Canberra B2 "Antlers" ?
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Warmtoast, I echo Coffs thanks for posting the link to the Flight article on Signals Command. apologies for the interesting thread drift. don't know if this has been done previously but we must answer the question for the OP on the Canberra.
When I began work at EWAU many of our drawing Numbers began 90G (90 group of Signals command) we used this designation for jigs and tools rather than the RAFSEE. Most of our jigs were made at SSU Woolwich. Some of the senior guys I worked with had come from Medmenham. I am afraid Coff that all of these drawings would probably have gone. I know a lot did not make it from Wyton to Waddington. I did not go to Waddington with the Unit. I went to Brize to do something altogether different. The nature of our business was such that we never took any documents or drawings home. (I regret not having done so now) I understand there are examples of our work in the heritage centre at Wyton. I have seen some of the 1980s and 90s LRUs I had a hand in at our last reunion. I am pleased some of our stuff is preserved. I understand the Nimrod R at Cosford is almost complete.
I consider myself to have had a very interesting career. With many firsts and ground breaking things: 1st GPS on an operational RAF aircraft I recall that as if it was yesterday when we fired it up on Boxing day during GW1. The numbers matched those painted on the hangar floor used for aligning the IN, even through the roof! I was a mechanical engineer and did not fully understand wiggly amps. Frankly I often wondered if even the fairies did!!. It took a while to get my head around vertical and horizontal polarisation of the UHF LST Sat comm. It was just small bore plumbing to me.
We did a bit with CAAFU post Falklands where they made a rack for the C130. I had an offline chat with Ancient Aviator about this. Their 748 was almost raspberry ripple when I went to Stansted. (have a metal key ring somewhere around the house as a memento) Did not see the Herc in the link to the book.
I cant recall if they had the Milligan lamp on their aircraft
Sorry to bore people.
When I began work at EWAU many of our drawing Numbers began 90G (90 group of Signals command) we used this designation for jigs and tools rather than the RAFSEE. Most of our jigs were made at SSU Woolwich. Some of the senior guys I worked with had come from Medmenham. I am afraid Coff that all of these drawings would probably have gone. I know a lot did not make it from Wyton to Waddington. I did not go to Waddington with the Unit. I went to Brize to do something altogether different. The nature of our business was such that we never took any documents or drawings home. (I regret not having done so now) I understand there are examples of our work in the heritage centre at Wyton. I have seen some of the 1980s and 90s LRUs I had a hand in at our last reunion. I am pleased some of our stuff is preserved. I understand the Nimrod R at Cosford is almost complete.
I consider myself to have had a very interesting career. With many firsts and ground breaking things: 1st GPS on an operational RAF aircraft I recall that as if it was yesterday when we fired it up on Boxing day during GW1. The numbers matched those painted on the hangar floor used for aligning the IN, even through the roof! I was a mechanical engineer and did not fully understand wiggly amps. Frankly I often wondered if even the fairies did!!. It took a while to get my head around vertical and horizontal polarisation of the UHF LST Sat comm. It was just small bore plumbing to me.
We did a bit with CAAFU post Falklands where they made a rack for the C130. I had an offline chat with Ancient Aviator about this. Their 748 was almost raspberry ripple when I went to Stansted. (have a metal key ring somewhere around the house as a memento) Did not see the Herc in the link to the book.
I cant recall if they had the Milligan lamp on their aircraft
Sorry to bore people.
Given the thread drift perhaps I may add some more that is relevant to 115 Sqn Varsities.
In June 1956 I was with Fighter Command Communications Squadron (FCCS) at RAF Bovingdon.
A 90-Group Varsity calibration aircraft (from Watton?) came down to Bovingdon to calibrate the nearby ROTOR Radar station at Chenies. This meant flying outbound and inbound tracks to the Radar station on various headings. Rather boring but it provided a useful opportunity to sightsee London from around 10,000ft. This photo shows the navigator of the Varsity at his plotting station. I recognise the R1155 HF receiver with the big tuning dial.
During the flight I took a photo of a sparsely occupied London Heathrow as it appeared in June 1956 from 10,000ft looking east. The newly completed Europa Building, later Terminal 2 is in the centre island, whilst alongside it the Oceanic Terminal; later Terminal 3 is under construction. In 1956 transatlantic traffic departed from the North Terminal alongside the A4.
No M4 as yet (in 1956 the M4 was but a gleam in the planner’s eye - the London bit of the M4 westwards opened nine years later in 1965), however the Bath Road (A4) shows up on the left as the dark strip running top to bottom parallel with the north main taxiway & runway.
On the right the A30 (the lighter of the two darkish strips) wends its way through the (then) rural delights of Middlesex towards Hounslow and London. Straight ahead and beyond the airfield boundary, just beneath the cloud line the A312 can be seen running left to right.
In June 1956 I was with Fighter Command Communications Squadron (FCCS) at RAF Bovingdon.
A 90-Group Varsity calibration aircraft (from Watton?) came down to Bovingdon to calibrate the nearby ROTOR Radar station at Chenies. This meant flying outbound and inbound tracks to the Radar station on various headings. Rather boring but it provided a useful opportunity to sightsee London from around 10,000ft. This photo shows the navigator of the Varsity at his plotting station. I recognise the R1155 HF receiver with the big tuning dial.
During the flight I took a photo of a sparsely occupied London Heathrow as it appeared in June 1956 from 10,000ft looking east. The newly completed Europa Building, later Terminal 2 is in the centre island, whilst alongside it the Oceanic Terminal; later Terminal 3 is under construction. In 1956 transatlantic traffic departed from the North Terminal alongside the A4.
No M4 as yet (in 1956 the M4 was but a gleam in the planner’s eye - the London bit of the M4 westwards opened nine years later in 1965), however the Bath Road (A4) shows up on the left as the dark strip running top to bottom parallel with the north main taxiway & runway.
On the right the A30 (the lighter of the two darkish strips) wends its way through the (then) rural delights of Middlesex towards Hounslow and London. Straight ahead and beyond the airfield boundary, just beneath the cloud line the A312 can be seen running left to right.
Coff re your post #20. - WJ338 trip to Moscow
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When I began work at EWAU many of our drawing Numbers began 90G (90 group of Signals command)
Is the history of 90Gp/Sig Cmd and the dates of the changes written down anywhere?
I installed a Eureka VII at the French Air Force Base Orange-Carritat, this was May 58. I then flew on the 'Watton Varsity' that came out to do the calibration, so that I could see 'my Eureka' working OK.
It wasn't classified at the highest level, because of the 'shadow' created by Mont Ventoux.
Last edited by ian16th; 22nd Dec 2013 at 11:49. Reason: Correct the date! I was a year out. Senility?
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Warmtoast ... one of the best early LHR photos I've seen 
Have you considered letting Heathrow Airport Limited (or whatever they're called this month) have a copy?
Have you considered letting Heathrow Airport Limited (or whatever they're called this month) have a copy?
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Dragartist, Warmtoast, Ian16th, Wander00 ...
Don't worry about thread drift chaps ... all fascinating stuff
Warmtoast ... I certainly recognise the R1155 HF Receiver ... I've mentioned before that I spent time at school helping to get an 1154/1155 rig working ... l learn't a lot doing that ... even making some duplicate connectors in metalwork
As for George Blake ... shame he hasn't choked on caviar and vodka by now ... bl00dy traitor
Great pic of London Heathrow ! What's even more scary ... I wasn't born until the following year (September 1957)
Dragartist ... You might like to look-up XS644 on the URL below. A few images to review ... but scroll down to about the middle of the page ... Mid 70's shot when she was with 46 Squadron and then in 1978 with 51 Squadron at Wyton ... sporting a SLAR Belly pod.
RAF Andover Images
Wander00 ... I know you flew the Canberra ... but did you get to fly the T17/T17A variant ?
Seem to be drawing a bit of blank on my original OP on the Canberra VHF Horns ... shame
I'll have a another go with a bit more follow-up info I've come across ...
Thanks again chaps ... Happy Christmas to you all
Best ...
Coff.
Don't worry about thread drift chaps ... all fascinating stuff
Warmtoast ... I certainly recognise the R1155 HF Receiver ... I've mentioned before that I spent time at school helping to get an 1154/1155 rig working ... l learn't a lot doing that ... even making some duplicate connectors in metalwork
As for George Blake ... shame he hasn't choked on caviar and vodka by now ... bl00dy traitor
Great pic of London Heathrow ! What's even more scary ... I wasn't born until the following year (September 1957)
Dragartist ... You might like to look-up XS644 on the URL below. A few images to review ... but scroll down to about the middle of the page ... Mid 70's shot when she was with 46 Squadron and then in 1978 with 51 Squadron at Wyton ... sporting a SLAR Belly pod.
RAF Andover Images
Wander00 ... I know you flew the Canberra ... but did you get to fly the T17/T17A variant ?
Seem to be drawing a bit of blank on my original OP on the Canberra VHF Horns ... shame
I'll have a another go with a bit more follow-up info I've come across ...
Thanks again chaps ... Happy Christmas to you all
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 22nd Dec 2013 at 13:38.
