Airfield Recognition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Airfield Recognition
I've just been given a small collection of Chipmunk pics from the late 60's/early 70's, most of which are on AEF Summer Camp duty. The majority I've been able to identify both airframe, airfield and approximate date ... but I'm a bit stumped with this one 
I think the airframe is WP984 (the '4' comes from the usual tail fin last numeric 'convention'). If the serial is correct, she is still on the civil register as G-BWTO.
I'm guessing late 60's/early70's given the Dayglo/Matt Grey livery along with the Yellow Life Preserver.
Anyone like to have a stab at the airfield ? I'm assuming it's a main UK Base as the Chipmunk is Uhf equipped (note upper and lower blade aerials) as 'busy' bases didn't (understandably) like mixed Uhf/Vhf circuit traffic.
Image Credit : Mr D Keep
Any help greatly appreciated
Coff.
I think the airframe is WP984 (the '4' comes from the usual tail fin last numeric 'convention'). If the serial is correct, she is still on the civil register as G-BWTO.
I'm guessing late 60's/early70's given the Dayglo/Matt Grey livery along with the Yellow Life Preserver.
Anyone like to have a stab at the airfield ? I'm assuming it's a main UK Base as the Chipmunk is Uhf equipped (note upper and lower blade aerials) as 'busy' bases didn't (understandably) like mixed Uhf/Vhf circuit traffic.
Image Credit : Mr D Keep
Any help greatly appreciated
Coff.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: braunton
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Could it be chivenor?..saunton sands to left of picture, to the right lobb hill leading to saunton. Also the white house to the right looks like wrafton railway station?..i seem to remember the huts in the 70's leading up to where 22sqn is now.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Many thanks all 
Particular 'thanks' to Rockridge and Fox3 ... I've just orientated a few on-line maps ... all the features you mention confirm the fix
Chalk up another PPRuNe PI success !
Particular 'thanks' to Rockridge and Fox3 ... I've just orientated a few on-line maps ... all the features you mention confirm the fix
Chalk up another PPRuNe PI success !
White plimsoll with dark sole, black sock, white leg.
One had to wear RAF uniform, but with white plimsolls/tennis shoes as the standard shoe or boot tread carried too much muck into the cockpit.
One had to wear RAF uniform, but with white plimsolls/tennis shoes as the standard shoe or boot tread carried too much muck into the cockpit.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Hanger old chap ... The PAX is an Air Cadet. They were briefed/required to wear back then plimsolls as opposed to heavy pongo style parade boots ... Simples 
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Thanks Fox3 ... You clearly type faster than me.
Mind you the 'Strapper-Inner' on the wing should have had his sleeves rolled down as a minimum given 'Flash Fire' risks.
.
Mind you the 'Strapper-Inner' on the wing should have had his sleeves rolled down as a minimum given 'Flash Fire' risks.
.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 19th Mar 2015 at 07:53.
I'm alarmed at the angle of slope on the runway!
Hi Coff - another wonderful Chipmunk photo!
I agree with your time period, although if this aircraft was also VHF-equipped the antennae would be out of frame on the tail cone. Note the third fuselage Day-Glo stripe; the norm was only the upper two.
As far as I can ascertain, the only unit to have used red (Day-Glo?) fin numbers was 1 AEF - in some cases the number corresponded to the serial, e.g WK544/4, but in a lot of cases it didn't, making the WP884 identification rather tenuous.
As an Antipodean with maybe 20 UK visits under his belt, me attempting an airfield identification is rather fraught. I have 1 AEF based at Biggin Hill, White Waltham, West Malling and Manston. Hopefully this will help.
Any chance of seeing the other Chipmunk photos - please?
Cheers,
D9
I agree with your time period, although if this aircraft was also VHF-equipped the antennae would be out of frame on the tail cone. Note the third fuselage Day-Glo stripe; the norm was only the upper two.
As far as I can ascertain, the only unit to have used red (Day-Glo?) fin numbers was 1 AEF - in some cases the number corresponded to the serial, e.g WK544/4, but in a lot of cases it didn't, making the WP884 identification rather tenuous.
As an Antipodean with maybe 20 UK visits under his belt, me attempting an airfield identification is rather fraught. I have 1 AEF based at Biggin Hill, White Waltham, West Malling and Manston. Hopefully this will help.
Any chance of seeing the other Chipmunk photos - please?
Cheers,
D9