FlyPast 06.2018

HALF A CENTURY 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

June 2018 FLYPAST 83

was Hurricane II LF363 and a Spitfire
from Battle of Britain Flight, based
at Coltishall in Norfolk. It was not
until June the following year that the
word ‘Memorial’ was dropped into the
unit’s title.
Avro Lancaster B.I PA474 also
performed, making its first true public
appearance, and doubtless giving Gp
Capt Hoad great satisfaction. Painted
in the colours of 44 Squadron, it
had taken part in the stand-down of
Bomber Command at Scampton,
Lincs, on April 30.
The Lancaster had been destined
for the RAF Museum and had been
parked out at Henlow, Beds, since

1964. Appeals from 44 Squadron
      resulted in PA474 being ferried to
      the unit’s base at Waddington, Lincs,
      the following year. After restoration
      work, the bomber was air tested on
      November 7, 1967 in readiness for a
      ‘starring’ role at Abingdon.
      Waddington was PA474’s home
      until November 1973 when it
      was handed on to the Battle of
      Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at
      Coltishall.

STILL SERVING

A look through the table of

operational types that featured

in the Abingdon static display

may have readers thinking that

some should have been put in the

‘museum’ panel. Five of these had

entered service in the 1940s.

Dakota KN452 was taken on

charge by 76 Squadron at Holme-

on-Spalding-Moor, Yorkshire,

in May 1945 and departed with

the unit to India in the autumn.

By August 1965 it was based

at Khormaksar, Aden, with 21

Squadron. Replaced by an Andover,

it was retired to Kemble, Glos,

for storage pending disposal in

November 1967. It was flown to the

50th celebrations and sold on the

civilian market in 1969.

The final ‘mainline’ RAF example

was KN645 which was retired on

April 1, 1970 and is now on show

at the RAF Museum Cosford,

Shropshire. The type continued

with the test and trials agencies well

beyond this, for example BBMF’s

ZA947 was in use at Farnborough,

Hampshire until 1992.

Anson C.19 TX213 was in

pristine condition, having been

plying the airways with the Western

Communications Squadron from

the all-grass airfield at Andover,

Hampshire, only weeks before.

Three months after the show, it

Above left

Shackleton MR.3/3

of Kinloss-based 120

Squadron, believed to

be WR979, took part

in the fl ying display.

Far left

Hercules C.1 XV214

of the Lyneham

Tactical Wing kicking

up freshly mown

grass during the Air

Support Command

set-piece. Delivered

in 1967, it was sold in

Canada in late 2015.

Left

Barn door-like fl aps

fully down, resident

46 Squadron Andover

C.1 XS603 bringing

troops in to the battle

demo. This machine

was issued to 46

Squadron at Abingdon

in December 1966

and was sold in South

Africa in 1996.

Below

Meteor F.8 WH364

was serving in the

target facilities role

with 85 Squadron

from Binbrook. It was

retired in November

1969 and is now with

the Jet Age Museum

at Staverton, Glos.