many years ago ? rgds, Paul H, Bicester.
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Red and Whites at Manston
I concurwith clicker that 1 AEF had WZ845 at Manston as I had my first flight there sometime in early '77. At the time there were a handful of Belfasts standing/stored on the hangared side of the airfield presumably recently demobbed and waiting for private purchase.
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And a few more from my collection to keep Coff happy.
Oh and when I thought I didnt have WK518 in the new scheme I find I have one taken at Fairford last year. Might still go to Coningsby though se if I can get some decent shots.
Oh and when I thought I didnt have WK518 in the new scheme I find I have one taken at Fairford last year. Might still go to Coningsby though se if I can get some decent shots.
Last edited by clicker; 8th May 2013 at 21:25.
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Is it not at Duxford at the moment? The other is at East Mids, but should be going back to Coningsby in the next day or so.
Gents:
I've only just discovered this thread! I'm not ex-military, but an enthusiastic Chipmunk owner and a bit of an amateur historian of the breed. Readers may be interested to know that there are several surviving ex-RAF Chipmunks here in SE Queensland:
WK550, now VH-KMF (C1-0565). Flew with 4 BFTS Sywell, 5 RFS Castle Bromwich, Birmingham UAS, Liverpool UAS, Manchester UAS, 22 MU Siloth, Queens Belfast UAS Sydenham, University of London AS, 1 FTS Linton-on-Ouse, PFS Church Fenton, Yorkshire UAS, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, EFTS Swinderby, 8 AEF Shawbury. Sold in 1997, re-painted in FSS markings.
WK507, now VH-SSJ (C1-0543). With 5 FTS Desford, 9 RFS Doncaster, Home Command Major Servicing Unit Leconfield, Durham UAS, 22 MU Siloth, Edinburgh UAS Turnhouse, Hull UAS Brough, 6 FTS Turnhill, 10 MU Hullavington, Glascow UAS Perth, Manchester UAS Woodvale, 229 OCU Chivenor, 2 FTS Church Fenton, Birmingham UAS Shawbury, 5 MU Kemble. Sold in 1974, repainted in Birmingham UAS markings.
WG478, now VH-MMS (C1-0528). With 11 RFS Perth, 5 BFTS Desford, 10 MU Hullavington, Cambridge UAS Teversham, Southampton UAS Hamble, 20 MU Aston Down, Leeds UAS Yeadon, 22 MU Siloth, Durham UAS Usworth, Benson Station Flight, Lyneham Station Flight, 27 MU Shawbury, Leeds UAS Church Fenton, 9 AEF Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, 6 AEF Abingdon, EFTS Swinderby, Gatow Station Flight, sold in 1995. Painted in 2 FTS markings.
WP981, now VH-SHX (C1-0847). 9 MU Cosford for Coronation Review, Manchester UAS Woodford, Cambridge UAS Teversham, 61 Group Comm Flight Kenley, Flying Training Command Comm Flight White Waltham, Biggin Hill Station Flight, Binbrook Station Flight, 6 AEF White Waltham, University of London AS White Waltham, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, 5 AEF Cambridge, sold 1997. Painted in Cambridge UAS markings.
WG480, now VH-ZCM (C1-0530). 5 BFTS Desford, 5 RFS Castle Bromwich, CFS Little Rissington, Birmingham UAS Castle Bromwich, Bristol UAS Filton, 10 MU Hullavington, Leeds UAS Church Fenton, Hemswell Station Flight, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, Leeds UAS Yeadon, Manchester UAS Woodvale, RAFC Cranwell, PFS Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, 9 AEF Finningley, BBMF Conningsby, 7 AEF Newton, 4 AEF Exeter, sold 1996.
WB567, now VH-JHN (C1-0019). 22 RFS Teversham, 9 MU Cosford, Abingdon Station Flight, 27 MU Shawbury, ITS South Cerney, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, 1 FTS Linton on Ouse, Oxford UAS Bicester, Manchester UAS Woodvale, Bristol UAS Filton, 12 AEF Turnhouse, Glasgow UAS Perth, stored at Newton, sold 1997.
WP839, now VH-ATH (C1-0722). 10 AFTS Pershore, 22 MU Siloth, Birmingham UAS Castle Bromwich, 231 OCU Bassingbourne, 10 MU Hullavington, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, PFS Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 8 AEF Shawbury, stored at Newton, sold in 1996 and registered (but not flown) in UK as G-BZXE. This one is lurking in a shed in suburban Brisbane, undergoing restoration, and is very elusive...
Do any of these feature in any PPruners logbooks?
For completeness, there are 6 further Chipmunks in the area, but these were either very early RAF retirees or always civil aircraft - I doubt they would appear in your logbooks. Is there any interest in me posting photos/details of these as well?
I've only just discovered this thread! I'm not ex-military, but an enthusiastic Chipmunk owner and a bit of an amateur historian of the breed. Readers may be interested to know that there are several surviving ex-RAF Chipmunks here in SE Queensland:
WK550, now VH-KMF (C1-0565). Flew with 4 BFTS Sywell, 5 RFS Castle Bromwich, Birmingham UAS, Liverpool UAS, Manchester UAS, 22 MU Siloth, Queens Belfast UAS Sydenham, University of London AS, 1 FTS Linton-on-Ouse, PFS Church Fenton, Yorkshire UAS, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, EFTS Swinderby, 8 AEF Shawbury. Sold in 1997, re-painted in FSS markings.
WK507, now VH-SSJ (C1-0543). With 5 FTS Desford, 9 RFS Doncaster, Home Command Major Servicing Unit Leconfield, Durham UAS, 22 MU Siloth, Edinburgh UAS Turnhouse, Hull UAS Brough, 6 FTS Turnhill, 10 MU Hullavington, Glascow UAS Perth, Manchester UAS Woodvale, 229 OCU Chivenor, 2 FTS Church Fenton, Birmingham UAS Shawbury, 5 MU Kemble. Sold in 1974, repainted in Birmingham UAS markings.
WG478, now VH-MMS (C1-0528). With 11 RFS Perth, 5 BFTS Desford, 10 MU Hullavington, Cambridge UAS Teversham, Southampton UAS Hamble, 20 MU Aston Down, Leeds UAS Yeadon, 22 MU Siloth, Durham UAS Usworth, Benson Station Flight, Lyneham Station Flight, 27 MU Shawbury, Leeds UAS Church Fenton, 9 AEF Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, 6 AEF Abingdon, EFTS Swinderby, Gatow Station Flight, sold in 1995. Painted in 2 FTS markings.
WP981, now VH-SHX (C1-0847). 9 MU Cosford for Coronation Review, Manchester UAS Woodford, Cambridge UAS Teversham, 61 Group Comm Flight Kenley, Flying Training Command Comm Flight White Waltham, Biggin Hill Station Flight, Binbrook Station Flight, 6 AEF White Waltham, University of London AS White Waltham, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, 5 AEF Cambridge, sold 1997. Painted in Cambridge UAS markings.
WG480, now VH-ZCM (C1-0530). 5 BFTS Desford, 5 RFS Castle Bromwich, CFS Little Rissington, Birmingham UAS Castle Bromwich, Bristol UAS Filton, 10 MU Hullavington, Leeds UAS Church Fenton, Hemswell Station Flight, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, Leeds UAS Yeadon, Manchester UAS Woodvale, RAFC Cranwell, PFS Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 5 MU Kemble, FSS Swinderby, 9 AEF Finningley, BBMF Conningsby, 7 AEF Newton, 4 AEF Exeter, sold 1996.
WB567, now VH-JHN (C1-0019). 22 RFS Teversham, 9 MU Cosford, Abingdon Station Flight, 27 MU Shawbury, ITS South Cerney, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, 1 FTS Linton on Ouse, Oxford UAS Bicester, Manchester UAS Woodvale, Bristol UAS Filton, 12 AEF Turnhouse, Glasgow UAS Perth, stored at Newton, sold 1997.
WP839, now VH-ATH (C1-0722). 10 AFTS Pershore, 22 MU Siloth, Birmingham UAS Castle Bromwich, 231 OCU Bassingbourne, 10 MU Hullavington, St Andrews UAS Leuchars, PFS Church Fenton, 2 FTS Church Fenton, 8 AEF Shawbury, stored at Newton, sold in 1996 and registered (but not flown) in UK as G-BZXE. This one is lurking in a shed in suburban Brisbane, undergoing restoration, and is very elusive...
Do any of these feature in any PPruners logbooks?
For completeness, there are 6 further Chipmunks in the area, but these were either very early RAF retirees or always civil aircraft - I doubt they would appear in your logbooks. Is there any interest in me posting photos/details of these as well?
