Sabres
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Sabres
70 years ago today,Fighter Command received its first swept wing aircraft. Two Canadair Sabres, XD706 & XD720 landed at Linton on Ouse. 66sqn.took them on charge.We locals were treated to regular sonic bangs from 66 & 92 sqns. for the next couple years! Complaints spoiled the fun as usual, & the bangs were no more.
I remember the excitement at Leuchars when a USAF Sabre produced a fine bang for Battle of Britain Day in 1953. Always a big day for the kids from the Patch, such a fine assortment of visiting aircraft from many stations. Happy days growing up in the post-ww2 RAF.
In fact they were almost in the last batch of aircraft the RAF took on charge, being in a batch of ex-USAF aircraft, rather than the Canadair Sabre's delivered earlier. Most of the RAF Sabre's were in the XB serial range.
The first 3 x Sabre's taken on charge by the RAF flew into RAF North Luffenham on 10th October 1952 after being ferried across from Canada.
One of the events of the flying programme for the 1954 RAF Merryfield 'At Home' day was 'Breaking the sound barrier by a Sabre of Fighter Command'.....
Which it did!
Even if there were still such things as 'At Home' days, I somehow can't see 'Breaking the sound barrier' being included in the flying programme nowadays.
Which it did!
Even if there were still such things as 'At Home' days, I somehow can't see 'Breaking the sound barrier' being included in the flying programme nowadays.
These were not even close to being the first two Sabre's the RAF received..!
In fact they were almost in the last batch of aircraft the RAF took on charge, being in a batch of ex-USAF aircraft, rather than the Canadair Sabre's delivered earlier. Most of the RAF Sabre's were in the XB serial range.
The first 3 x Sabre's taken on charge by the RAF flew into RAF North Luffenham on 10th October 1952 after being ferried across from Canada.
In fact they were almost in the last batch of aircraft the RAF took on charge, being in a batch of ex-USAF aircraft, rather than the Canadair Sabre's delivered earlier. Most of the RAF Sabre's were in the XB serial range.
The first 3 x Sabre's taken on charge by the RAF flew into RAF North Luffenham on 10th October 1952 after being ferried across from Canada.
Fighter Command received its first swept wing aircraft.
PS The XD aircraft were also Canadair aircraft, delivered for ADGB rather than the 2TAF ones in the 'XB' serial ranges. As they were MDAP they has US serials, but they were delivered from Canada for the RAF
I remember the excitement at Leuchars when a USAF Sabre produced a fine bang for Battle of Britain Day in 1953.
I guess that it was just coincidence that there was a cloud of dust at the nearby rubbish tip.
My one chance to get close to a sonic bang was foiled by a but of poor navigation. This was by a Sabre at a Battle of Britain air display at St Athan. We all waited to have our ear drums assaulted by the bang and, although it came in very fast, there was no bang. Apparently, the commentator explained, the USAF pilot had mistaken nearby RAF LLandow for St Athan and by the time he had recognised his mistake, he had slowed somewhat. I am sure he was an American pilot because, with his nice black leather jacket, he looked so much smarter as he crawled down the air inlet as he did his preflight checks.
Gentleman Aviator
There were certainly some in the Coronation flypast. Some years ago I worked with an aged spec aircrew Sqn Ldr (err 16 years younger than I am now!) who had flown a Meteor in the flypast.
He said several Sabres had flamed out, successfully relit, and rejoined the formation!
Can’t imagine THAT happening now either…..
He said several Sabres had flamed out, successfully relit, and rejoined the formation!
Can’t imagine THAT happening now either…..
sabres can be seen in this fabulous picture - front row in front of the B-29 Washingtons
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I remember the aircraft arriving at Odiham for the review in 1953 as I was at boarding school three miles south of the airfield. It partly inspired to join the RAF two years later!
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Some closer B&W photos of the Sabres and also of the Lincolns at the other end of the flight line at this website. Says 600 a/c in the fly past..
Royal Review
On the 4th photo down there is a balloon flying behind the Ansons - presumably weather and not barrage!
Royal Review
On the 4th photo down there is a balloon flying behind the Ansons - presumably weather and not barrage!
Some closer B&W photos of the Sabres and also of the Lincolns at the other end of the flight line at this website. Says 600 a/c in the fly past..
Royal Review
On the 4th photo down there is a balloon flying behind the Ansons - presumably weather and not barrage!
Royal Review
On the 4th photo down there is a balloon flying behind the Ansons - presumably weather and not barrage!
It looks like a standard war time issue such as my father flew to protect Coventry, the Suez Canal, and D Day ships.
A mystery to me.
I think Cliff Spink still flies a full sized one