Time for the next report! Today was thursday, and again we started with a base visit.
RAF Syerston
Viking T.1, (643 VGS): ZE499/VD, ZE526/VN, ZE608/XH, ZE628/XS, ZE650/YB, ZE652/YD, ZE657/YJ, ZE677/YM
Viking T.1, std: ZE495/VA, ZE530/VS, ZE532/VU, ZE550/(VX), ZE551/-, ZE555/WC, ZE564/WN, ZE584/WP, ZE587/WS, ZE595/WY, ZE609/XJ, ZE680/YQ, (ZE681, nose), ZE685/YV
Vigilant T.1 ( 644 VGS): ZH184/TW (632 VGS mks), ZH192/UE, ZH205/UL, ZH266/UY, ZH269/SB, ZH890/SE, ZZ192/SQ, ZZ193/SR
Vigilant T.1, std: ZH267/UZ, ZJ961/SJ
WG308/8 Chipmunk T.10 (G-BYHL) markings nn (note code change!)
ZE631/XV Viking T.1 maintenance (ex 631 VGS)
ZH124/TK Vigilant T.1 maintenance (ex 624 VGS)
BGA2546 Prefect TX.1 (ex WE993)
The nose of ZE681 was identified by the BGA sticker inside. ZE550 made a hard landing while serving with 651 VGS and is probably a write off, and ZE499 has some special "canards" on the nose; this bird is especially used by the instructors of ACCGS. Again a nice visit; all aircraft were seen, and we could take some pictures outside as well. Too bad the sun only made it up in the sky after we had left.
Next stop was Ponton Heath Farm in Great Ponton, where an L-4 should be based that is registered to WSV Vehicles in nearby Colsterworth. We found the farm, but the lady present didn't let us in and didn't have any keys apparently. So we went on to Saltby, which was very high on my wishlist because of the presence of a Venture in mil c/s.
Saltby airfield
ZA634/C Venture T.2 G-BUHA, no mks (which unit used this with code C?)
G-BVKK Venture T.2 (ex ZA665)
And there it was! Nicely inside the hangar at first, but when we arrived the club members were just going to take her out to make space for the other gliders. They put it on the side of the platform, with a beautiful green background.Brilliant! We have seen many of the Venture fleet the RAF used to have, but all of them are in civilian c/s. This way it's much better! The T-53B that used to reside here (BGA1811/XV951) moved on to Sackville Farm apparently.
Then we had a look at Witham Specialist Vehicles in Colsterworth. Their Puma XW227 had left some time ago already, apparently to be used for a film. Someone who knows more about its fate? The owner of the company confirmed he possesses an American Cub based at Great Ponton. But he couldn't show ut to us, since it was away for maintenance work at Spanhoe....
So on we went, and next stop was an operational airfield again.
RAF Cottesmore
Harrier, 4 sq: (ZD402)/31, (ZD431)/43A, (ZD435)/47, (ZG504)/75A
(XE606) Hunter F.6A pr platform, 4 sq mks
XW917 Harrier GR.3 pr gate, 4 sq mks
Well, we definately picked the wrong time to do some operational spotting here. Only squadron active was 4 sq, the rest were all gone busy with other things.... Well, at least the preserved Harrier was new for us
We got an up to date Harrier list from a local spotter, thanks again!Then on to get some instructional airframes.
St George's Barracks, North Luffenham (52º 37' 35" N, 0º 36' 34" W)
XV804/O Harrier GR.3 GIA, 4 sq mks
(69 rd) Hunter FGA.9 GIA, USSR mks (real id XG194)
This training area is just north of the village, on the old airfield. We managed to see those two from outside, and on Google Earth I just discovered the Phantom on the east side of the airfield. I presume this will be visible as well from outside? And what about the Whirlwind they also have here, where is that located please? The picture on the Demobbed site shows it lying next to some bushes or trees, so I can imagine this one won't be visible from outside, but can someone confirm?
So a bit disappointed we decided to skip Mildenhall and Lakenheath for today because it was already getting late again. Instead we decided to try to find Spanhoe which should be nearby. I didn't have the exact spot marked on my map, but when we were in the right area we saw a little sign, and that was enough obviously.
Spanhoe Airfield (52º 33' 27" N, 0º 37' 09" W)
MT197 Auster IV (G-ANHS) no mks
NX534 Auster III G-BUDL, no mks
WD347 Chipmunk T.10 G-BBRV, CFS mks
WZ711 Auster AOP.9 G-AVHT, no mks
XW635 Beagle D5/180 G-AWSW, no mks
143 MS.733 G-MSAL, 10 S mks
174/K S-11 G-BEPV, VSQ 9 mks (Royal Dutch Navy)
44-80636/58-A L-4J (G-AXHP)
G-AYDX Terrier 2 (ex VX121) not on Demobbed site yet!
G-OACP DHC-1 ex Portugal 1345
D-EHJL FWP.149D c/n 045 (ex 90+31)
When we arrived the owner was on the phone but quickly told us that looking around was no problem as long as we didn't take pictures. When we had had our look around we looked her up again and had a chat. When she found out we were Dutch she allowed us to take pictures after all. Apparently they've had a few bad experiences with British spotters who put unauthorised pictures on the internet, so they don't allow those anymore. I was very glad we were allowed to photograph after all, since the Beagle Husky is the only one that ever served in the RAF (I found that out afterwards, but still....)! We also checked the list of aircraft present according to Demobbed with her, and a few updates are:
N2S-3 N65565/07859 went to Norfolk/Leicester
DHC-1 G-ITWB/1358 has the same owner as the Stearman
Auster G-AJYB/MS971 went to a private strip called Casterton
Yak-52 G-BWFP/855503 should be at Little Gransden
Bu.131 G-CCOB/247 is at a private strip in Athorpe
And she didn't know about the D-3801 (MS.406) fuselages that should be here as well.
We decided to check out Little Gransden next.
Little Gransden
9 wh C-11 (G-OYAK, 12 GIAP mks, real id EAF 705??)
G-Axxx Tiger Moth we thought G-AXBB, but it was difficult to see through a crack, someone for an id?
G-ALWB DHC-1 (ex Lebanon Army, serial someone?)
G-APYG Chipmunk T.10 (ex WB619)
G-BVUG SV.4C c/n 1045, ex mil? (in register as Betts TB-1)
G-BVVW Yak-52 (c/n 844605, ex 15 bk)
G-BWFP Yak-52 (c/n 855503, ex 43)
G-BZJB Yak-52 c/n 811601 (ex DOSAAF, code unknown)
G-CBMI Yak-52 (c/n 855907, ex 107 bl)
G-CCCP Yak-52 c/n 899404 (ex 16 ye)
G-CUPS Yak-52 (c/n 9010312, ex 09 ye)
G-HAMM Yak-50 (c/n 832409, ex 81)
G-HYAK/07 rd Yak-52 (c/n 9011107, ex 124 ye)
G-IUII/36 rd Yak-52 (c/n 9111604, ex 69 gr)
G-YKSO Yak-50 (c/n 791506, no history known)
G-YKSS Yak-55 (c/n 901103, ex mil?)
G-YYAK Yak-52 (c/n 878101, ex 118 ye)
Truely Yak-heaven! Some are based, but they also do maintenance here. I also visited this place last July and saw many different ones this time. We also saw two Waco YKS-7's (G-BWAC and G-UPFS) by the way; I guess those don't have a mil history?
After this we tried to locate the two aircraft that should be present in Gamlingay, at a place called Acres Farm (Auster G-ASKJ and UH-12 G-BBAZ). I found the address Park Lane for this farm, but although finding this little street was easy enough we couldn't locate the farm. We asked many locals, and nobody knew a place called Acres Farm. When it finally was dark we gave up, so if someone know more about those I would be very interested!
Since this was a rather disappointing end of the day we decided to do one more location, on the way to our hotel.
Waterbeach (52º 16' 22.40" N, 0º 11' 21,40" E) (note that the coordinates on the Demobbed site are not the exact spot!)
(WN904) Hunter F.2 pr, 56 sq mks
This Hunter is preserved outside the gate of the 39 Army Enginerr Regiment. When we arrived and got out of the car to take a close look a soldier happened to come out of the camp together with his girlfriend. Apparently he wanted to impress her, because he told us walking up to the aircraft was not allowed. It is outside the gate for &**^$%# sake! But according to him the guard on duty couldn't see us from his position if we walked there, so it was not allowed..... Since we didn't want to start a fight we decided to be the more sensible ones and left.
And that was the last aircraft of the day!
As always corrections, additions and comments are very welcome.
That´s all folks!
Hielko Overeem, Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation