That's done!

Slight thread drift but.....
Minnie Burner referred to a Sea Vixen landing at Valley with a ‘minor control problem’, which was actually an outer section of the right wing missing. The observer in that Sea Vixen was the RAF Exchange Navigator who went on to become the Boss of 25 Sqn when it first equipped with the F3 at Leeming. Apparently they were landing on mother ship in the Irish Sea when our man felt and heard a huge thump. On looking up through his ‘letter box’ window, he was surprised not to see the sky but the ‘island’ whistling by. Landing wingtip first is not an approved technique and the jet came off worse than the ship. I don’t remember the cause of the event, be it technical or environmental but they diverted to Valley and debriefed in the time honoured fashion.

Could it be the incident described towards the end of this page:

https://www.seavixen.org/aircrew-tes...-rod-shelbourn

I was in Eagle's planeguard for that event, on 25th January 1971 during work-up for ORI early February. Vixen 123 hit three other aircraft on deck, the advice I was given that after some low level ops the Vixen windshield had a fair amount of salt and the landing was late afternoon into a setting sun, albeit with cloud cover, resulting in a less than perfect approach and bolter. Lots of advice from Flyco resulting in a diversion, bits of Vixen wing plus bits of Buccaneer/Vixens lying around on the deck. I was left seat in the Ship's Flight Wessex 1 with Lt Marsh driving, Alf Tupper in the back.

Other than side number 123 I don't know any details of the Vixen or crew.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....47ff0abc70.jpg

See my previous post: the Vixen didn't hit the deck with the starboard wingtip but was well off-centreline and cleaned up a few (three, ISTR) parked aircraft. The coal hole window would normally give a view of the island and adjacent parked aircraft during a landing: but don't let a few beers get in the way of a good dit :p


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....61de4372be.jpg

Managed to find the post by QWIN in June 2008 referencing the incident to 25 Jan 1971, the last day of HMS Eagle's work up in UK waters before sailing for the Med. It would seem the major factor was the build up of salt on the windscreen which drastically curtailed the view ahead on final approach. It would appear after 2 attempts to land the 3rd approach which was off centreline was taken over by the Flyco from the LSO, the rest as they say is history. A diversion was made to Valley and the gear raised to save fuel, however, on raising the gear the aircraft due to the damage rolled uncontrollably so the gear was lowered for the transit to Valley.
The aircraft must have been repaired, replacement outer wing? as it flew again and became part of the Drone programme, succumbing eventually to the scrapman. I wonder if there are any photos lurking around?
Again, many thanks for all the contributions, spread the word, keep them coming, Taff

Diverted to Valley on Albert due to bad weather from Bardufoss - Lyneham 14 Mar 86. Holyhead customs insisted all bags offloaded and passengers checked despite only being on ground for 2 hours. Female SWO bollocked me for having dirty boots, then said she had never seen a Hercules close up. Walked her through the freight bay to flight deck and off again , then said " Ma'am your shoes could use a good polish!" Walked off in a massive strop.

Diverted to Valley due weather at St Mawgan Jan 8 1999, departed Jan 9th.
Nimrod XV 234 236 OCU.

Hardly in the same league as the fast-jet visitors but UWAS had a detachment of Chipmunks from St Athan over the weekend 24/5 Feb 73. Airframes were WK553, WZ846, WP857 and WZ862. Happy days.

Later in life I took a Grumman AA5 (G-BFTE) from Manchester to Valley en route to Dublin on 25 May 79.

15 June 1981 - Successful Sparrow firing by Phantom from Boscombe Down based at STCAAME

They also had one of 43 Sqn's a/c on loan for the firing. Was a surprise on the Monday morning to get to STCAAME, and find one of the Sqn a/c alongside the 'Raspberry Ripple' F-4..

Seem to remember one of the Boscombe crew were a USAF exchange driver and Civilian backseater. RAF pilot was ex Leuchars [ FL/LT H/G ], cant remember who the back seat RAF person was.

All very welcome regardless of horsepower/thrust! Taff

Yes, XT597, we have it noted, many thanks, Taff

Thank you very much for all the inputs, keeps me busy in lockdown!!! Taff

Dad was stationed there in 57/60. As a lad I remember the Swifts and the Javelins. What sparked my interest in this thread was mention of the Sea Vixen. When we were there we would spend many a summer evening on the beach. I recall on one occasion seeing a Sea Vixen, to the right of the hangar and point seawards, raised at an angle. I have often wondered what the story was with this aircraft. Attached is a photo of Phantom XV573 taken in '75
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bc9bd293d0.jpg

Very nice, was that taken during or just after the Airshow 9.8.75? Would it be possible to use the image? and more importantly do you have anymore by chance. I'll look into the Sea Vixen as it possibly sounds like a stationary firing, there are photos on the web showing a Lightning ventral tank with a firestreak being fired into the Bay, they were looking at the effects on the tailplane etc. Nowadays the thought of just firing a captive missile out to sea from there would be a big no no but in those days things were different. There are documents in the National Archives showing a proposal to turn Newborough Beach in the SE of the Island by Llanddwyn into an air-ground firing range in 1955! Many thanks for your reply, Taff

By all means use the photo in any way you so wish EXFIN. The photo was taken that summer, though not at an air show. I will try and root out some other photos for you.

Many thanks, feel free to contact me on [email protected] Taff

On one of our summer holidays at Rhosneigr I was surprised to see that there was a families day taking place. At least that is what I told my wife! The attached photo was taken from the dunes near the MPC hangar
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a4285f84e0.jpg

Dug out of the logbook:
5 Oct 87 LightningF6 XR773 Binbrook to Valley Transit
9 Oct 87 XS898 Valley to Binbrook Transit
12 Oct 87 XS898 Binbrook to Valley Red Top Firing
12 Oct 87 XS898 RTB Valley to Binbrook

20 Jan 88 XR728 Binbrook to Valley Transit
20 Jan 88 XR728 Firestreak Firing Land Valley
On this flight there was a photoshoot with a Hawk taking pics of me with the Jindi as it was the 5000th Jindivik flight I believe. Anyone seen these pics?
20 Jan 88 XR728 RTB Valley to Binbrook

18 Apr 88 Lightning T5 XS458 Missile Firing (Not sure whether RT or FS) Land Valley
18 Apr 88 XS458 RTB Valley to Binbrook
This was two first-tour junior pilots in the T-Bird, no IWI/QWI in sight for a live firing. :)

Quite a few visits to EGOV over 37 years but not as many missiles as sarn1e!!

18 Oct 1973 JP 5 XW307 BFT Navex Land away
Advanced Flying Training 3 Sqn Hunter 8 July 74 – 11 Oct 74
Refresher Flying 3 Sqn Hunter Oct 74 – 18 Mar 75
23 Sqn MPC Phantom 18-29 Apr 77 6 Sorties
28 Apr 77 XV435 1 x AIM7E
7 June 78 XT 908 Over Night
8 June 78 XT 908 RTB Wattisham
20 June 78 XT908 Land away
20 June 78 xv421 RTB Wattisham
19 Sqn MPC Phantom 3 – 18 Feb 81 12 Sorties
10 Feb 81 XV411 1 AIM9G
16 Feb 81 XV439 1 AIM 7E
F4QWI MPC Phantom 6-9 Dec 83 3 Sorties
7 Dec 83 XT893 1 SKYFLASH
16 Dec 83 XT 900 Diversion CGY – Valley
17 Dec 83 XT900 RTB
29 Sqn MPC Tornado F3 22 Sep 87 – 1 Oct 87 4 Sorties
F3 OEU Trial 2-13 July 1990 -Panoramic Saxa 12 Sorties 2x SKYFLASH
OP GRANBY TRIAL 29 Aug 1990 ZE862 1 X SKYFLASH
F3OEU 18 -21 Nov 1991 5 Sorties
Nov 21 1991 ZE862 1 X SKYFLASH
5 SQN Tornado F3 28 Nov 1994 ZG793 Land away and RTB
F3OEU MPC Tornado F3 17 – 20 March 1997 6 Sorties
18 March 1997 ZE889 1 X SKYFLASH
20 March 1997 ZE982 1 X AIM9L
55 Sqn Dominie
10 Aug 2006 XS739 Photocall and RTB Cranwell11 Aug 2006 XS728 Land away and RTB
24 Jan 2007 XS709 Land away and RTB
12 March 2007 XS730 Land away and RTB
29 March 2007 XS731 Land away and RTB
12 Feb 2008 XS711 Land away and RTB
9 April 2008 XS737 Land away and RTB
3 March 2009 XS728 Land away and RTB
25 March 2010 XS737 Land away and RTB
22 July 2010 XS727 Land away and RTB