57 Years of 57 Sqn

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    mmTony Gunby
    Keymaster

    Originally posted on 23 November 2012 by Tony Gunby

    This photo was taken in June 1973 of a Victor K1 and a Hawker Hart. But does anyone know where the photo was taken, where the Hawker Hart came from, or of any other events that took place to mark 57 years of 57?

     

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    On 3 March 2013, Roger Imm replied:

    I would suggest that your photo was taken Sept, 1966, at RAF Marham.  The Hawker Hart J9941 in your photo now resides at the RAF Museum Hendon.

    [caption id="attachment_1405" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Hawker Hart II Serial No: G-ABMR ‘J9941’
    Period: Pre-WWII
    Ref: 74/A/29
    Museum: London
    Location: Milestones of Flight Hall[/caption]

    The Hart was repainted as a 57 Sqn plane in 1963 but had never served on 57 Sqn.  It was withdrawn from flying in 1971 and in 1972 the plane was transferred to RAF Museum Hendon who have catalogued the aircraft’s history 74-A-29-Hawker-Hart-II-G-ABMR. There is no HP Victor at Hendon (except a nose section).  In your picture the Hart appears to be readying for flight? One would assume this was before the Hart’s flight withdrawal in 1971.

    The Hart’s flight history is well documented after 1963.  In September 1966 it was at RAF Marham to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of 55 & 57 Squadrons; there is a photo in the RAF News week ending Sept 24, 1966.

    Additional clues:   The Victor pictured may also give a clue to the date of the picture.   It doesn’t appear to have squadron markings on the tail and there are no red markings on the wings, fuselage, and IFR pod. XH615 was used during the mid 60’s on both 55 & 57 Squadrons, and as such did not have a squadron ensign on the tail. I have a picture of this aircraft without squadron markings.

    [caption id="attachment_1406" align="aligncenter" width="1105"] XH615, 1967[/caption]

    By the 1970’s, Victor tankers had red wing tips and red stripes on the lower fuselage, wings and IFR pods. This would have been clearly visible in a photo taken in 1973.

    [caption id="attachment_1407" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] XH616, 57 Sqn, June 1973, Red Wing Tips, White Circle Red 57, Red IFR Pods, Red Lines on Wings & Fuselage[/caption]

    Another clue to date is that the photo is B&W, not color. When I look at my own collection of photos and photos in books of the era, I find that by 1973 most photos are in color. Back in 1966, most photos were in B&W.The Victor in the Hart picture still has the PTR UHF antenna located on the tail; by the 1970’s, the UHF antenna had been moved to the fuselage per MOD 4615 on all Victor K1/K1As. This can been seen in the 1973 color photo of XH616 above.One final point, I was there in 1973 and I don’t remember a Hawker Hart appearing for a 57 year’s celebration.

    So, from many aspects it appears most likely that this photo was taken in 1966 at RAF Marham.

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