Other Random History

MAJOR PROJECTS

GATE GUARDIAN De Havilland Mosquito NF38 7142M

Cdt Flight sergeant Stephen Hampton researched into the history of this aircraft during 1983 and it is through his efforts that this information is available.

The De Havilland Mosquito was a type NF38 with the serial number VT697 although re registered to 7142M (the M signifies that the aircraft was a non flying airframe).The Aircraft left the De Havilland factory at Chester in December of 1949 and transferred to 27 maintenance unit at RAF Shawbury.

The Aircraft was never issued to an RAF operational squadron and declared Non effective in 1953 and was subsequently offered to the squadron. The Mosquito was received in May of 1954 to assist in training. The aircraft was"parked" outside the parade ground whilst the squadron located at its London Road Headquarters.

The squadron was forced to remove the aircraft in 1958. Many cadets took the opportunity for souvenirs before its removal. Filmmakers used the aircraft to take ground shots during the production of the film "633 Squadron".

RADIO TELESCOPE

The idea to build the radio telescope came from Mr Graham Medlicott, a civilian instructor and former cadet with the squadron

The site of the aerial was to the right of the main building and consisted of a 4 foot square brick built tower approximately 20 feet high. The tower had been built by cadets under the supervision of builders. The monitoring room used the materials from the London Road Headquarters. On top of the tower and mounted onto the base of the remnants of the Link Trainer the Helix aerial had the ability to track the satellites being monitored.

The project started in 1964 however, due to the squadron moving headquarters the year after work was not completed until 1966 and the first satellites were tracked in 1967. Much of the radio equipment used came from an Avro Lancaster. The squadron obtained estimates of satellites that would pass within the air space above the station. These were mathematical equations that had to be worked out. Once dates, times, longitude and latitude of the approach and direction of satellites were calculated the cadets were able to track them, and listen in to the broadcasts. An oscilloscope gave a visual display of the satellite signals. Whilst tracking weather satellites cadets took long exposure photographs of the display to produce weather pictures.

Thanks and aknowledgement for the information about the radio telescope go to Roger Griffiths and Trevor Wooton.

De HAVILLAND DH89 DRAGON RAPIDE (G-AKOE) X7484

In February 1978 work started by North West Aero engineering ltd at Chirk to restore a DH89 Dragon Rapide. Mr Colin Price and cadets from this squadron travelled to the aerodrome every weekend to assist with the restoration until its inaugural flight on the 17th October 1978.

Two cadets travelled with John Pierces team to pick up the fuselage from to Coventry Airport. Cadets assisted in stripping down all the fabric and paint, rubbing down surface rust, re-skinning and re assembling the aircraft.

During this time the aircraft became the "Sir Henry Morgan" it being renamed from "The Waters Edge". The aircraft originally restored to the BEA "silver & crimson" scheme. However the aeroplane adopted the current British Airways colour scheme when contracted to them.

G-AKOE was used to advertise the new shuttle flights between Heathrow and Manchester Airport. This inaugural flight took place on the 27th of October 1979 from Fairoaks airfield, due to bad weather preventing a landing at Heathrow. On the flight were, Flt Lt S Reglar, Mr C Price, Cdt Sgt G Price, Cdt Cpl G Barre, Cdt Cpl A Owen and Cdt M Felton along with pilot Gp. Capt. R Millward and a BA representative.

Mr Pierce and his company put the project of a second Rapide G-AIUL although marked up as G-AJCL on hold until the late 1980s due to alternative commitments.

DETACHED FLIGHTS

PRIORY SCHOOL

1941 - 1948 School flight created as part of the original squadron set-up, became part of the air wing of the Combined Cadet Force*. The CCF unit disbanded in 1996 when the school became a 6th form college.

MINSTERLEY

1943 - AUG 1947 The flight paraded in the Callow Hall and was also known as Rea Valley disbanded due to lack of attendees and poor behaviour at summer camp.

ELLESMERE & WEM

JUNE 1947 - SEPT 1947 Originally a flight of 1193 (Ellesmere and district) sqn which was renamed (North Shropshire) Squadron in April 1942 . After 3 months found to be impractical and disbanded. The area is now covered by No. 1165 (Oswestry) squadron and No. 79 (Whitchurch) Squadron.

BASCHURCH

Fg Off MORGAN was the flight commander. The Flight paraded at the Corbett School however closed in July 1966 due fall in numbers.

CHURCH STRETTON

This flight first paraded in May 1961at the Sylvester Horn institu te. Its flight commander was F/O L Charles. Due to a drop in numbers this flight closed in March 1965.

SHAWBURY

Started in Feb 1962 the flight was accommodated on the RAF station. The flight commander was G E T Stringfellow (Later the Squadron commanding officer) closed in July 1966 due to drop in numbers.

MARKET DRAYTON

Formally 2172 squadron, which formed in 1947 Relegated to D/F attached to Shrewsbury in MAR 1963. This flight continued to parade at the Armoury in the town. By Mar 1964 activities were suspended. The unit reformed in 1983 as a detached flight off 79 (Whitchurch) squadron. Fg Off John Sutton transferred from 1119 to take command. Fg Officer Jane Ross replaced John in 1994 before returning to Shrewsbury. In 1996 to squadron status was restored, it now being 24 (Market Drayton) squadron.

WENLOCK EDGE SCHOOL

Originally a flight with 1200 (Borough of Wenlock) squadron the flight switched to 2379 (Dawley) squadron. The flight transferred to 1119 in Mar 1964. This unit was part of Wenlock Edge public school under the command of F/O R Ireland. The flight disbanded when school closed in July 1966

HEADQUARTERS

TECHNICAL COLLEGE (now Wakeman School)

MAR 1941

PRIORY SCHOOL (now Sixth Form College)

DEC 1946

The main centre was in some wooden huts adjacent to the football ground. The squadron also had use of the engineering workshops within college campus whilst classrooms in both the college and the Priory School were used in a limited capacity.

T. A HQ, RIDING SCHOOL, COLEHAM

DEC 1946 - MAR 1947

The Drill Hall and adjacent classrooms were available to the squadron on a short term basis access was also available to the .22 rifle range. The building still remains, and is now the Barnabas centre.

ABBEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ROOMS

APR 1947 - MAR 1951

This building is situated opposite the Wakeman School within the boundary of the English Bridge Gyratory system. The upper floor of the building was hired on short-term lease with a curtain to separate the different classes. Parades were taken on the courtyard at the rear of the building. The OC's offices was in Chapel House which is annexed to the building. The building is now used as an Art college.

ATC HQ, LONDON ROAD, ROC DEPOT

MAR 1951 - MAY 1965

This was the first purpose built Headquarters consisting of three wooden huts in an 'L' shaped format also a parade square adjacent to the ROC headquarters. The site is now a car park for the council.

ATC HQ, RIDING SCHOOL, COLEHAM

MAY 1965 - JUNE 1988

This building was a standard 'Spooner' building with 3 lecture rooms a main hall, storeroom and 2 offices.. The hut was raised on breeze-block pillars to above the Flood level due to the building being built on the riverbank behind the TA transport building. There was an additional wooden building for storing the engines and canoes. There was also an area set aside for the NCO's. The Radio telescope was sited between these to buildings. This was a 4' square brick built pillar approximately 15' high with a 'lean to' shack created from the remnants of the London road campus. The squadron had occasional use of the TA drill hall and the indoor range. The main building was refurbished and transferred to Aldershot.

ATC HQ, BLIGNEY, BARRACKS, COPTHORNE

AUG 1989 - Present

The current building is a shared premises with 5LI and the Army Cadet Force that along with the squadron were required to vacate the Longdon Coleham site. The squadron is located on the first floor with a main hall, two additional classrooms, two offices and a storeroom. The squadron has occasional use of the adjacent lecture rooms belonging to the TA. The indoor theatre range is also available for shooting.