Required; History of Morayvia Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ723

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20 years 6 months

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I am pulling together the history of the Morayvia Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ723 and am looking for information on its service with the following units. No 155 Sqn in Singapore circa 1955, No 110 Sqn also in Singapore circa 1959. No 228 Sqn circa 1962, and finally No 202 Sqn from August 1964. If anyone has any log books that confirm the location of XJ723 and a particular time I would appreciate receiving this information.
I would also be very interested to see any images of her PRIOR to her going to the Montrose Museum Society, in particular during her time on the squadrons listed above and when she was used by the Offshore Petroleum Training Base in Montrose as an escape procedures trainer.

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14 years

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RAF Museum will send you a record card and remove all doubt!

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20 years 6 months

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Sabrejet, unfortunately the RAF Museum are not posting out Record Cards until at least January 2019, due to the RAF 100 Celebrations

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I suspect that's a link to his/her own post....

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I'm near certain that Air Britain (Historians) once published a small monograph on the history of 110 Sqdn (all blue cover with a picture of a Whirlwind) - likely late 70s/early-mid 80s. Seem to remember lots in there on their active role with Whirlwinds. Reached out for my copy on my shelves - and it is no longer there having not survived a pre-move cull, but if someone still has their copy the information my be of interest to 'Gateguard', Perhaps a general lead to what 110 Sqdn were doing in the Far East, rather than specific to 'their' machine.

My 1979 edition of JJ Halleys Air Britain Publication 'The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force' does in their brief summary of each Squadron give some clues as to the roles of the Squadrons XJ723 served with:

155 Sqdn. On 1st September 1954 No.155 reformed at Seletar with Whirlwind helicopters and provided transport and casualty support for the Army and Police in Malaya during their fight against Communist guerillas in the jungle. On 3rd June 1959 it joined with No.194 to form No.110 Squadron. 155 Sqdn is listed as flying Whirlwind HC.4 helicopters eg XJ410.

No.110 Sqdn. On 3rd June No.110 Sqdn was reformed by combining Nos. 155 and 194 Squadrons at Kuala Lumpur. Initially the Squadron flew Whirlwinds but in April 1960 added Sycamores which had been out of service for a period for technical reasons. It flew both types on supply and transport duties in Malaya and in April 1963 sent a detachment to Brunei which, as the Indonesian guerilla attacks on the Malaysian Federation grew, developed into the whole Squadron being involved in operations in Borneo. These continued until November 1967 when the Indonesians gave up and the Squadron returned to Singapore. This is the bit I initially acquired the A-B Unit history for. Bases are listed as Kuala Lumpur 3 Jun 1959, Butterworth 1 Sep 1959, Selatar 17 Jan 1964 Detachments are not differentiated from unit HQ base though).

No.228 Sqdn. ….. No.228 Squadron at Leconfield flew Sycamores on air-sea rescue duties until they were passed tto No.118 Squadron and replaced by Whirlwinds. On 1 September 1964 the Squadron was renumbered 202 Squadron. No.228 operated Whirlwind HAR.2, 4 and 10s.

No.202 Sqdn. On 1 September 1964 No.228 Squadron at Leconfield was renumbered 202 Squadron which has since been engaged in search and rescue duties with the Whirlwinds helicopters over the northern half of the British Isles. The Unit's move to Finningley and onto Sea Kings is after Halley's book was published.

Doubt this adds much to your knowledge, but I found it fun doing a little general unit background. So camouflage in the Far East, yellow ASR in the UK, colour scheme-wise. Likely wore an individual unit identifying letter with 110 Sqdn at least.

I have XJ723 as built as a WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.2 (NB there is confusion between sources as to HC. or HAR. and if built as Mk.2 or Mk.4), C/no. WA.94, with a Pratt & Whitney engine (marks 5 to 8 had Alvis Leonides Major). Converted to HAR.10 with a Gnome turboshaft (Anglicised GE T-58) engine early 60s (presumably likely on return from the Far East and prior to 228 ASR Sqdn) the Aircraft Record card will confirm sequence and dates. I have a note of seeing it with 202 Sqdn, C Flt at RAF Leuchars B of B Sept 1973, and as 202 Sqdn Finningley July 1977. A delve into enthusiast group magazines shows that Finningley July 1977 was the R.A.F. Royal Jubilee Review. While XP403 represented 202 Sqdn in the static, XJ723 was in Hangar 4 suspended from the roof.

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20 years 6 months

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Viscount, many thanks for your comment, the last paragraph certainly add top her history

Jim S

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Now that is sort of information is I'm sure is exactly what 'Gateguard' is really after. Struck gold with a superb human interest story with North Sea oilfield connections. Fantastic publicity opportunity for Moravia at the right moment too. What an incredible story to go with their exhibit once on display.

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The book "Glasgow's Airport" by Dugald Cameron includes a small photo of XJ723 taken at Renfrew on 7th June, 1964.