Abingdons Alive still
Yep - the RAF gave up Heaven-in-Devon, Abingdon, Thorney Island - and lots of other great places.
But kept Valley and HMP K?
Now Lyneham is planned to close.........
But kept Valley and HMP K?
Now Lyneham is planned to close.........
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NP ref Skylark4's comments about Oxford Mail.
Something else you may wish to chase is the OM report ref the USN S-3 Viking that overran the end of rwy 18 about 2 days before the '88 Airshow as it arrived for the static park. It was quite a laff that crews used to landing on carriers afloat and moving, could not stop on a stationary, 6000' rwy !!!
The crew and ac were not damamged but the ac broke the wooden 'frangible' over-run fence on the Shippon road. The nose wheel ended up on the double yellows, partially blocking the road. The first policeman (with GSOH) to arrive gave the pilot a parking ticket!!
I think I have a copy of the original somewhere but it wouldn't happen now, of course! However, the story featured in the OM the next day with photo - until the sad crash of the phantom crew made the headlines.
Something else you may wish to chase is the OM report ref the USN S-3 Viking that overran the end of rwy 18 about 2 days before the '88 Airshow as it arrived for the static park. It was quite a laff that crews used to landing on carriers afloat and moving, could not stop on a stationary, 6000' rwy !!!
The crew and ac were not damamged but the ac broke the wooden 'frangible' over-run fence on the Shippon road. The nose wheel ended up on the double yellows, partially blocking the road. The first policeman (with GSOH) to arrive gave the pilot a parking ticket!!
I think I have a copy of the original somewhere but it wouldn't happen now, of course! However, the story featured in the OM the next day with photo - until the sad crash of the phantom crew made the headlines.
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Yeah ta for that info re the S3 Viking - i was at the Crash gate on Gozzards Ford (about halfway along RWY 18/36), remember it going past and all of us looking puzzled as to why it could not stop on a 6500 ft runway!!
We cycled round to the end of Barrow rd to see it on the road - i have put my picture of it being towed off the road on page 2 i think it is on this thread.. and i heard about the 'parking ticket'!
A friend of mine still has the OXford Mail write up about the visiting Tornado GR1 from 14 Sqn at RAF Bruggen (yep another good base gone!!), it arrived on the thurs before the 89 Bof B airshow - remember seeing it ready for departure on the thurs eve, whilst i was in E Hangar to help unpack the airshow programs & heard it blast off with an immediet 'C130 sounding aircraft follow'!!.
I thought you can't have a Herk immedietly land after a Tonka just took off, then the sirens went off with an SAC shouting Oh F**k not again!!!!!!!!
I think it crashed at Oday Hill just outside Drayton & the crew got an award for steering the Tornado away from the villages.
I think the Tornado suffered a multiple bird strike??
And that eerie Herky sound was i guess the birds being gulped up by the Tornado!!
We cycled round to the end of Barrow rd to see it on the road - i have put my picture of it being towed off the road on page 2 i think it is on this thread.. and i heard about the 'parking ticket'!
A friend of mine still has the OXford Mail write up about the visiting Tornado GR1 from 14 Sqn at RAF Bruggen (yep another good base gone!!), it arrived on the thurs before the 89 Bof B airshow - remember seeing it ready for departure on the thurs eve, whilst i was in E Hangar to help unpack the airshow programs & heard it blast off with an immediet 'C130 sounding aircraft follow'!!.
I thought you can't have a Herk immedietly land after a Tonka just took off, then the sirens went off with an SAC shouting Oh F**k not again!!!!!!!!
I think it crashed at Oday Hill just outside Drayton & the crew got an award for steering the Tornado away from the villages.
I think the Tornado suffered a multiple bird strike??
And that eerie Herky sound was i guess the birds being gulped up by the Tornado!!
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Being as Abingdon is used regulary for Flying activity ( Merlins / Pumas / Apache Heli's in the weekdays for example), is it worth the Military to look into re-instating perhaps the defunct Control Tower or something so to have some form of airfield control??
The reason i ask this, is because when the Army moved in, the base was divided in half so the domestic area is Dalton Barracks with the Airfield on the the other side of the new Peri fence.
But, as Merlin & Puma crews (and resident 612 VGS personnel will tell you), people go on the airfield part to walk dogs or on occasions you'll get vehicles on the runway.
There are 3 areas where people come onto the airfield, no one takes a blind bit of notice to the Health & Safety signs / MOD Keep out signs / Keep off the runways signs etc... and personally i am really surprised no one has been killed yet.
I hope it never comes to a death but it only takes a student pilot in a Motorglider for example to loose control momentarily on take off ie: in a crosswind situation to wipe out some person ignoring signs etc.
What are peoples views on this???
Do you think some kind of airfield control is needed???
The reason i ask this, is because when the Army moved in, the base was divided in half so the domestic area is Dalton Barracks with the Airfield on the the other side of the new Peri fence.
But, as Merlin & Puma crews (and resident 612 VGS personnel will tell you), people go on the airfield part to walk dogs or on occasions you'll get vehicles on the runway.
There are 3 areas where people come onto the airfield, no one takes a blind bit of notice to the Health & Safety signs / MOD Keep out signs / Keep off the runways signs etc... and personally i am really surprised no one has been killed yet.
I hope it never comes to a death but it only takes a student pilot in a Motorglider for example to loose control momentarily on take off ie: in a crosswind situation to wipe out some person ignoring signs etc.
What are peoples views on this???
Do you think some kind of airfield control is needed???
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abingdon
yes np.i think there should be control.its still an active airfeild.rules still apply.the army should take this very seriosly.they will be the first to kick up a stink if something happend to one of there personal.
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I was part of the team that brought the Buccs to Abingdon in 1986 from St. Athan. I think we scared the living daylights out of the resident personnel as they were not allowed to beat the field up on delivery. Our squadron jocks thought it was a jolly jap. I don't know what Knobs Hill thought although the local press seemed to think we were some secret squadron everytime I took the a/c out for runs before we got our detuners, (and a fat lot of good they were)!
I remember 88 well. The first time the S3 went through the fence we gave it a tax disc and an MOT Cert and reassured the pilot that the local plods wouldn't slap an on the spot fine on him. The second time he broke it he wasn't in too good a mood so we left him alone!
Oh the good days
I remember 88 well. The first time the S3 went through the fence we gave it a tax disc and an MOT Cert and reassured the pilot that the local plods wouldn't slap an on the spot fine on him. The second time he broke it he wasn't in too good a mood so we left him alone!
Oh the good days
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Yes the Bucc's were fantastic - remember in 89 when a Bucc took off on delivery flight back to Lossie, the pilot took it around the airfield & preceeded to fly oh so low down the runway & pull up to near vertical - something i will never forget!
Remember also the final 2 Buccs to be serviced, Central TV were there etc in early 92.
If memory serves me right, both took off to take a wide circuit round the south of the airfield, to come back across with the gear down, to clean up, go around & end with a fast pass each!!
Does anyone recollect the USAF C130 Hercules dets from the Minnesota & Ohio ANG'S.
We had a talk once from a Captain Collins on the 89 det on the Minnesota ANG -very interesting talk on there role & they loved Abingdon. Was lucky to fly in a ANG Herc on a local area famil, to see a formation of Nimrod, Buccs, Canberras etc in formation for whatever reason (?) near Fairford / Kemble way & to land back at Abingdon to taxi in behind the BBMF Lancaster which flew in especially for the ANG personnel..have to dig out the piccy.
ABN 99 (not Mike Lawerance!!), you have some articles on that don't you??
Remember also the final 2 Buccs to be serviced, Central TV were there etc in early 92.
If memory serves me right, both took off to take a wide circuit round the south of the airfield, to come back across with the gear down, to clean up, go around & end with a fast pass each!!
Does anyone recollect the USAF C130 Hercules dets from the Minnesota & Ohio ANG'S.
We had a talk once from a Captain Collins on the 89 det on the Minnesota ANG -very interesting talk on there role & they loved Abingdon. Was lucky to fly in a ANG Herc on a local area famil, to see a formation of Nimrod, Buccs, Canberras etc in formation for whatever reason (?) near Fairford / Kemble way & to land back at Abingdon to taxi in behind the BBMF Lancaster which flew in especially for the ANG personnel..have to dig out the piccy.
ABN 99 (not Mike Lawerance!!), you have some articles on that don't you??
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Ex 6 AEF Chipmunks / OUAS & ULAS Bulldogs
Any aircrew / ex aircrew who own a privately owned ex RAF Bulldog or Chipmunk, please get in touch with me - either PM me or e-mail: [email protected]
One of my aims at my 5th ABINGDON FAYRE 2004 on 2 May is to create an area devoted to these 2 types within the Static Aircraft park............ these 2 types were at Abingdon from the early 70's til closure in 92 so would be nice to get a gathering, i know & have had a few ex 6 AEF Chippies & ULAS Bulldogs into my show in 2002/ 2003 so they are about.......
Ta
One of my aims at my 5th ABINGDON FAYRE 2004 on 2 May is to create an area devoted to these 2 types within the Static Aircraft park............ these 2 types were at Abingdon from the early 70's til closure in 92 so would be nice to get a gathering, i know & have had a few ex 6 AEF Chippies & ULAS Bulldogs into my show in 2002/ 2003 so they are about.......
Ta
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AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Talking of deployments to RAF Abingdon, I recall the USAF A.N.G. being deployed to this base during the 1980's.
Three Exercises were held at Abingdon during this period. The units visiting were drawn from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve using Lockheed C-130 aircraft. All three exercises were held under the operational title.
"EXERCISE VOLANT PARTNER"
The first of these Exercises took place for a period of about two weeks at the end of September and the beginning of October 1984, and involved Eight C-130E.
Four of these aircraft were from the MINNESOTA AIR GUARD (109th TAS, 133rd TAW, normally based at Minneapolis Airport) and the other four were from the CALIFORNIA AIR GUARD (115TH TAS, 146TH TAW, normally based at Van Nuys)
The purpose of these exercises was to give the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve experience in a European war theatre.
The second of these exercise took place between 1st and 17th May 1986 and involved the same two Air National Guard units from California and Minnesota.
The purpose of their visit once again was to give the reservists experience in European flying conditions, as well as providing additional airlift support to their tactical commanders the 322nd Airlift Division at Ramstein. During their stay at Abingdon the aircraft were used in exercise 'Open Gate' (southern NATO area) and exercise 'Flintlock 86' (central area)
On this occasion there were nine C-130E aircraft based at Abingdon, five from Minnesota and four from California.
The third and last "Volant Partner" exercise to be held at ABINGDON was between the 5th and 15th June 1989. The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Units deployed on this occasion were the Minnesota and Ohio ANG.
The C-130E and C-130B aircraft, participated in a NATO exercise called 'Avenue Express' simulating the defence of Denmark. They undertook both tactical (flying down to 300ft) and airlift missions. Their first two operations (dropping parachutes into Germany and one mission into Denmark)
I understand RAF Benson and RAF Odiham were also used during the 80's for this role.
Regards
Alan
"ABN99"
Three Exercises were held at Abingdon during this period. The units visiting were drawn from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve using Lockheed C-130 aircraft. All three exercises were held under the operational title.
"EXERCISE VOLANT PARTNER"
The first of these Exercises took place for a period of about two weeks at the end of September and the beginning of October 1984, and involved Eight C-130E.
Four of these aircraft were from the MINNESOTA AIR GUARD (109th TAS, 133rd TAW, normally based at Minneapolis Airport) and the other four were from the CALIFORNIA AIR GUARD (115TH TAS, 146TH TAW, normally based at Van Nuys)
The purpose of these exercises was to give the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve experience in a European war theatre.
The second of these exercise took place between 1st and 17th May 1986 and involved the same two Air National Guard units from California and Minnesota.
The purpose of their visit once again was to give the reservists experience in European flying conditions, as well as providing additional airlift support to their tactical commanders the 322nd Airlift Division at Ramstein. During their stay at Abingdon the aircraft were used in exercise 'Open Gate' (southern NATO area) and exercise 'Flintlock 86' (central area)
On this occasion there were nine C-130E aircraft based at Abingdon, five from Minnesota and four from California.
The third and last "Volant Partner" exercise to be held at ABINGDON was between the 5th and 15th June 1989. The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Units deployed on this occasion were the Minnesota and Ohio ANG.
The C-130E and C-130B aircraft, participated in a NATO exercise called 'Avenue Express' simulating the defence of Denmark. They undertook both tactical (flying down to 300ft) and airlift missions. Their first two operations (dropping parachutes into Germany and one mission into Denmark)
I understand RAF Benson and RAF Odiham were also used during the 80's for this role.
Regards
Alan
"ABN99"
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ABN99 - Remember the big Exercise held in August 93 for a couple of weeks - Exercise Roaring Lion..
Loads of C130 Hercules activity, remember coming into work at the base to see 9 C130's lined up on the E/W runway (used for parking), then joined by a shed load more to have around 20 or so Herks on site at one point - and what a sight!!
What was it, 5am stream take offs!!! - mind you i pity you being on the approach path!
I think the locals didn't know what hit them at first, afterall eight months before the RAF had pulled out & was now an Army base!
OK, 60 sqn who then had Wessex from Benson used the field alot but to have all this descend was a very pleasing sight. The USAF sent in a C130, and the RAF loading a couple of Scout Helicopters to take to Keevil i presume?
I did hear talk of C141 Starlifters using Abingdon for the second part of the exercise but i think the runway aint long enough for those beasts.
TAC put in temp runway lighting and the Air Traffic tower was used once again, like the good old days!!
Pumas & Chinooks were involved also - i have attached a piccy from the Abingdon Fayre website of troops waiting to go etc..... anyone out there with any photos of the Exercise, PM or e-mail me please with your details as would like to purchase some!
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/abingdo...f/SAVE0042.JPG
Thanks to Geoff who e-mailed me ref: US Navy photos from the ill fated 88 show, cracking shots of the F14 Tomcats, F18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowler & A6 Intruders.......oh and the S3 Viking!
Loads of C130 Hercules activity, remember coming into work at the base to see 9 C130's lined up on the E/W runway (used for parking), then joined by a shed load more to have around 20 or so Herks on site at one point - and what a sight!!
What was it, 5am stream take offs!!! - mind you i pity you being on the approach path!
I think the locals didn't know what hit them at first, afterall eight months before the RAF had pulled out & was now an Army base!
OK, 60 sqn who then had Wessex from Benson used the field alot but to have all this descend was a very pleasing sight. The USAF sent in a C130, and the RAF loading a couple of Scout Helicopters to take to Keevil i presume?
I did hear talk of C141 Starlifters using Abingdon for the second part of the exercise but i think the runway aint long enough for those beasts.
TAC put in temp runway lighting and the Air Traffic tower was used once again, like the good old days!!
Pumas & Chinooks were involved also - i have attached a piccy from the Abingdon Fayre website of troops waiting to go etc..... anyone out there with any photos of the Exercise, PM or e-mail me please with your details as would like to purchase some!
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/abingdo...f/SAVE0042.JPG
Thanks to Geoff who e-mailed me ref: US Navy photos from the ill fated 88 show, cracking shots of the F14 Tomcats, F18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowler & A6 Intruders.......oh and the S3 Viking!
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Air Traffic Control building -
It seems that in the near future, the present occupiers of Abingdon Station (Dalton Barracks) prefer to demolish the disused Air Traffic Control tower & associated 3 bay Garage next to it on Abingdon Airfield if they can get the money to do so.
For those of you who know Abingdons layout, its in the NW corner of the airfield..
The Tower was in reasonably regularish use as a security look out point on exercises or the resident RAF 612 VGS Motorglider School would use it as Air Traffic whilst there moblie unit was in for servicing etc.
When the RAF vacated, the consoles in the glass house "up top" were all taken away but the Air Conditioning, internal Lighting and Heating was re-installed to work.
Unfortunetly, vandalism struck so two thirds of the windows were smashed including a few of the big windows in the glass house "up top", so around 1999/2000 the decision was made to board it all up as the link below testifies (the tower in question is the two colour photos halfway down the page):
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/A/Abingdon.htm
We as an active volunteer organisation who run the annual ABINGDON FAYRE charity events (mini Airshow / Country Fayre) are actively putting together a collage of pictures from its past to go on display at local / not so local Fetes & Shows for public viewing in the form of a PR Stand.
I intend to purchase an aircraft cockpit in the near future to add to the PR display stand and we are now trying to find out / aquire the Air Traffic Tower & 3 bay Garage for storage of our expanding PR Stand, equipment for Abingdon Fayre events and the idea of maybe to set up a small RAF Abingdon memorial museum so to be a permanent reminder of its past and would save the Tower and Garage from being bulldozed!
Can i have peoples thoughts on this, and any willing helpers to volunteer any services or contribute as we want to get the ball rolling.
Please initially e-mail me on:
[email protected]
Many thanks
NP
For those of you who know Abingdons layout, its in the NW corner of the airfield..
The Tower was in reasonably regularish use as a security look out point on exercises or the resident RAF 612 VGS Motorglider School would use it as Air Traffic whilst there moblie unit was in for servicing etc.
When the RAF vacated, the consoles in the glass house "up top" were all taken away but the Air Conditioning, internal Lighting and Heating was re-installed to work.
Unfortunetly, vandalism struck so two thirds of the windows were smashed including a few of the big windows in the glass house "up top", so around 1999/2000 the decision was made to board it all up as the link below testifies (the tower in question is the two colour photos halfway down the page):
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/A/Abingdon.htm
We as an active volunteer organisation who run the annual ABINGDON FAYRE charity events (mini Airshow / Country Fayre) are actively putting together a collage of pictures from its past to go on display at local / not so local Fetes & Shows for public viewing in the form of a PR Stand.
I intend to purchase an aircraft cockpit in the near future to add to the PR display stand and we are now trying to find out / aquire the Air Traffic Tower & 3 bay Garage for storage of our expanding PR Stand, equipment for Abingdon Fayre events and the idea of maybe to set up a small RAF Abingdon memorial museum so to be a permanent reminder of its past and would save the Tower and Garage from being bulldozed!
Can i have peoples thoughts on this, and any willing helpers to volunteer any services or contribute as we want to get the ball rolling.
Please initially e-mail me on:
[email protected]
Many thanks
NP
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Revamped website for Abingdon Fayre
Ok we now have a revamped website for the annual "Abingdon Fayre" air / country fayre events...... same address on www.abingdonfayre.latest-info.com
But you ex RAF Abingdon chappies / Chappesses may like to look at the revised tribute page on Abingdon - contains a few more differring image:
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/abingdonfayre/raf/
Thanks to those of you who have sent in jpg form some nice old piccies from Abingdon, have over 120 ! - a couple are on the RAF Tribute page at the bottom.
Still looking for pics ie: Lancaster in F Hangar on maintenance in 84, Indian Jags (early 80's), USAF ANG dets etc - doesn't matter if they are from an official source or your own pics, all i want is a copy sent in jpg form if you can.....keep em coming in!
Any Benson personnel reading this - in the spring 2004 edition of "Lions Roar", you should have a whack of Abingdon nostalgia in it!!!!!!!
But you ex RAF Abingdon chappies / Chappesses may like to look at the revised tribute page on Abingdon - contains a few more differring image:
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/abingdonfayre/raf/
Thanks to those of you who have sent in jpg form some nice old piccies from Abingdon, have over 120 ! - a couple are on the RAF Tribute page at the bottom.
Still looking for pics ie: Lancaster in F Hangar on maintenance in 84, Indian Jags (early 80's), USAF ANG dets etc - doesn't matter if they are from an official source or your own pics, all i want is a copy sent in jpg form if you can.....keep em coming in!
Any Benson personnel reading this - in the spring 2004 edition of "Lions Roar", you should have a whack of Abingdon nostalgia in it!!!!!!!
I was Duty Instructor at 612 the day Mr Mansell landed there! Taxiied right up to the guard room to ask where he was!!!!! What a pro! Only about 11 miles out!!
Good job his driving was a bit better
Mr Chinchilla.....check yer PM's.
Good job his driving was a bit better
Mr Chinchilla.....check yer PM's.
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Anyone remember the Royal Jordanian Air Force contingent which boltholed to Abingdon prior to a IAT show at Fairford in mid 80's- think it was Pitts Specials aeros team " jordanian falcons"?
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Abingdon
NP,
Excellent Air Fayre in 2003. Good to see the Merlin and the sound of the Hunter at Abingdon again (great show - even if the BBMF did cry off!).
Perhaps you might get one of those AAC Apache chappies to visit next time . . they seem to frequent more and more these days. It seems they like the 'blacked out' night vision conditions imposed by the Army residents driving their vechicles over the runway lights!
Keep up the good work in 2004.
Ian
ESAG - Oxford University
Excellent Air Fayre in 2003. Good to see the Merlin and the sound of the Hunter at Abingdon again (great show - even if the BBMF did cry off!).
Perhaps you might get one of those AAC Apache chappies to visit next time . . they seem to frequent more and more these days. It seems they like the 'blacked out' night vision conditions imposed by the Army residents driving their vechicles over the runway lights!
Keep up the good work in 2004.
Ian
ESAG - Oxford University
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Like to say again a big "thanks", be it on this forum or via my private Email / telephone etc, for the excellent feedback about my "Abingdon Fayre" events from members of this Pprune website, all gratefully received.... 
Ian , that would be telling if an Apache has been requested for Ab Fayre 2004, but all i will say is watch this space - well keep checking our website especially after mid Feb 04, you all may have a surprise or two!!
I have had a request from the local Abingdon Town Museum to put something together on RAF Abingdon for spring 2004, so again anyone wishing to contribute pics from RAF Abingdon days then send me a JPG to my private e-mail ( [email protected] ), or send me a PM and i will forward my home address if you wish to send a copy of a piccy but ideally by end of Jan 2004 - and remember all photos will be credited to whoever took it!
Ian , that would be telling if an Apache has been requested for Ab Fayre 2004, but all i will say is watch this space - well keep checking our website especially after mid Feb 04, you all may have a surprise or two!!
I have had a request from the local Abingdon Town Museum to put something together on RAF Abingdon for spring 2004, so again anyone wishing to contribute pics from RAF Abingdon days then send me a JPG to my private e-mail ( [email protected] ), or send me a PM and i will forward my home address if you wish to send a copy of a piccy but ideally by end of Jan 2004 - and remember all photos will be credited to whoever took it!
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np
further to your request for Abbo memories...read on.
Just been flicking through my "small"[???]collection of mags and saw article & picture of SUKHOI 26,CCCP-5201 being delivered to Richard Goode at Abingdon in January 1991.
Re. the Lanc on maintenance there in '84...in late-February[I think]of that year I was on a base-tour of Abingdon with a local enthusiast society,which,so far as Iam aware,no longer exists.After looking at the various Jags etc we taken out to the ramp outside 'F' Shed where PA474 was standing in all her glory awaiting engine checks.I remember it being an extremely foggy morning and those members who had brought their cameras proceeded to capture the ol' girl on film with the aid of FLASH.Within minutes there was the sound of sirens filtering through the murk as the RAF Abingdon fire & crash rescue crews approached the Lanc at great speed.Apparently,someone in Air-Traffic had seen some flashes of light in the area around the Lanc & fearing the worst,decided to investigate.Obviously it was the photographers who'd generated the problem,& once everything had been confirmed as NOT on fire,the group was given a stern lecture as to the advisability of using flash photography near a valuable historic aircraft which was being prepared for action
Finally,to anyone else reading this,please give Neil all the support you can...he's doing a great job and deserves all the support he can get...see you on May 2nd
COLIN-OXFORDSHIRE AVIATION GROUP
further to your request for Abbo memories...read on.
Just been flicking through my "small"[???]collection of mags and saw article & picture of SUKHOI 26,CCCP-5201 being delivered to Richard Goode at Abingdon in January 1991.
Re. the Lanc on maintenance there in '84...in late-February[I think]of that year I was on a base-tour of Abingdon with a local enthusiast society,which,so far as Iam aware,no longer exists.After looking at the various Jags etc we taken out to the ramp outside 'F' Shed where PA474 was standing in all her glory awaiting engine checks.I remember it being an extremely foggy morning and those members who had brought their cameras proceeded to capture the ol' girl on film with the aid of FLASH.Within minutes there was the sound of sirens filtering through the murk as the RAF Abingdon fire & crash rescue crews approached the Lanc at great speed.Apparently,someone in Air-Traffic had seen some flashes of light in the area around the Lanc & fearing the worst,decided to investigate.Obviously it was the photographers who'd generated the problem,& once everything had been confirmed as NOT on fire,the group was given a stern lecture as to the advisability of using flash photography near a valuable historic aircraft which was being prepared for action
Finally,to anyone else reading this,please give Neil all the support you can...he's doing a great job and deserves all the support he can get...see you on May 2nd
COLIN-OXFORDSHIRE AVIATION GROUP
