|
|
Post by jargon on Mar 10, 2018 15:37:36 GMT
On the Freeview Film Channel Talking Pictures on Thursday was the 1950 released British film BLACKOUT
Per IMDB at least one scene was shot at Northolt, with close-ups of a couple of BEA liveried Vickers Viking 1B G-AJBV & G-AJDI
Neither lasted long at BEA the former cn247 47-53 then to Iraq, the latter cn258 49-56 then to Argentina Per G-INFO
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 14, 2020 19:37:52 GMT
Only just found this post . Pity I missed the film but I have a few memories of Northolt probably just after this time . Tucked away I have a photo rescued when my parents passed away . It was taken inside the airport (as it was ) , more or less behind the Polish War Memorial . There is a kids sand pit and a large board giving the movements with a very very young me squatting in the sand pit ! I seem to recall the hangars having BEA or similar painted on them . The quality is not good so I can not read movements nor any date . Pity . Just a memory ….. Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by jargon on Feb 14, 2020 23:04:39 GMT
Only just found this post . Pity I missed the film but I have a few memories of Northolt probably just after this time . Tucked away I have a photo rescued when my parents passed away . It was taken inside the airport (as it was ) , more or less behind the Polish War Memorial . There is a kids sand pit and a large board giving the movements with a very very young me squatting in the sand pit ! I seem to recall the hangars having BEA or similar painted on them . The quality is not good so I can not read movements nor any date . Pity . Just a memory ….. Chrisj Hi Chrisj It's always worth keeping an eye on Freeview 81 as they'll probably show it again sometime a selection of Northolt video's in the video section here might be worth a look www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/northolt/You may also find this page worth a read, the first photo on here from the John Stroud collection shows an aerial view from 1954, www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/NortholtRegards John |
|
|
|
Post by rh226 on Feb 14, 2020 23:11:44 GMT
Hi Chrisj,
Do you remember the miniature train that used to give rides? It was also situated down by the Polish War Memorial corner.
I used to live in South Ruislip during the '50s and my mother used to take a small me up there quite often. I seem to recall that we used to enter by the Wingfield Way entrance gate and walk down the edge of the field.
Cheers,
Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 15, 2020 16:46:27 GMT
John & Bob , thanks for replies . Now that you mention it , Bob , yes I think I can recall that train and the airfield entrance although I could not recall the name of the road . I too grew up in the area although a little further than S Ruislip I think . If you looked south there is a rise/hill/ ridge and at the top is or was the shooting range . In my day the fields to the south were farmed and we 'played' there abouts . Now I think they are sectioned off with large mud mounds for sound proofing . At times the aircraft could be seen circling as well as landing/departing . One evening I think it was a C47 went around with and engine fire - never heard about what happened . Also one afternoon two Ansons were going around practicing approaches . I was off school (busted leg) , it went quiet and only one was flying ! The other had landed on the roof of Express Dairy egg packing factory . It made the news ! ( No eggs broken) . Then there was the Pan Am 707 and others . We moved in 62 and were located the otherside of the rail line behind 3rd AF HQ , one evening we had the din of an Olympic 727 rapidly pulling up as it had lined up on South Harrow Gas tank for Heathrow rather than the one at Southall ! A bit noisy ! Oh well , back to the books and thank you . Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by jargon on Feb 15, 2020 17:20:46 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 15, 2020 21:15:38 GMT
John , thanks for taking the time to look things up . I remember the Anson as it was on the news that night and front page of next day papers with remarks ( true or otherwise) that not an egg was smashed ! the C47 was one summer evening , probably during school holidays as we were out late kicking a ball about - as one did ! No techno stuff to play with . The cross runway into Heathrow was in use in those days and it passed over Greenford area . One morning a Viking crashed on approach , into houses along Lady Margaret Road , not more than a couple of 'doors' down from my uncle ! Not sure , but I think there were not too many fatalities if any . I bet the operators wish they had a few more landing directions at Heathrow now days , more so with the current weather . I think in my time of visiting Heathrow , that I have seen landings on all but one runway . The usual 28/27 and 09 as now , both directions of the one over Greenford ( 23 I think it was ) and landing only on the one that would come over the Three Magpies/Tunnel . Building has now left just West or East . Oh well , one can dream of such things from the far South West of the country and hope for some clear blue for a sight of one of those 'birds' . Thanks again . Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by jargon on Feb 16, 2020 10:52:09 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by graham on Feb 16, 2020 11:09:28 GMT
Great memories Chris, I distinctly remember seeing landings and departures on Heathrow's cross runways when I first started spotting in 1967 aged 11 and would take the double decker bus from Reading to Heathrow most Saturdays
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 16, 2020 19:52:19 GMT
Thanks again to John and Graham , these wet days certainly lead to the 'old grey cells' working over time in memory mode ! I shall have a read of that Anson and Viking report a little later , Thank you . Graham , as far as I can recall my London Airport ( LAP) visits started during fifty nine but may be late fifty eight . For me 140 bus into central . Short lay-by for the two or three bus services that went that far ! Followed by the day in the Queens Building ! As you , I usually visited on Saturdays but sundays provided El Al flights so sometimes that was the day to go . Afternoon some times spent in R J Colies yard among the scrap . Lists long since gone . Around that time several people visited yards all over the place . Pity that many so called scrap aircraft were never kept ! Well , thats it for now and again thanks to all . Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by rh226 on Feb 16, 2020 19:56:24 GMT
Hi Chrisj,
You left out one runway altogether. That was 33L/15R which was very rarely used and for landings only, I believe. Remember seeing Iberia Convair 440s and Lufthansa Connies land on 33L on a Sunday afternoons (when the wind was right). They stopped using it in the mid/late '60s when they needed more stands for Terminal 3. The other one of the pair (33R/15L) was long gone by 1962 and used for other purposes, e.g. taxiways.
23R was the one that came in over Greenford, and they did not use that one very much other than for landings, similarly for the opposite direction 05L.
Sadly, 05R was the location of the horrifying final moments of G-ARWE.
Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by graham on Feb 17, 2020 8:43:36 GMT
I have distinct memories of scrambling around the huge piles of aircraft wings and fuselages at the Staravia scrap yard back in the early 70s Chris. I seem to recall there was also a scrap yard at Church Crookham too, in fact, it was next to what is now a small industrial estate.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 17, 2020 20:00:13 GMT
Bob & Graham , more memories ! Tucked away some place 'safe' I have a couple of aerial pictures of LHR from the likes of Flight magazine and others taken over the years also one from the RAF's Airclues magazine . This is aimed at getting aircrew to identify various civil 'liners and has the usual props and new jets like 707s . I have not seen such a picture for some years but it would be interesting to compare the development of the site . ( Probably no up to date pictures because of the security issues) . The runway from over Greenford was used quite a faire number of times and to me , often signalled coming rain ! Only recall landings in the reverse a very few times . The other of a similar direction , was seen by us from the entrance to the Green Dragon which was at one end of Roy Bowles freight shed north side , not far from the Police station which was the original control tower . ( cheap lunch in the G D !). Graham , I recall there were several locations over church Crookham way which contained a variety of aircraft . One had several ex RAF Harvards and I think I came across a list of some of them recently . Afraid it would be a note I found whilst I am sorting old logs and it has been 'tucked away' again . If I re find it I will post details . one of those jobs for more rain/wind days . Bye for now . Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 17, 2020 21:12:25 GMT
Well , it nagged at me ! I had to find that list/note . So here it is . I made a note but due credit should go to BARG Roundel , May 1977 . Harvards at Starline's garage Camberly . I do not know if the list was current at that date but feel that they had probably 'moved on' . EX847 , FS837 , 881 , FT346 , FX256 , 279 , 355 , 379 , 394 , 437 , 442 , KF197, 307 , 310 , 322, 342, 343, 388, 405, 435, 487, 496, 497, 542, 639, 665, 710, 719, 911, 966, 990 & EZ259 . Now that is what I call a garage worth visiting , but unfortunately I never did ! Chrisj
|
|
|
|
Post by graham on Feb 20, 2020 8:46:54 GMT
Fantastic Chris, what a great list. Well found! I seem to recall that the majority of the scrapped frames at Staravia at Lasham were Meteors, Sea Furies and Jet Provosts with a smattering of RCAF Sabres.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 22, 2020 19:43:08 GMT
Ah ! Well ! Graham , it just so happens that some years back at an airshow , I came across some out of date magazines up for sale at what 'The Boss' would call a bargain price . These were copies of Military Aviation Review which I think were produced by MAP at Sleaford Lincolnshire . I say that I think they were produced by MAP but I have not found exactly who produced them but MAP seems to be the one ! Phew' That's out of the way . These are very good reading during the present weather conditions ! Lots of Bovingdon and Blackbushe among others from long ago . Well pre and sixties . Now MAR for March 1978 has covering the last few pages , plenty of photos of the scrapped frames at Lasham . There is also a list by serial BUT what makes this edition a MUST ( for me) is that one of the first photos shows a young , handsome chap sitting atop the cockpit of an RCAF Sabre nose section taking a photo . Well it is a back view of me ! On one of my visits I noted some RCAF Neptune cockpit sections but during my search for identities I am told there were not any . So I do not know what they were . There were some editions of this magazine which covered airshows both UK and overseas with detailed lists of participants for a year . Bye for now . Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisj on Feb 25, 2020 15:30:30 GMT
Many thanks to ALL for the LIKES . I would reply individually but seen to have miss placed that page . Chrisj
|
|
