Chipmunks at Henlow

[Blameless]

I was scanning some old negatives from 1963 in the days when Technical Cadets at the RAF Technical College Henlow were encouraged to carry out what I guess would now be primary flying training (you could get a PPL from it) on Chipmunks. I thought a few pictures qualified as nostalgia - not all of the highest quality compared with current photos but some nice ones of the aircraft over the Bedfordshire countryside. WD292 was being flown by Ian Moir and WK 562 by John Blakeley - the pictures were taken by Mike Perridge.

[Victor5]

Lovely photos . Nice to see WK562, I had a flight in her at RAF Brawdy, 1980.

[Mike]

Very nice, I spent many hours sat in the back-seat of a few of them.

[Buccaneer]

Great pics, lovely to see these from such an era, do you know what the operating unit was?

[Blameless]

Buccaneer,

I am sorry, but I do not recall any Sqn or Flight designation for them - they were, I guess, on charge to the Station Flight RAF Technical College and run as a proper flying training school with full-time QFIs, trapper visits, etc, and I have at least 10 different tail numbers in my log-book. We also had an Anson when I first arrived at Henlow (1960) but that "disappeared" quite soon afterwards around mid 1962. We possibly managed one unique Chipmink sortie - 3 cadets accompamied by 2 QFIs and using 4 aircraft went to Copenhagen and back in April 1964 for "expedition training" - via Manston, Ypenburg, Volkel, Wildenrath, Gutersloh, Wunstorf, Uetersen, Skydstrupp, Vaerlose, Schleswig, Oldenburg, Deelen, Woendsdrecht and Manston (with one aircraft going U/S and having to be left at Woensdrecht for a later recovery). As I recall great concern about single engine Channel crossings by the approving Authority (hence Manston) but they totally forgot about the Baltic where we had a 50+NM leg over water on the way home! Those were indeed the days!

[ciaranchef]

Fantastic...the sheer nostalgia factor more than make up for any lack of crisp edges....lovely stuff...the year my parents married...........

[TheMightyOz]

Great stuff. As a Bedfordshire lad with a Chipmunk fetish I love these!

[paddyboy]

cor

count me in

luvly to see a few chippie shots

i sat in one as a 14 yr old in 19never you mind

defo would not fancy flying in them

best regards

paddyboy

[yakman]

Hi, what a good surprise to see WK562 in the old days....
well i'm the happy owner since 30th may 1996, she's in very good shape, lives in brittany and flying everyweek ....
i would love to get some old pictures of her in order to print them and do a photobook....

i'm also looking for tires for her !!!

if you drive by brittany next to LA BAULE, ring me and i can arrange a flight !!

laurent

[d555]

1963. Was quite young then.

Good air to air shots Very interesting post.

[Blameless]

yakman,

Will happily send you the picture files of 562 if you PM me with a private e-mail. Would be great to take up your offer if I ever get your way!

[Braden.connolly]

Hello,

I'm bringing this old thread alive because I now own 25% of WD292, I'd be very grateful for copies of these photos and would happily return the favour with a passenger flight in her.

Many thanks,

Braden

[Mustang531]

These are great shots, very nostalgic and who dosen't love a Chippie. I must have hundreds of pics stashed away from around the UK, some locations have sadly gone. Swinderby, Roborough, Manston, Newton amongst others.