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By: 24th November 2019 at 22:00 Permalink
-I flew in a Lincoln RF569 with the ATC out of RAF Upwood.
By: 25th November 2019 at 09:59 Permalink
-Avion and Beaufighter: I can't answer the question, but I was lucky enough to get a number of Lincoln flights from Upwood when I was at Peterborough ATC between 1954 and 1956. I flew in RE347, among several others. I don't think the photo is at Upwood: I don't recall that little tower, but it was a LONG time ago.
Good to see there are a few survivors still arounf Key!
Laurence
By: 25th November 2019 at 10:28 Permalink
-It seems I can't edit, so I'll have to start a new post. According to http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/avro_lincoln.php
RF569 crashed at Boscombe in 1948.
Laurence
By: 25th November 2019 at 10:32 Permalink
-Thank you, gentlemen, I'll pass the information on.
By: 25th November 2019 at 10:33 Permalink
-But in http://www.rafupwood.co.uk/214squadron.html I read it was with 214 Squadron at Upwood from 1949.
Sorry for the confusion!
Laurence
By: 25th November 2019 at 11:21 Permalink
-They had Lincolns at RAF Watton in Norfolk, photo could be there ??
By: 25th November 2019 at 11:57 Permalink
-Possibly a typo re RF569 crash as RF560 crashed at Boscombe.
See posts from web.
Bacon, 11.11.2014
My grandfather was also killed in Lincoln RF560 on 2nd July 1948 at Boscombe Down A&AEE.
Day, 20.10.2014
My father was killed in R.F.Lincoln 560 on 2nd July 1948 at Boscombe Down A&AEE.
By: 25th November 2019 at 13:39 Permalink
-You may well be right, Beaufighter.
AA: your photo is of direct interest to me as it shows a very sophisticated ladder for crew entry. In fact it was usually a simple unsupported ladder to a hatch in the nose. Famous for me getting near the top before falling off into the arms of the next one climbing up.
I'll bet not all those cadets were about to fly in that aircraft. Although the Lincoln was large it was not an Airbus. In fact, I was usually the only cadet aboard. Lucky me. Eternal gratitude to 7 Squadron and our liaison officer, Flt Lt JB Stephens.
Laurence
By: 25th November 2019 at 17:12 Permalink
-Judging by all those stripes on the arms of those posing on the steps, Laurence, it looks rather as if it was principally a day trip for NCOs!
Whilst I know that there's no Lincoln in it, here's another photograph from the same source (a member of No. 328 (Kingston-upon-Thames) Squadron ATC in the 1950s) taken at Stradishall about the same time as the original photograph. Am I correct in believing that TT Mosquitos were operated from there at about that time? If so, by which squadron?
By: 26th November 2019 at 09:21 Permalink
-I'm not sure how reliable this is, but I just noticed:
Mosquito target towing squadron was transferred from RAF Stradishall to Pembrey to replace Tempests in 1955
http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/2013/11/19/mind-boggling-mossie-mysteries-no-3-answer/
Laurence
PS: those horrible uniforms look very familiar
By: 26th November 2019 at 09:34 Permalink
-No apologies for thread drift: 115 Squadron ATC queuing up for a trip in a C-119 at Thornaby in 1954. I am there but won't say which one. There is also another long-time poster on Key.
Laurence
By: 26th November 2019 at 23:42 Permalink
-It's a very posed group photo, why would you want all those Cadets tramping through the cockpit and then over the wing spar. It was bad enough without a parachute pack.
I'm trying to think if there were any Rumbold seats in the fuselage. I remember attaching a Megger to the wrong cable braiding in a Lincoln and (electrically) shocking a few colleagues.
John
By: 27th November 2019 at 14:16 Permalink
-I don't recall any extra seats, except a jump seat next to the pilot. My recollection is that the first seats behind the pilot were nav and radio, then the spar to scrape your shins on, then rather empty until the rear gunner. The Upwood Lincolns I flew in didn't have a mid-upper turret.
Laurence
By: 27th November 2019 at 15:45 Permalink
-As bombers are outside my comfort zone, will someone for whom they are not please tell me what is the ventral bulge apparent on the Lincoln in the background of the photograph in my original post on this thread?
By: 27th November 2019 at 16:19 Permalink
-Radar bulge i believe as the Lancs did in the war
By: 28th November 2019 at 00:00 Permalink
-As with Lancaster there was a bench seat for the flight engineer behind the co-pilot, thats where I sat for my flight.
By: 28th November 2019 at 09:26 Permalink
-Avion and Comet: the bulge is for the H2S ground scanning radar. There is a big rotatory dish in there. Indeed, used in Lancasters and, of course, Lincolns.
Laurence
By: 28th November 2019 at 11:35 Permalink
-Thank you, cometguy and Laurence. Still no-one with any idea where the initial photograph might have been taken?
By: 28th November 2019 at 13:21 Permalink
-@ Avion Ancien
Quite a tricky one :)
Perhaps the most LIKELY place to see a Lincoln or 2 in 56/57 would have been Watton/Hemswell (527sqn/199sqn/230 OCU/Lincoln Conversion Flight) but I have not seen a pic of that particular design of control tower at either Watton or Hemswell,that doesn't mean there was not that type at these airfields but just I have not found a pic yet :)
The Tower is a good match for Upwood,but I note that in 1955 it was then painted White - whether it was subsequently repainted green/dark I do not know.
If it is absolutely certain that the pic was taken in Suffolk then looking at Airfields with a Watch Office for All Commands (with rooftop VCR - visual control room) type control Tower and with reference to Control Towers UK (I have included a couple of norfolk a/f's as well).
http://www.controltowers.co.uk
The most likely airfields might be Honington,Eye,Framlingham,North Pickenham,Horham,Knettishall,Wormingford,Great Ashfield.Obviously not all these listed were still operational RAF airfields but afik were still useable and MOD owned.
There may be other possibilities due to lack of pictures ( and possibly Boundary changes)
By: 28th November 2019 at 13:27 Permalink
-Could not find an edit option for the above post LOL
But I had meant to add that it was not unusual for sqns or a/c to be detached to other Airfields during mauntenance work on the Home Airfield/Normal Base which could possibly explain using (say) a 'Satellite' Airfield or an airfield on Care and Maintenance or normally by then being a non flying station.
Posts: 5,927
By: avion ancien - 24th November 2019 at 18:15 - Edited 24th November 2019 at 18:17
On another forum I frequent, a member is trying to trace information concerning a photograph featuring his stepfather, a 328 (Kingston) Squadron ATC member in the fifties, boarding a Lincoln. The photograph is attached. His stepfather thinks it was taken at a base in Suffolk in 1956/57 (but I haven't identified any squadrons operating Lincolns from Suffolk RAF bases at this time). Whilst I appreciate that it's a long shot, does anyone have any idea where and/or when the photograph was taken? The Lincoln B.2 in the background, which must be one in the serial number range RE340 to RE349, might help.
With my thanks in anticipation.
AA