Model Flying Championships 1965
This author only took two photographs at the event, using his father's captured wartime German camera. The first photo shows an accurate flying model of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, painted in the markings of the 924th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group based at RAF Bassingbourn in 1943. This was from the same squadron as the famous "Memphis Belle", but the model is painted as aircraft 42-40000 "Just Nothing", so named after its serial number. It survived 21 missions over Germany before being shot down with the loss of two crew members. The girl in the photo is unknown, but she does lend something to the picture.
The Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers held their annual National Championships at RAF Ouston on 6th & 7th June 1965, and this venue was at the behest of RAF Ouston's Station Commander, Squadron Leader 'Bill' Drinkell, himself a keen model aircraft engineer and flyer. The following images are of this author's own copy of the programme for the event. The programme booklet consists of 10 pages (20 sides), but only the informative pages are illustrated here, the rest consisting of sponsors' adverts, and information about the SMAE society.
The inside front cover shows the plan and layout for the event
The next page is an introduction by the SMAE Chairman, N.J. Butcher, and he pays tribute to Squadron Leader Drinkell
There then follows Squadron Leader Drinkell's "Address of Welcome", which includes a description of the current RAF flying activities at Ouston
The following page is an example of the many adverts to be found in the programme booklet, and it is shown here because many aircraft modelling enthusiasts will have fond memories of these North East modelling shops. It was a very popular hobby in the 1960's, and there can be few youngsters from that period who did not try their hand at an 'Airfix' kit or two. Woolworths in Newcastle upon Tyne had a whole counter devoted to Airfix kits, and a large queue was normal on a Saturday morning when pocket money was eagerly spent on the latest releases from 'Airfix'. Many of these youngsters would later progress to building and flying their own model aircraft, and later on to find their own career in aviation.
The next two illustrations are of the 'Rules' for participants, and the 'Programme of Events' to be held over the two days
This second photo shows a model of the 'one-off' 1932 Miles M.1 Satyr, which was registered G-ABVG. My thanks go to Julian Temple of the Brooklands Museum, for correctly identifying this rarity. The real aircraft was designed by F.G. Miles and built by George Parnall & Co at Yate in Gloucestershire. To the left behind it is an accurate model of a Hawker Henley, and the tail visible on the right is a Miles Magister. Just visible behind the Magister is a US Navy Corsair fighter.
