Mick's Pics

[paulsl]

These pictures were brought out by my brother in law Mick Grindley whilst I was visiting recently. Luckily there was a scanner to hand so here they are. They were mostly taken by Mick's brother Martin, who also developed and printed them in his very amateur darkroom. Being of the teenage persuasion at the time the boys were not averse to climbing perimeter fences (different times eh?), the Javelin was definitely taken from inside the boundary. Sadly there isn't much context for the images, and they are just personal pictures, but hopefully they'll be of interest.

I almost had a burst of pretension and called them "The Grindley Collection" but Mick told me he has hundreds of others that weren't enlarged. Now I need a crowbar to get them off him and a few years to scan them. From here the comments are those written on the back of the picture by Mick or Martin, any more by me are in [brackets].


Victor B1 XA938 10 Sqn. Marham 24/9/1958


Valiant BK1 XD821 Marham 24/9/1958. Taken by Mart squatting in the Marham 'undershoot' area.


Valletta C1 VW821 Ferry Support Squadron Benson Early 1959


Valetta C1 VW158 Ferry Support Squadron Benson Base Air Show 1958


USAF Wetherfield At Home 9/5/59 F100D-65-NA 56-3000A A/c of Colonel R. Taliver CO of USAF 20th F/B Wing [ not Classic British. Sorry!]


Last RAF Hurricane LF363 at USAF Wetherfield At Home 9/5/59 [Don't know if 'last' means last on charge, or last flying at that time]


Valletta C1 VW197 Landing at Benson 11/9/58


Meteor NF11 WD702 (No code) Landing Benson 17/9/58 - No squadron markings, brand new aircraft - 2TAF Germany?


Hunter T7 XL586 (No code) Benson Sept 1958 (later 229 OCU a/c)


Hunter F4 XF361 229 OCU (RS/22) Benson BB Display 1958


Hastings C2 WJ333 99SQn (GAL) Landing Benson 11/9/58


Javelin FAW5 XA645 (No code) Landed at Benson 9/9/58


Beaufighter TT10 RD809 Benson 2/9 - 9/9/59 Prior to deivery to FEAF (Singapore). One of the very last in RAF service.

[The Beaufighter isn't a good picture but the FEAF reference is interesting. At about the time it was taken Mick was doing his National Service in Hong Kong listening to Chinese radio transmissions for the RAF. There is a bit about it here and here, and what he did afterwards is interesting (9th paragraph). Anyway, that's how he came to be able to take this......]


BOAC Britannia G-ANBA Ready for T/o Kai Tak Airport Hong Kong 1957

[airboatr]

Thanks for taking the time to copy and post these up.

[sketchy74]

Great photos, the mind boggles to know what gems are hidden in people's attics.
Thanks for posting.

[Airspeed]

Thanks for posting, Paul, well done!
I asked for the old negatives from my father; there would have been many from 1950s Northolt and Farnborough.
He gave me a box of stuff, but not a single aeroplane among the pile.

[petermcleland]

Thanks Paul...I enjoyed those...Particularly as they were taken during my RAF time

[Garry Russell]

Interesting pics.

The Hastings has no spinners...in the UK

That always seemed to be a thing in the hotter countries, possibly to aid cooling as that had the large cooling fans and spinners so this probably made a difference. It seemed that way.

If that is the case it's probably just come back to the UK

Thanks for posting them.

[TSR2]

Love these Paul. There is something really atmospheric about old black and white shots that adds to the appeal. Many thanks indeed

[Paul K]

Thanks Paul, its just great to see 'new' photos of long-gone aircraft. I wonder if that Valetta had feathered the prop 'in anger' or if it was a training drill. Love the Valiant too.

[paulsl]

Thank you for all your kind remarks, gents. Mick will be chuffed to bits to hear that these were well received. He doesn't do internet, technology passed him by some time in the 70's

[Garry Russell]

Re the Hurricane G-AMAU was flying at the time and LF363 ended up in the memorial flight. That seems to point to the last RAF Hurricane on charge...just my thoughts.