Aldergove 1958

[Ascot 1960]

I suspect this post will be of little interest to most of you but if you don’t ask…

I’m just doing a little research in relation to my father’s time with 72 Squadron (RAF) as an L A C  (airframes) as he was at the time during the late 1950s and the Squadrons short deployment to RAF Aldergove.
 
72 Squadron did a week long air defence deployment in January 1958 from its then base RAF Church Fenton, near York.

Most of the ground crew were sent to Aldergove in advance with the help of the wonderful Avro C-19 followed a few days later by the Squadrons Meteor NF14’s.

Bit of a long shot I know? Would anyone have any more information in relation to the deployment? Only kicking off on this mini project will need to contact the boys in the North at some point I would say?

One slightly bazaar aspect of the deployment was my father wangled a 24 Hour pass and travel warrant from the Squadron CO for a trip to Dublin from Belfast to visit his mother in Rathmines! (In civvies of course)

I only have one photograph of the Squadron at Aldergove on the deployment (the old man is on the back row 4th from the right)

Thanks for your time

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/flying-officer-alligator

[Claudel Hopson]

Well Ascot here are some links, but very little on the deployment

http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark072.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._72_Squadron_RAF

http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn071-75.htm

http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/72squadron.cfm

[Tony Kearns]

Ascot 1960
At least he was better looking than you

I am sure the chaps in the Ulster Aviation Society will be able to help.

Tony K

[Ascot 1960]

Thanks gentlemen for getting back so soon and the links great. (as for you Tony ,I’II see you later in my office) 

[Irish251]

The Meteor NF.12 in that photo, coded "N" was serial WS611.  I have Roger Lindsay's excellent "Cold War Shield" on RAF fighter squadrons 1950-1960 (highly recommended) and there are a few pages on 72 Sq. but no mention of the Aldergrove deployment. The book states that WS611 was badly damaged at Church Fenton on 11 July 1958 when the undercarriage was damaged on take off and the take-off was abandoned.  The crew were OK but the aircraft overran the runway.  It was assessed as Cat 4 but later this was changed to Cat 5c.

[Ascot 1960]

Yes the 14 had the clear canopy Thanks SF.

The’ Meatbox’ in the photo (WS611 – N) was as you said not repaired. On the abandoned takeoff from Church Fenton the crew heard a loud bang on 11th July 1958.The starboard undercarriage had retracted later found to have very bad spar damage as a result of engine blow out!  As you say ‘Cat4’ then ‘Cat5’

Thanks for the new info SF

Both the photos below were taken at Church Fenton which show the canopy types.