RAF Wattisham page 1

RAF WATTISHAM

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STATION FLIGHT
1960-1965

RAF Wattisham during the early 1960's was a very active airfield. It was home to numbers 111, 56 and 41 squadrons. Additionally being a master diversion airfield there was a very active Station Flight which as well as operating it's own aircraft handled a large number of visiting aircraft.

The arrival of a group of North American F86 D's.

A nicely restored Hurricane visits Station Flight

Visiting Swiss Hunters

Crew up for a station flight Hunter T7

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The photographs above show Station Flight personnel around the period 1961 - 1963.

(Group photographs by permission of Walter Phimister and Mike Steward)

Hunters

Watttisham Station Flight in addition to handling visiting aircraft also operated it's own aircraft. These were a mixture of Meteor MK's 7 and 8, and Hunter Mk 7's. The Hunters were ex 111 Squadron and 57 Squadron which became surplus to Squadron requirements after the introduction of the Lightnings. The aircraft depicted below was an ex 111 Squadron Black Arrows display team aircraft. All Station Flight aircraft carried out a wide variety of tasks including continuation training, communications flights,air displays and in the case of the Meteors target towing.

This aircraft XL 600 was damaged and a passenger killed in an airborne accident on the 10th of April 1963. The aircraft has been beautifully restored and is on the civil registration list as G-VETA. It now appears at flying displays around the UK some 45 years later!

(All images on this website are copyright)

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