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The Royal Air Force as seen by John Cooper |
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Handley Page Hastings
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NEW: Hastings TG517 at Newark, a short video Try some of these forums/guestbooks for information on this site for ex RAF mates and RAF stations: http://handleypagehastings.activeboard.com/ Map of the World Guestbook http://pub18.bravenet.com/guestmap/view.php?usernum=1532174778
Handley
Page 67 Hastings Serials TE580 Prototype Hastings TE583
Second
prototype which first flew on 30th December 1946, this Hastings was fitted with two outer Sapphire jet turbine engines for
the new HP Victor engine testbed and must have been a sight to see! She was also used in early trials of glider towing especially
the Hamilcar see http://www.rblharwell.freeserve.co.uk/GliderPilots/hamilcar.htm TG499 This was the first production Hastings aircraft and made its maiden flight on 25th
April 1947, it had an underslung belly Paratechnicon, this became detached from the aircraft on 26th September 1949 hitting
the tailplane resulting in the aircraft crashing at Beacon Hill, Wiltshire. There were no survivors. The
following are all C.1 or C.1A mark aircraft TG500 Struck
off charge (SOC) 1973 TG501 SOC
1966 TG502 Spent
much of its life at the A&AEE Boscombe Down, Wiltshire on various trials SOC
1966 TG503 This
is only one of four complete (accessible) aircraft surviving today at a museum in Alliierton, Germany in recognition of its
stalwart service during operation Plainfare during the Berlin Airlift. She finished her RAF service career as a Mark T5 with
Strike Command Bombing School (aka 1066 Squadron) at RAF Lindholme where she was flown to RAF Gatow, Germany by Squadron Leader
Jackson. Photos
of 503 ‘airborne’ underslung a MIL MI-26 in Sep 1997 TG504
Converted
to a Meteoroligical Flight (Met 1) with 202 Squadron RAF Aldergrove, these MET aircraft were painted all over grey but I do
recall some in the early days painted in a sky blue colour, perhaps this was an experimental colour scheme. TG505 TG505
was flown to RAF St Athan in 1977 another Mark T5 used by SCBS, this airframe was transported by road and used by the Special
Air Services (SAS) and specialist police units at Hereford ostensibly to free victims from hijacked aircraft. TG506 Selected
for cold weather trials, and was also seconded to the Parachute Testing Unit. (PTU) Converted
to Met 1 aircraft and SOC 1966 TG507 I think
this one was used by 51 Squadron at some stage where it supported the two Comets and Two Canberras on RADAR jamming missions
operating often from Middle East bases rather than from RAF Wyton. Was
on FECs Changi early 1960’s SOC
1969 TG508 Based
at RAF Dishforth 1954/5 she "belly flopped" at then RAF Middleton St George, now Teeside Airport.(recalled are the appalling
weather conditions of that period of winter). TG508,
was regarded as a jinx kite since the sum of her digits made the un-enviable total of Thirteen. Part
of the team who re-established her airworthiness and flew with her back to Dishforth to prove good faith and confidence, I
would be interested in news of her "finals" since I have rumour she was later written off after another prang. Source Ron
Gibson TG508
then crashed on landing and caught fire at Thorney Island.
07/03/1962 and was written off Photo
on fire at http://image01.webshots.com/1/8/86/77/35988677gtpRFg_ph.jpg TG509 SOC
1967 TG510 Used
as a firedump aircraft at Cambridge Airport SOC
1966 19/05/49 TG510 did a ’wheels-up’ landing during the Berlin airlift and was repaired TG511 Flown
to the RAF Museum at RAF Cosford on 16th August 1977 by the Squadron Commander of ‘1066 Squadron’ Squadron Leader
‘Jacko’ Jackson AFC MBE. This Hastings is only one of four complete airframes in existence of this breed. Now
one of four preserved Hastings, this example at The RAF Museum Cosford is the only one remaining undercover and is therefore
in prime condition. Shown as a Mark T5 BCBS TG512 SOC
1959 TG513 SOC
1967 TG514 Met
1 type SOC 1967 TG515 SOC
1959 TG516 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury SOC
1972 TG517 Once
on the inventory of 202 Squadron Another
T5 ex SCBS now well preserved at The Newark Aviation Museum, Notts and the first T5 to be converted to BCBS status. Flown
to the Newark Air Museum at Winthorpe on 22nd June 1977 by Squadron Leader Jackson. TG518 Ex T5
SOC 1969 TG519 Undershot
the runway on final approach to RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire on 2nd October 1948 where the undercarriage was torn off on a practice
3 engine landing, this was the first accident to occur to a production Hastings SOC
1967 TG521 Ex T5
SCBS SOC 1971 TG522 TG523 SOC
1967 TG524 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury SOC
1971 TG525 SOC
1967 TG526 SOC
1967 TG527 Mark
C1.A Ex T5
SCBS SOC 1968 TG528 One
of 4 preserved Hastings, this example is to be featured in the new Super Hangar at the IWM Duxford, unfortunately it has deteriorated
considerably whilst being outside in all weathers TG529 SOC
1969 TG530 Crashlanded
having suffered tail wheel problems, a rigger informs me that for some while until modifications could be carried out the
tailwheel was fixed in the down position, 530 was repaired SOC
1967 TG531 SOC
1966 TG532 Scrapped
at RAF Lindholme SOC
1966 TG533 Once
T call sign This
Hastings was sent to RAF Shaibah in Iraq for Hamilcar glider towing trials, I spent a couple of hours at nearby Basrah in
1958, that was enough for me! SOC
1967 TG534 Aircraft
caught fire on engine start up on the ground at Schleswigland, the fire spread and the aircraft was burnt out on 6th April
1949 during the Berlin Airlift on forward detachment from RAF Dishforth TG535 SOC
1968 Used
as Fire Dump Hastings RAF Odiham TG536 Landing
accident at RAF Luqa, Malta on 3rd December 1951, aircraft repaired. Had
the call sign GPJ whilst on 48 Squadron at RAF Changi 1960 Ex T5
SCBS SOC 1976 TG537 SOC
1966 TG551 At one
time with 99 Squadron and sported GAN as its call sign SOC
1967 TG552 Crashed
and caught fire at RAF Negombo on 12.04.1951 TG553 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury Ex T5
SCBS SOC 1967 TG554 SOC
1959 TG555 SOC
1960 TG556 SOC
1967 TG557 SOC
1968 TG558 SOC
1959 TG559 Crashed
at RAF Abingdon 09.10.1953 visibility and poor weather to blame. 24 Squadron TG560 IRIS
II & III Hastings Photo " This shiny Hastings carried the RAF Watton-based
IRIS (Inspectorate of Radio Services) team. IRIS made an annual inspection of all RAF flying units overseas to check whether
signals standards and Air Traffic Control procedures were up to standard." (Tony Hawes) TG560 IRIS II WJ338 IRIS III SOC
1958 TG561 SOC
1967 TG562 Crashed
on Take-off at RAF Topcliffe on 14.03.1952 14/03/52 TG562 RAF Topcliffe 242 OCU destroyed on take-off No record card exists TG563 SOC
1967 TG564 See
photo of TG564 on fire at http://image10.webshots.com/11/2/0/88/178720088OrAGUI_ph.jpg Crashed
on landing and caught fire at RAF Kai Tak27/07/1953 this aircraft was on the strength of 53 Squadron at the time of the crash
when it hit a hut, sadly one person on the ground was killed in this incident. TG565 Ex Met.1
SOC 1966 TG566 Used
as a firedump aircraft at RAF Cosford Ex Met.1
Crashed on take-of at RAF Aldegrove 19.09.1962 TG567 Once
with 202 Squadron SOC
1966 TG568 Ex T5
BCBS Fire Dump at RAE Bedford SOC
1974 TG569 SOC
1966 TG570 SOC
1967 TG571 FireDump
RAF Benson SOC
1967 TG572 Once
on the strength of 202 Squadron RAF Aldergrove, this aircraft was flown to RAF Shawbury, Shropshire and used as a firedump
Hastings as late as 1968 but was actually struck off charge in 1966. TG573 SOC
1959 TG574 Crashed
at Benina, Libya 20.12.1950 20/12/50 TG574 Benina Libya 53 Sqn Propeller flew off 5 killed/27 passengers and AQM survived TG575 Undercarriage
collapsed on landing Crashed
at El Adem whilst landing See story Jonah aircraft? Alternative
reading at http://www.air-despatch.co.uk/open/hastings575/575.htm TG576 Photo
at http://image01.webshots.com/1/5/88/11/39458811wPEZCq_ph.jpg SOC
1967 Fire
Dump at Gutersloh TG577 Photo
at http://www.abingdonfayre.com/RAF/HastingsC1TG57736SqnAbingdon.JPG 36 Squadron Crashed
at Lt Balden 06.07.1965 For
details of crew and parachutists please see http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/R.A.%20F.%20Flying%20Accident.htm
TG578 SOC
1959 TG579 Crashed
(or landed) in the sea 1.5nm from RAF Gan 01.03.1960 See
story at http://splashdown2.handleypagehastings/ TG580 Groundlooped
on landing at RAF Gan on 03.07.1959 Aircraft
stripped of all serviceable parts and then dumped at sea TG581 Srapped
atTG581 Stansted SOC
1967 TG582 SOC
1965 TG583 Crashed
on landing approach RAF Dishforth 31st July 1950 belonged to 241 OCU and caught fire and destroyed. TG584 13/09/1955
TG584 Overshot runway at Dishforth, crashed 5 died. ?????? Crashed
on overshot Colerne???????13.09.1955 Photo TG585 SOC
1960 TG586 SOC
1959 TG587 SOC
1967 TG601 SOC
1959 TG602 Crashed
near Shallufa Egypt 12.01.1953 See story??? 12/01/53 TG602 RAF Shallufa,TCASF, both elevators and port tailplane flew off whilst in the climb at 2000', the
aircraft dived into ground, 9 killed ex RAF Abingdon aircraft. The modification on refitting new elevator hinge bolts had
not been carried out See here https://splashdown2.tripod.com/id9.html TG603 Crashed
at RAF Luqa 16.06.1952 . 99 Squadron 16/06/1952 TG603 NO ACCIDENT RECORD CARD EXISTS. I have since received information that
this aircraft was 'Blown Off the Runway' at RAF Luqa, Malta and that there were no survivors, understand that Elevator Bolts
could have sheared off. This does not compare though to reports in the Maltese press from this period, can anyone help? TG604 Once
had the call sign GAC SOC
1967 TG605 SOC
1967 TG606 SOC
1966 TG607 SOC
1967 TG608 SOC
1967 TG609 SOC
1960 TG610 Struck
The Radio Servicing Flight building on landing, taking the life of a Senior NCO at RAF Thorney Island 17.12.1963 TG611 This
was the RAF’s last crash during the Berlin Airlift and occurred on take off from Tegel Airport (French Sector) on 16th
July 1949, it is thought there may have been incorrect tail trim on take off (or, I have heard an engine failure) resulting
in the deaths of five RAF personnel. TG612 SOC
1966 TG613 Ditched
in Mediterranean Sea on 22.07.1953 TG614 SOC
1967 TG615 Photo
of crash site at http://image18.webshots.com/18/9/14/84/202691484jQXNFx_ph.jpg Crashed
at Bannerdown Hill near Colerne on 21.10.1957 TG616 SOC
1967 TG617 SOC
1959 TG618 SOC
1968 TG619 RAE
Farnborough SOC
1970 TG620 SOC
1967 TG621 Once
with 202 Squadron SOC
1968 TG622 SOC
1966 TG623 Ex Met.1
SOC 1967 TG624 The
only Meteoroligical Hastings to have crashed and was written off (Cat.5) at RAF Aldergrove on take-off 27.12.1961 The
following are all C.2 Mark aircraft WD475 Once
had the call sign GAQ This
aircraft was used on RAF Wittering as a firedump Hastings SOC
1967 WD476 Disposed of as scrap by 27 MU RAF Shawbury, Shropshire SOC
1969 WD477 Scrapped at RAF Lindholme Yorkshire SOC
1968 WD478 Crashed
at Strubby/Manby on take off 19.03.1951 the Hastings was seen to lift off, stall and dived into the ground, sadly 3 died whilst
5 others survived, this aircraft had only been off the production line 6 days earlier. No accident record exists. WD479 CAT
5 SOC
1967 WD480 A pannier
holding sonobuoys was permanently attached to WD480 and operated almost continouosly
out of RAE Farnborough, in fact this Hastings was used as a fire dump aircraft at The RAE Farnborough for 10 years before
being scrapped in 1984, originally SOC 24th September 1974 WD481 Used
for training purposes at RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, Fire School SOC
1967 WD482 This
aircraft once flew with the RRE at Pershore, Worcestershire until SoC in 1967 where it remained as a firedump aircraft. SOC
1967 WD483 Crashed
on landing at Ataq, Aden on 9th April 1956 when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at the time 483 was with 70 Squadron, Cyprus WD484 Crashed
on take-off at Boscombe Down 02.03.1955 [ A different date of the 29th March is also recorded] Elevator locks in, 4 died
[Some reports record 2 crew died] Rex
Browning tells me WD485 Scrapped at 27 MU Shawbury Shropshire SOC
1969 WD486 SoC 29/11/1957 or 1967?? as CAT 5(c) SOC
1967 WD487 to No.27 MU RAF Shawbury, Shropshire SOC
1968 WD488 Once
had a 3 Alpha callsign of JAM SOC
1965 WD489 Scrapped
at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus SOC
1968 WD490 Served
on 24 Squadron during 1952 Scrapped
at RAF Bicester 1973 SOC
1967 WD491 Crashed at West Raynham Nose down wrong weight
distribution? 09.06.1967 Used as a Firedump Hastings at RAF Wyton “I hear a story
from the Stn Comm ex Lyneham that he was on board when 491 broke a wheel axle on landing, the resulting photo doesn’t
look like that to me!”
https://splashdown2.tripod.com/id11.html WD492 Crashed
on Greenland IceCap at NorthIce Camp on 16.09.1952 whilst on a supply drop, aircraft is still in situ but now buried under
a sheet of ice and snow. Aircraft belonged to 47 Squadron read about it here
http://www.air-despatch.co.uk/open/frozen/frozen.htm WD493 Used
as a firedump Hastings at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. SOC
1968 WD494 Once
ex 24 Squadron Used
as a Fire Service Training School aircraft at Stansted, Essex SOC
1967 WD495 Once
had the call sign GAN Used
as a firedump Hastings at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire SOC
1968 WD496 SOC
1972 Supported the 2 Comets and 2 Canberras of RAF Wyton #51 Squadron Scrapped
at Boscombe Down as late as 1989 and was once painted up in the colours of the A&AEE. WD497 29/05/1961
No. 2 engine cut on supply drop at Seletar, 13 died. WD498 Check
out http://www.flightlinemalta.com/airaccidents/WD498/ Stalled
on take-off AQM and 16 others killed, 18 survived Crashed
at El Adem on 10.10.1961 on take off see story??? WD499 499
was stationed at the RAF College Manby, Lincolnshire from 1951-1955 undertaking among other tasks long distance flights some
of which extended beyond 13 hours Scrapped
at RAF Honington, Suffolk as late as 1985, this being the last Mk. C2 to be constructed on 11th October 1951 and was still
active with the Royal Radar Establishment at Pershore, Worcestershire in 1972 and was finally retired on 30th September 1974
and used as a firedump Hastings at RAF Honington, Suffolk. SOC
1967 WD500 One
of 4 VIP aircraft to be built as a Mark C.4 Variant Scrapped at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus in 1969 but not SOC 1970 Have
photo in flight VIP WJ324 FECs
Changi Mk C4 WJ325 Photo
at http://image05.webshots.com/5/7/85/81/66378581iKsLUm_ph.jpg FEC’s
photo VIP FEC’s/MEC’s SOC
1968 WJ326 VIP
Fecs/MECs SOC 1971 WJ327 327
was stationed at the RAF College Manby, Lincolnshire from 1951-1955 undertaking among other tasks long distance flights some
of which extended beyond 13 hours SOC
1973 WJ328 SOC
1968 WJ329 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury SOC
1969 WJ330 Scrapped
at RAF Cosford SOC
1969 WJ331 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury SOC
1971 WJ332 Was
with 48 Squadron and FEC’s RAF Changi when this Hastings was about to be scrapped at RAF Seletar MU it was decided at
a late hour to fly it to RAF Gan to be used as a firedump Hastings, the rudder
was removed from this aircraft and was located in one of the drinking bars with many signatures of Gannites SOC
1968 WJ333 VIP
FEC’s SOC 1967 WJ334 SOC
1968 WJ335 Stalled
and crashed on take-off at Abingdon 22.06.1953?????? 6 died WJ336 SOC
1968 Photo WJ337 Once
had a 3 Alpha callsign GAF FEC’s
SOC 1968 WJ338 IRIS
III at RAF Watton RAF
Catterick Fire Dump SOC 1969 WJ339 SOC
1969 WJ340 At one
time with 24 Squadron SOC
1968 WJ341 Crashed
at Abingdon and groundlooped 26.07.1955 WJ342 Photo of crashed WJ342 at http://image05.webshots.com/5/3/35/86/66333586lJvzha_ph.jpg Crashed/engine
failure on take off RAF Eastleigh 23.01.1961 WJ343 Scrapped
at RAF Shawbury SOC
1965 NZ5801 Nose
section in a New Zealand aviation museum Last
flight 1966 not scrapped until 1971* NZ5802 Last
known flight 1966, scrapped 1969* NZ5803 Last
flight 1965 scrapped 1969* First
RNZAF aircraft to fly around the world after delivering a replacement engine to a stranded 40 Squadron DC6. Aircraft arrived
back at Whenuapai on 14 September 1962 after flying 25,000 miles in 120 flying hours in the previous 3 weeks and circling
the globe east-west. NZ5804 Took part in 1953 London-Christchurch Air Race
in October 1953 flown by Wing Commander R F Watson. Withdrew after engine failure and emergency landing in Ceylon, a new engine
was flown out to Negombo from New Zealand, and 5804 returned to NZ on 20th October. To 40 Squadron on 08 December 1954. Crashed
on takeoff from Darwin on 09 September 1955 when multiple bird strikes caused power to be lost in 3 engines. All 25 on board
survived but aircraft was written off.* See story?????????????? Also my own photo * The
details on the RNZAF Hastings is credited to the RNZAF web site at:?????? Struck
offCharge (SoC) This term is used throughout military parlance
like DBR or CAT 5 is An aircraft is like everything else in the Armed
Forces it has to have an inventory number whether it be a new chairleg, an engine or an aircraft it has to be accountable
to either a stores section or a squadron, when a chairleg has been broken it is replaced by a new chairleg but if the whole
chair is broken it is replaced by a new chair, therefore it is struck off the inventory or in the case of an aircraft Struck
off Charge from the Squadron and RAF. Damaged Beyond (Economical) Repair (DBR) means
just that, if an aircraft is too far damaged it is struck off charge and the the salvageable parts are retained and the remainder
is scrapped usually under a civilian contract. An aircraft that may have been
lost in an accident might not necessarily be struck off charge for some time, each accident has to have a Board of Inquiry
(BoI) set up to find the cause of the accident, often this would involve gathering all the retrievable parts from the site
of the crash, remove those parts to a suitable aircraft hangar and painstakingly reassemble the aircraft like a jigsaw puzzle,
this could take weeks or months depending on the size of the crash site. Once a cause has been established, and more than
likely a cause is usually found, and the BoI reports its findings, the Air Chiefs decide the aircraft can be struck off charge.
In the case I was involved in Hastings TG579, although the crash (landing in the sea?) occurred on 1st March 1960 the sequence
of events were that it was SOC on 23rd February 1961 a year but a week from the accident. Similarly Hastings WD497 that crashed at RAF
Seletar with the loss of all on board, on a supply drop on 29th May 1961 was not SOC until 29th January 1962 some eight months
after the accident. Coincidentally the same Admin Officer Struck this aircraft off as the above TG579. So when you see a SOC
date stated that is the date the aircraft was no longer on anyone’s inventory, the aircraft in question may not have
flown for months or even years before being struck off. The RNZAF aircraft above are perfect examples! If an aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair but
was a complete airframe with wings that could be used for training purposes, i.e. airfield fire fighting, extricating the
casualties from the wreckage or storming a hijacked aircraft then these ‘shells’ would be used until such time
as they had no useful life left. RAF
Stations operating HP Hastings Squadrons RAF
Aldergrove 202
Squadron Meteoroligical Squadron from 1950 to 1964 http://www.202-sqn-assoc.co.uk/hugh.htm RAF
Changi 48 Squadron
and Far East Communications Squadron (FEC’s) from 1957 to 1968 RAF
Colerne RAF
Dishforth 47 Squadron
was the first Hastings Squadron in existence RAF
Lindholme TG503,
TG505, TG568, TG536, RAF
Lyneham 53,
99, 511 Squadrons RAF
Nicosia & Akrotiri 70 Squadron RAF
Thorney Island RAF
Topcliffe TG524
Shawbury SOC
1971 WJ332 Was
with 48 Squadron and FEC’s RAF Changi when this Hastings was about to be scrapped at RAF Seletar MU it was decided at
a late hour to fly it to RAF Gan to be used as a firedump Hastings, the rudder
was removed from this aircraft and was located in one of the drinking bars with many signatures of Gannites SOC
1968 WJ333 VIP
FEC’s SOC 1967 WJ334 SOC
1968 WJ335 Stalled
and crashed on take-off at Abingdon 22.06.1953?????? 6 died WJ336 SOC
1968 Photo WJ337 Once
had a 3 Alpha callsign GAF FEC’s
SOC 1968 WJ338 IRIS
III at RAF Watton RAF
Catterick Fire Dump SOC 1969 WJ339 SOC
1969 WJ340 At one
time with 24 Squadron SOC
1968 WJ341 Crashed
at Abingdon and groundlooped 26.07.1955 WJ342 Photo of crashed WJ342 at http://image05.webshots.com/5/3/35/86/66333586lJvzha_ph.jpg Crashed/engine
failure on take off RAF Eastleigh 23.01.1961 WJ343 SOC
1965 NZ5801 Nose
section in a New Zealand aviation museum Last
flight 1966 not scrapped until 1971* NZ5802 Last
known flight 1966, scrapped 1969* NZ5803 Last
flight 1965 scrapped 1969* First
RNZAF aircraft to fly around the world after delivering a replacement engine to a stranded 40 Squadron DC6. Aircraft arrived
back at Whenuapai on 14 September 1962 after flying 25,000 miles in 120 flying hours in the previous 3 weeks and circling
the globe east-west. NZ5804 Took part in 1953 London-Christchurch Air Race
in October 1953 flown by Wing Commander R F Watson. Withdrew after engine failure and emergency landing in Ceylon, a new engine
was flown out to Negombo from New Zealand, and 5804 returned to NZ on 20th October. To 40 Squadron on 08 December 1954. Crashed
on takeoff from Darwin on 09 September 1955 when multiple bird strikes caused power to be lost in 3 engines. All 25 on board
survived but aircraft was written off.* See story?????????????? Also my own photo * The
details on the RNZAF Hastings is credited to the RNZAF web site at:?????? Struck
offCharge (SoC) This term is used throughout military parlance
like DBR or CAT 5 is An aircraft is like everything else in the Armed
Forces it has to have an inventory number whether it be a new chairleg, an engine or an aircraft it has to be accountable
to either a stores section or a squadron, when a chairleg has been broken it is replaced by a new chairleg but if the whole
chair is broken it is replaced by a new chair, therefore it is struck off the inventory or in the case of an aircraft Struck
off Charge from the Squadron and RAF. Damaged Beyond (Economical) Repair (DBR) means
just that, if an aircraft is too far damaged it is struck off charge and the the salvageable parts are retained and the remainder
is scrapped usually under a civilian contract. An aircraft that may have been
lost in an accident might not necessarily be struck off charge for some time, each accident has to have a Board of Inquiry
(BoI) set up to find the cause of the accident, often this would involve gathering all the retrievable parts from the site
of the crash, remove those parts to a suitable aircraft hangar and painstakingly reassemble the aircraft like a jigsaw puzzle,
this could take weeks or months depending on the size of the crash site. Once a cause has been established, and more than
likely a cause is usually found, and the BoI reports its findings, the Air Chiefs decide the aircraft can be struck off charge.
In the case I was involved in Hastings TG579, although the crash (landing in the sea?) occurred on 1st March 1960 the sequence
of events were that it was SOC on 23rd February 1961 a year but a week from the accident. Similarly Hastings WD497 that crashed at RAF
Seletar with the loss of all on board, on a supply drop on 29th May 1961 was not SOC until 29th January 1962 some eight months
after the accident. Coincidentally the same Admin Officer Struck this aircraft off as the above TG579. So when you see a SOC
date stated that is the date the aircraft was no longer on anyone’s inventory, the aircraft in question may not have
flown for months or even years before being struck off. The RNZAF aircraft above are perfect examples! If an aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair but
was a complete airframe with wings that could be used for training purposes, i.e. airfield fire fighting, extricating the
casualties from the wreckage or storming a hijacked aircraft then these ‘shells’ would be used until such time
as they had no useful life left. RAF
Stations operating HP Hastings Squadrons RAF
Aldergrove 202
Squadron Meteoroligical Squadron from 1950 to 1964 http://www.202-sqn-assoc.co.uk/hugh.htm RAF
Changi 48 Squadron
and Far East Communications Squadron (FEC’s) from 1957 to 1968 RAF
Colerne RAF
Dishforth 47 Squadron
was the first Hastings Squadron in existence RAF
Lindholme TG503,
TG505, TG568, TG536, RAF
Lyneham 53,
99, 511 Squadrons RAF
Nicosia & Akrotiri 70 Squadron RAF
Thorney Island RAF
Topcliffe TG524
Shawbury SOC
1971 WJ332 Was
with 48 Squadron and FEC’s RAF Changi when this Hastings was about to be scrapped at RAF Seletar MU it was decided at
a late hour to fly it to RAF Gan to be used as a firedump Hastings, the rudder
was removed from this aircraft and was located in one of the drinking bars with many signatures of Gannites SOC
1968 WJ333 VIP
FEC’s SOC 1967 WJ334 SOC
1968 WJ335 Stalled
and crashed on take-off at Abingdon 22.06.1953?????? 6 died WJ336 SOC
1968 Photo WJ337 Once
had a 3 Alpha callsign GAF FEC’s
SOC 1968 WJ338 IRIS
III at RAF Watton RAF
Catterick Fire Dump SOC 1969 WJ339 SOC
1969 WJ340 At one
time with 24 Squadron SOC
1968 WJ341 Crashed
at Abingdon and groundlooped 26.07.1955 WJ342 Photo of crashed WJ342 at http://image05.webshots.com/5/3/35/86/66333586lJvzha_ph.jpg Crashed/engine
failure on take off RAF Eastleigh 23.01.1961 WJ343 SOC
1965 NZ5801 Nose
section in a New Zealand aviation museum Last
flight 1966 not scrapped until 1971* NZ5802 Last
known flight 1966, scrapped 1969* NZ5803 Last
flight 1965 scrapped 1969* First
RNZAF aircraft to fly around the world after delivering a replacement engine to a stranded 40 Squadron DC6. Aircraft arrived
back at Whenuapai on 14 September 1962 after flying 25,000 miles in 120 flying hours in the previous 3 weeks and circling
the globe east-west. NZ5804 Took part in 1953 London-Christchurch Air Race
in October 1953 flown by Wing Commander R F Watson. Withdrew after engine failure and emergency landing in Ceylon, a new engine
was flown out to Negombo from New Zealand, and 5804 returned to NZ on 20th October. To 40 Squadron on 08 December 1954. Crashed
on takeoff from Darwin on 09 September 1955 when multiple bird strikes caused power to be lost in 3 engines. All 25 on board
survived but aircraft was written off.* See story?????????????? Also my own photo * The
details on the RNZAF Hastings is credited to the RNZAF web site at:?????? Struck
offCharge (SoC) This term is used throughout military parlance
like DBR or CAT 5 is TG524
Shawbury Errors
and Omissions Excepted Copyright
John Cooper
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