Last Spitfire at Ouston
In late August or early September 1974 (possibly Saturday 31st August), the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Spitfire PR.19, PS853 had been performing for the public on Tyneside when it suffered an engine problem. It landed safely at Ouston, and then remained inside the hangar for some 3 weeks while repairs were carried out. In May 2020 the author was contacted by Roland G. Adams from Ontario, Canada, to give the following recollection;
I was on the airfield when your Spitfire arrived. It was a Saturday evening and you could hear the engine misfire. Later we heard “plugs oiling up” but if it was grounded for a few weeks........maybe was more serious. The really really amazing thing that happened after it landed was how many people appeared to view it. Bear in mind the base was not operational (care and maintenance only) and being run down to close. But no exaggeration......200 people from the base appeared at Round 7-30pm on a Saturday evening ! Everyone must have recognized a Spitfire engine as opposed to a Chipmunk....plus the AEF usually packed up for the day around tea time!I’d have guessed this was a Saturday in July or August? Just it felt like a warm summer evening from those months as opposed to a September evening.......Ouston was typically chilly! Roland Adams was a former member of 1156 (Whitley Bay) ATC Squadron on Tyneside, also flying as an instructor with 641 Gliding School at Ouston.
In June 2020, by complete co-incidence, the author was contacted by John English, another former instructor with 641 Gliding School at Ouston, John then sent these two small images showing the arrival of Spitfire PR.19, PS853. In the first image it has just landed, and the spectators include (on the left) the Instructors of 641 GS, including Roland Adams. The second photo shows the Spitfire being pushed into the hangar by willing helpers. The top of the engine cowling has been removed.
These two photos were taken by Stan Purdy, and are reproduced with his permission via John English.
Subsequently, the author had been told that it was still there, so on Thursday 26th September 1974 a speculative trip was made to Ouston, on the off-chance that it might be visible. As the following photos demonstrate, this was a very lucky visit indeed!
All of these photographs were taken by Philip Pain, with whom copyright remains. They must not be used without written permission from Philip Pain at philippain@manx.net They were taken on a basic Praktica Camera with a simple 400 mm telephoto lens. All focusing, exposure and rewinding to the next frame, was manual. The negatives were Ilford FP4 developed at home.
The first indication that something was about to happen was the arrival of a De Havilland Devon C.2, VP963, from 207 Squadron at RAF Northolt. This aircraft was, as it transpired, delivering a BBMF pilot for the Spitfire. Throughout the display season each year, 207 Squadron would allocate one of their Devon aircraft to fly support for the BBMF, operating from the BBMF's base at RAF Coltishall.
The Devon landed on the cross-wind runway at Ouston, thus giving rather distant camera shots. So rather than try to enlarge these negatives at much reduced quality, the photos are largely 'as taken', with the advantage of showing the local scenery, plus details of the airfield and buildings.
In the first photo the airfield radio beacon looms large in the foreground, painted red and white. Three similarly painted runway lighting poles also appear, and behind the first lighting pole is a classic 'Pill Box' airfield defence machine gun post. On the hill (where else but in Northumberland!) on the right of the photo is Whitchester Farm. In the following photos other buildings appear along the line of the Military Road and Hadrians Wall, at Harlow Hill village on the B6318. The more distant hills that appear in all of the photos, are in fact the other side of the Tyne Valley, looking in the direction of Wylam and Prudhoe.
The second photo shows the derelict farm house building that was incorporated within the airfield boundary in 1941. The fourth photo shows the Devon rolling out past the large 'J-type' hangar, with the airfield water tower prominent behind. In the fifth photo the Devon has done a 180 degree turn and is backtracking along the runway, with the Airmen's accommodation blocks behind. Also very obvious are the Crows, Rooks, and Lapwings feeding on the insect-rich airfield grass. They have been left undisturbed as there were obviously no jet aircraft expected (ever again, due to Ouston closing?)
The sixth photo shows the Devon turning towards the parking apron, and the two Airmen on the far left are waiting for it, together with a mobile fire extinguisher trolley. On the right of the photo the 'reception committee' of engineers and airfield staff await the BBMF pilot. The large double-door building behind the Devon's tail is the Station Workshops, built in the pre-war RAF 'Expansion Scheme' style, albeit with a flat roof. Just in front of the nose of the Devon, on the grass, is a 'Stevenson Screen' temperature gauge housing with rainfall gauge alongside, both standard Met equipment.
Shortly afterwards, Supermarine Spitfire PR.19, PS853 of the BBMF was pushed out of the hangar. In the first photo two of the airfield's staff are having their photograph taken in front of the Spitfire. In the second photo the Spitfire's pilot appears, the figure on the right wearing a parachute. An RAF refuelling tanker is also present.
The Station Workshops building is prominent behind the Spitfire, with its two large doors for accommodating cranes, etc. Half hidden just behind the 'J-type' hangar, is a single storey building prominently labelled "Safety Equipment Section".
Overhead with its undercarraige already down for its approach to Newcastle Airport, appeared Piper PA-30 Twin Commanche, G-ASRO. This was painted in an orange, white and black scheme, and belonged to the North Tyne Flying Group.
Next to happen was the departure of the Devon, VP963 of 207 Squadron. It was clearly now empty of passengers.
The first photo provides a good view of Ouston's Control Tower, a wartime standard 'Villa' type, built to specification 5845-5847/39, and officially known as a 'Watch Office with Meteorological Section'. The emergency vehicles garage is to the left, and the Radio Direction Finding Tower is to the right. Further right is the chimney of the centralised camp heating system. On the low hill beyond appears Standwell Farm, and the south side of the Tyne Valley appears beyond, looking in the direction of Hedley on the Hill.
In the second photo the Devon climbs away past Harlow Hill, on the Roman Wall.
Spitfire PR.19, PS853 then followed the Devon out, still using the east-west cross-wind runway. The Spitfire PR.19 is a photo reconnaissance version, devoid of armament and powered by a Rolls Royce Griffon engine. This version never served at Ouston, although it is similar to and based on the Spitfire F.14 which did serve at Ouston with 607 Squadron circa 1950. So these photos represent a shape that was to be seen at Ouston at that time. The 1945 colour scheme applied to PS853 by the BBMF was accurate, being 'photo reconnaissance blue' (PRU blue) overall, with red-blue 'B-type' roundels, and small medium grey serial numbers on the rear fuselage.
In the first photo the mobile airfield identification light can be seen, painted red and white. The third photo includes a very small group of three civilians (?) watching, and all told there seemed to be less than 10 people present for this momentous occasion of the last flight of a Spitfire out of Ouston. But they were in for a treat!
PS853 came storming back to give a spirited display of aerobatics, including rolls and loops. There were no concerns about keeping well clear of a 'crowd line', and the whole performance was a joy to behold. If it was meant to be a post-repair test-flight, the pilot certainly made sure that it was working!
A very noisy interlude followed, when British Caledonian's (BCAL) One-Eleven 530FX, G-AYOP climbed overhead, out of Newcastle Airport, heading south.
The Devon, VP963 then re-appeared in the distance, with a Spitfire chasing on his tail. And that appeared to be the end of the entertainment?
Suddenly, from behind the trees, both Devon and Spitfire came in low for a final flypast, and then they were gone, and RAF Ouston was soon to close forever.