My late father completed his National Service in the RAF as a 'Wireless Mechanic' in the years 1950-52...he remembered those times very fondly. For a period he was assigned to one of the RAF's lesser known units - the Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit (ASWDU). Their operations were split between two airfields - their new Shackleton MR1's at St Mawgan and the 2 Bristol Sycamores - WV781 and 782 - at nearby St Eval. Near the end of my father's posting to ASWDU WV782 was destroyed in a fatal crash at St Austell Speedway and the unit were allocated a new airframe as a replacement - WV783. For years this aircraft languished in a small collection at Daedelus, yet at the 1992 show it was wheeled out into static. Of course it was subsequently restored and now has pride of place at Hendon.
Anyway, here's a photo of what she looked like back then plus a few others from the show....

A pair of stored Gannets were also hauled out for the static
XG888

and XL500

Foreign interest was in the way of a Marienenflieger Skyservant

The RAF sent a Herk

and a Tucano

and the Navy sent a Sea Harrier

and a Gazelle made the short hop oer from Fleetlands

And then Lee on Solent wouldnt have been complete without a large dose of Westlands wonderful Wessex !




Hope you have enjoyed this trip down memory lane