Coltishall Squadron Locations

[DaleRFU]

Good morning all,

I was hoping that someone could help me. Does anyone know what squadron was in which hangar?

colt by DaleRFU1, on Flickr

Kind Regards
Dale

[Agent K]

If I recall correctly during a visit a while back when operational 1 was 41 and 3 was 6.

[22A]

Correct Agent K with C flight of 202 further up that road leading diagonally from 1, past 4 and out of the picture's right hand side.

[Weazel69]

Greetings Dale, not wanting to sound a braagart but prior to close down I worked at RAF Coltishall as a civvy/agency Forward Delivery van driver for about 18months
when I started there were 4 Squadrons operating the Jaguar from said base with 6/16R operating from the hangar on the right if you were facing control tower
whilst 41/54 operated from the left hangar, which meant that each of the 2 Squadrons operated from the Flightline closest to their respective hangar
this job entailed me to visit 99% of the base or in other words if someone had requested something then it was basically Fwd Del's job to deliver
A lot was seen and many people known in these times.Happy Days
I would also like to add that the 41/54 hangar Doors had some lovely Artwork on them with Jaguars over a desert scene with lovely blue skies, and when Colt closed there were moves to retain them for preservation, but sadly how do you and where do you keep such items.
the last I heard that some of the artwork was still on but after closure and with no heating = cold hangar that deteration had set in

[DaleRFU]

Thanks for that guys most helpful and much appreciated

[Weazel69]

just add that I do have some digital images taken on the phinal day of base lockdown, could not get any previous to this as camera's were verboten whilst I was working there
and I would E.mail copies of these but alas currently this is beyond me. Maybe one day who knows

[garyscott]

Something simulator related?

[Parrafin budgie]

When they had all four Jaguar squadrons at Coltishall. 41 & 54 shared 1, 16 squadron used 2 along with the weapons training jaguar, 6 squadron used 3 and 4 was the AMF.

Ex 41 squadron engineer.

[DaleRFU]

Brilliant thank you for that, very helpful

[Bluetail]

When they had all four Jaguar squadrons at Coltishall. 41 & 54 shared 1, 16 squadron used 2 along with the weapons training jaguar, 6 squadron used 3 and 4 was the AMF.

Ex 41 squadron engineer.

Correct, and 202 were in one half of 4

[jagnut]

The artwork on the doors of No1 Hangar are still in reasonable condition, currently 1 Hangar used by a storage company, 2 Hangar Swift Aircraft, 3 Hangar Norfolk County Council Covid 19 emergency mortuary and 4 Hangar Vitromite Ltd (ecco building company).

[tornado17]

If I recall correctly during a visit a while back when operational 1 was 41 and 3 was 6.

When I was there on 54 in 1990, we were in the hangar numbered 2 on the photo and 6 and 41 were as stated above by Agent K. 16 were still at Lossiemouth.

[effects]

If I recall correctly during a visit a while back when operational 1 was 41 and 3 was 6.

When I was there on 54 in 1990, we were in the hangar numbered 2 on the photo and 6 and 41 were as stated above by Agent K. 16 were still at Lossiemouth.

You sure, where were AMF? When I got to LIV in 92 they were sharing with 41 and sh***y six were on there own.

[tornado17]

If I recall correctly during a visit a while back when operational 1 was 41 and 3 was 6.

When I was there on 54 in 1990, we were in the hangar numbered 2 on the photo and 6 and 41 were as stated above by Agent K. 16 were still at Lossiemouth.

You sure, where were AMF? When I got to LIV in 92 they were sharing with 41 and sh***y six were on there own.

I can't remember where AMF were, possibly number 4?, but we were in number 2 and used the flight line opposite number 1, 41 were on the end of us and 6 were opposite number 3 on their own. Were there any hangar swaps after the Gulf War? I had left the base by then.

[DaleRFU]

Thank you all for the help. I have another question for those that knew Coltishall, How was the "Pan" divided up between the squadrons? this is what I have assumed? Also did the Jaguar "Pens" ever get used?

Pan by DaleRFU1, on Flickr


Thanks in advance

[22A]

I left Colt before 16 arrived. The squadrons did use the pans as per photo, but 6 had spare space as well as the pan they used.
Widening the scope; was there a designated area for visiting a/c? I remember the visiting Aussie F111 in 1977 parked on 41's pan and Nord 262s and French Jags seemed to park nearest where they were going.
The SCANG visit in 1978 saw them parking their RF4s on the 41 pan as they needed access to the RIC.

[tornado17]

Could you explain what you mean by pens? It just that I've never heard of them when I was there, hopefully I'm not appearing as a thickie here!!

[DaleRFU]

Could you explain what you mean by pens? It just that I've never heard of them when I was there, hopefully I'm not appearing as a thickie here!!

I'm sorry if they aren't called that, think I heard it somewhere once. What I mean is the parking bays that appear to accommodate one single aircraft with a blast wall either side of the parking slot. They can bee seen on the western end of the runway and on the south side of the runway also.

[Nighthawke]

Revetments. Can't recall seeing them used looking from the outside but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[tm74sqn]

Pairs of blast walls can be seen on the Google map approx NW of the SW end of the runway - about 8 pairs of them - and approx SE of the middle part of the runway - again about pairs 8 of them.

From memory they were a common feature of Fighter Command airfields in the 50s and 60s. On my last visit to Norwich Airport (ex RAF Horsham St Faith) I seem to remember a pair of such blast walls were still standing.