27th March 1997

[lordevanelpuss]

This was the day that the Army's fleet of Chipmunk basic trainers were retired from service at Middle Wallop. Many years ago my late father who was in the RAF had spent time at Middle Wallop in the 1950s and both he & I spent this afternoon here.

Here's my log for this day. Seen overflying before we left was Ce152 G-BFHV.

Middle Wallop: T67 G-BWXW, DH82 G-AHMN;

Chipmunks:- WK559, WB615, WZ882, WB565, WB647, WK512, WB754, WG321, WZ884, WD325, WP871, WG432, WP930, WP964, WK586, WG323, WB693, WB654, WP925, WP928, G-ARWB.
These Chippys did display routines: Grey Owls formation team WB615, WZ882, WB565, WB647, WK512; Solo display by WK559. Mass formation flypast by those in The Grey Owls plus WK559 & the following:- WB754, WG321, WZ884, WD325, WP871, WG432, WP930, WP964, WK586.

The Army's historic flight was also given an airing and consisted of Beaver XP820, Auster AOP9 XR244, Allouette 2 XR379, Sioux XT131, Scout XT626.

One of the Chipmunk's joined the historic flight on that day, it was originally thought to be WP930, but my 1998 edition of Air Britain UK Register had it as being WP964. Which one was it?

We called into Popham on the way home for a cup of tea. Here's what was there:- PA28 G-BSOK, AVRY, BSSX, Ce150 G-BPOS, Ce170 G-AORB, Ce172 G-BSJV, Airtourer G-ATEX.

[davebasing]

While you were there that day with your father, I was there with my son. The Chipmunk that joined the Historic Flight was indeed WP964, WP930 having been registered as G-BXHF just 4 weeks after the event at Wallop. Bit of a grey day but great memories of the largest airborne gathering of Chipmunks I ever saw. Sadly just this week D-ELLY (the former WK565 which I first saw in 1963 at Cambridge with the local UAS) crashed fatally in Germany.

97-bq by dave tompkins, on Flickr
97-bs by dave tompkins, on Flickr
97-bu by dave tompkins, on Flickr

[lordevanelpuss]

Thanks for confirming the one that joined the historic flight. Very sad to learn of the one that crashed in Germany.