On the Road Again Looking Back (to my pre-digital camera days) United Kingdom 1973 to 2002

Wales Aircraft Museum at Cardiff Rhoose - June 1996 Left to right: Gloster Meteor TT.20 (WM292 '841'), struck off charge in 1969 and transferred to the Fleet Air Arm Museum (FAAM). Passed to the Wales Aircraft Museum after respray. Moved to Bruntingthorpe in 1998 after museum had closed in 1998. As photographed at Midland Air Museum, Coventry in 1991. Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star (52-9963), transferred to RAF Sculthorpe on 30/05/78 coded '5-MB' after service with the French Air Force. Scrapped in February 1998. Dassault Mystere IV (59), transferred to RAF Sculthorpe on 03/05/78 coded '314-TH' after service with the French Air Force. Scrapped in February 1998, North American F-100D Super Sabre (54-2160), flown to RAF Sculthorpe on 22/02/77 coded '11-YF' from when with the French Air Force. Transferred to the museum in March 1978. Scrapped in February 1998.

Brenzett Aeronautical Museum - May 1993 Left to right: English Electric Canberra B.2 (WH657). Around 2008 it was broken up, leaving only the cockpit remaining on display. Avro 652A Anson (G-AGPG) after over 10 years stored in the open, in 1996 G-AGPG was moved to BAe Aerostructures at Chadderton after more moves it was reduced to spares in 2011.

RAF Cottesmore - June 1996 Left to right: English Electric Canberra PR.7 (WH791 8176M). Struck off charge at St Athan in 1972 and moved to the gate at RAF Cottesmore in the same year. In November 1998 it was moved to Newark Aviation Museum.

Left to right: Gloster Meteor T.7 (WL345) at St Leonards Motors in Hastings in May 1993. Gloster Meteor NF.14 (WS776 'K') at North Luffenham in November 1984. Currently at Bournemouth Museum.

1855 Squadron Air Cadets, Park Lane, Royton, Greater Manchester - August 1984 Left to right: Gloster Meteor NF.14 (WS726 'G' 7960M). de Havilland Vampire T.11 (XK637 '56').

Left to right: McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 (XT895 'Q' 9171M) in 74 Squadron markings on the fire dump at RAF Valley in July 1993. Transferred to PEE Foulness. McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 (XV582 'M') in 111 Squadron markings it is better known as 'Black Mike' at RAF Leuchars in October 2002. It was at RAF Cosford in 2018 and at the South Wales Museum in 2019. English Electric Lightning F.3 (XR713 'C') in 111 Squadron markings at RAF Leuchars in October 2002. It is now at Bruntingthorpe.

Left to right: North American TB-25N Mitchell (44-30925 registered N9494Z, G-BWGR) at Coventry Airport in June 1993. It flew in movie 'Catch-22' as 'Laden Maiden' in 1968-1969. Later on in 1978 it flew in the film 'Hanover Street' as '151632 Georgeous George-Ann' and later as 'Thar She Blows'. In 2006 the Brussels Air Museum Foundation (BAMF) secured approval for the Brussels Air Museum to take control of the aircraft. By 2012 the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association (BAPA) was able to deliver the aircraft to Belgium for restoration, currently in storage at Vissenaken. Avro Shackleton MR.1/T.4 (VP293), withdrawn from use at the RAE Farnborough in 1975. Sold to the Strathallen Museum in 1976. It was Subsequently broken up, the nose section is preserved at Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St Faith. Strathallen Museum August 1984. de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (RS712 registered G-ASKB). Strathallen Museum August 1984. It was flown to the USA (became N35MK) later in the year for Kermit's museum in Florida. Gloster Meteor NF.14 (G-ARCX) ex Ferranti Radar. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune July 1981.

Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 (XP398).

Gatwick Aviation Museum (Charlwood), August 1994 Left to right: Hawker Hunter F.51 (G-9-448, XF418, E-430) ex Danish Air Force. Hawker Sea Hawk FB.5 ('XE364' really XE489/WM983 composite registered G-JETH) previously with Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend and Jet Heritage.

Left to right: Westland Wasp HAS1 (XT788 '316' registered G-BMIR) a fund raiser at a motorway service station in September 1998. By 2009 it was with Xray Tango Helicopter Club.

McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XT911) ex 92 Squadron, scrapped in 1993.

St Athan, Picketston site - August 1991 Left to right: McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XV399) ex 56 Squadron, scrapped 1992. McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XT898 'CE') ex 228 OCU, scrapped 1993. McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XV495) ex 23 Squadron, scrapped 1993.

Left to right: McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XV486) ex 29 Squadron, scrapped 1992. McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XT911) ex 92 Squadron, scrapped in 1993. McDonnell Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 (XV402?) ex 56 Squadron, scrapped in 1995.

Castle Donington - January 1973 Left to right: Beechcraft D18 Twin Beech (N6685 previously G-AXWL) with Sagittair. Douglas DC-3 Dakota (G-AMYB previously 5N-AJE taped over) 'Omouyi' with Nigerian Trade Wings. After many owners it was eventually retired in Mexico in 1993. Douglas DC-3 Dakota (501) ex Sultan of Muscat and Oman Air Force. Withdrawn and scrapped later in the year.

Left to right: Foster-Wikner GM1 Wicko (DR613 registered G-AFJB) with blacksmith Ken Woolley at Berkswell, Warwickshire in January 1973. For many years Ken Woolley tried to restore this sole survivor of only ten aircraft which were built in the 1930s. Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 (XM685 'PO' registered G-AYZJ ntu) Luton Airport in March 1973. To Elstree and Newark Air Museum by 1980. Blackburn Beverley C.1 (XB259) with Court Line to fly RB.211 engines for their Lockheed TriStars at Luton Airport in March 1973. Flown to Paull Airfield, Hull in March 1974 for the museum.

Left to right: Avro Anson T.21 (TX183 registered G-BSMF) at Old Warden in March 1973. It was one of the last six RAF Ansons withdrawn June 28, 1968 In May 2001 to Gulf Air Museum in Dubai and later to Al Mahata (Old Sharjah Airport) Museum, Sharjah, UAE. Avro Shackleton MR.2 (WL751 'M') at Coventry Baginton in January 1973. With Shackleton Aviation since 1972. Scrapped in January 1975 after Shackleton Aviation moved to Hurn Airport. Vickers 745D Viscount (XR802) ex Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) at Coventry Baginton in January 1973. With Shackleton Aviation who were to scrap it in 1975.

Sheldon ATC - January 1973 Left to right: Gloster Meteor TT.20 (WD646 'R' later 8189M) ex 3 CAACU at Exeter. Sheldon ATC at Barrows Lane, Sheldon, Birmingham. It was transferred to North Weald in 1991 for restoration painted as 'WD615' before moving on to the RAF Manston History Museum in 1996.