Photographs at Ouston

Ouston's aircraft were never much in evidence at other airfields, but an exception was the annual 'Battle of Britain' RAF-at-home day at RAF Acklington on 19th September 1964. On display in a hangar was De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, WD310 of Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, painted in the standard silver scheme with strips of red day-glo, and a black propellor spinner. The photo clearly shows the UAS badge on the nose, and this is the same blue & white crest as used by Durham UAS, before it became Northumbrian UAS.

Outside the hangar at Acklington was De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, WG465, also from Ouston. It had the same silver and red day-glo scheme, but with a stencilled serial number. This Chipmunk was one of the longest serving at Ouston, and it has variously been described as being on charge with 'Ouston Station Flight'; or '11 Air Experience Flight'; or 'Northumbrian UAS'.  It was probably used by all three, as required.

The long term 'gate guardian' at Ouston was Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e TE462 (allocated maintenance serial 7243M, but not worn), delivered by road in 1955. It is seen here on 7th June 1965, by which date it had lost the 607 Squadron code letters 'RAN-B', previously worn. It was still painted in an incorrect pseudo wartime colour scheme of brown and dark green on top, with deep blue undersides, a red propellor spinner, and white tail band. The roundels are in modern post-war style.

Visible to the left rear in the first photo is the prominent Officer's Mess, dating from 1941 and in the style of the late 1930's.

This aircraft left Ouston by road in 1970 and is now on public display at the Scottish Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

The 7th June 1965 saw the National Model Flying Championships held at Ouston, and this was a public event. The (then) Station Commander at Ouston, Squadron Leader Bill Drinkell, was a keen model flyer, and he was instrumental in securing this event for Ouston. However, sadly for enthusiasts of full size aeroplanes there was nothing else to be seen at Ouston that day. These two photographs were all that the author took, using my 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.

As far as is known Ouston was never used by the Americans, but it was allocated a wartime USAAF identification code as "Base 360", so there must have been some expectation of possible use.

The 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.

In the Winter of 1965-66 RAF Ouston became Newcastle's civil airport for 6 months, due to major runway works there. This 'civil' status provided an excuse to walk straight in to Ouston, Brownie camera in hand, and hope not to be challenged. Previous visits as an Air Training Corps cadet (cameras not allowed) meant that the layout and opportunities were well known.

Thus on a frosty and bright day 4th January 1966 the interior of the large 'J-type' hangar was the main target, and tucked in the back was long-term resident Percival Proctor 3, G-AIHD which had formerly been a wartime RAF communications and radio trainer, serial DX241. It belonged to the Airwork Ltd manager, and they were a civilian contractor responsible for maintaining the RAF's Chipmunk fleet at Ouston. The aircraft was painted medium blue with white registration letters.

Visible to the right of the Proctor in the photo, is the wing and engineless nose of RAF Chipmunk T.10 serial WD332. It was painted in the standard silver and red day-glo strip colours. It appeared to be in good condition, but in fact had suffered structural damage in 1960 and was allocated to Ouston for ground training, with the maintenance serial 7644M (not worn). Both of these aircraft were later given to the Firemen, and burnt on the fireground.

Tucked behind the Proctor on the 4th January 1966 was De Havilland DH.82a Tiger Moth G-AMLF.  This civilian aircraft was also believed to be owned and flown by an Airwork Ltd employee. It was a former wartime RAF aircraft, serial PG675, and was painted dark blue and white. It survives as an airworthy aircraft at Santa Paula California, on the American register as N675LF, but wearing the spurious British civil marks 'G-ADNV'.

Nearer to the open front doors of the hangar on 4th January 1966, was De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, WP899 of 11 Air Experience Flight. It was painted in the standard RAF trainer scheme of silver overall with red day-glo strips. Its propellor spinner was silver, and Ouston seemed to use different coloured propellor spinners to easily identify each aircraft. This aircraft was sold to a private owner in 1974 and placed on the Civil Register as G-BCSB, for use as a glider tug at RAF Cosford. After an accident in 2004 it is believed to still exist as a source of spares for other civil Chipmunks at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.

Behind it in the photograph can be seen Chipmunk T.10 WZ849,  of the Northumbrian UAS.  It became G-BBMU in 1973, and was later sold in the USA, registered as N31351. It is believed to remain airworthy in Washington DC.

Just outside the hangar doors on 4th January 1966 was Chipmunk T.10, WD310 of Northumbrian UAS, being worked on by two civilian Airwork Ltd employees. It was painted in the same silver and day-glo red scheme as the others, and had a black propellor spinner. In the last photo it carries the small badge of the UAS on the left nose, just behind the propellor. It later became G-BWUN on the British civil register, and remains airworthy at Deanland airfield in East Sussex.

Not a good quality photo of Chipmunk T.10 WD310, but it illustrates the use of RAF Ouston as Newcastle's civil airport at that time. Visible in the background on the right is Dan Air DC-3 Dakota G-ALXK, and on the left is the National Coal Board's De Havilland Dove 8, G-ARUM. Neither of these two civil aircraft still exist. Also visible on the left is a set of white BKS airline passenger steps, with their logo, for use on the Airspeed Ambassador aircraft.

And here are the steps in use with Airspeed Ambassador 2, G-AMAD of BKS on 4th January 1966. This airline used the Ambassador on its medium density routes to destinations such as Belfast and Dublin. In 1968 G-AMAD was converted to become a livestock freighter, and in July of that year it suffered a fatal crash on landing at London Heathrow Airport, colliding with two parked airliners and hitting Terminal 1. One of the flaps had failed due to metal fatigue.

Another De Havilland Dove present on 4th January 1966, was Dove 6, G-ARMT, an executive aircraft with Clarke Chapman & Co Ltd. It was painted light grey with a white top and blue trim. It was later exported to the USA where it became N104DV, and it is now a museum exhibit with the World Aviation Museum, Westcliffe Colorado.

Just appearing on the right of this photo is a Douglas DC-3 Dakota, G-AKJH of Gregory Air Services. It was later sold to Swazi Air, Africa in 1968, and then had various African owners including Air Botswana; Protea Airways of South Africa; the Rhodesian Air Force; the Air Force of Zimbabwe; and was last recorded being up for auction in 2011.

A second visit to Newcastle's temporary civil airport at Ouston was made on 31st March 1966, but there was little civil activity taking place.  This Cessna 175B Skylark was visiting, painted in a multi-blue scheme with  a bluish green top. The significance of the stylised arrow painted on the ground is not known. This aircraft was damaged beyond repair by gales near Great Yarmouth in 1970.

Alongside the Cessna on 31st March 1966 was Beech B55 Baron, G-ASRV, of British Ropes Ltd, painted in a red and white scheme with black trim. It was later sold in Belgium in 1971 as OO-GRK.

Outside the hangar doors on 31st March 1966 was De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, WG479, with the code letter 'O', of 1 Flying Training School. The Airwork Ltd civilian contractor at Ouston maintained Chipmunks that were flown in from other airfields, and this was an example. Like the others it was painted in the standard RAF trainer scheme of silver with red day-glo strips, but with additional day-glo on the undercarraige legs. The fire extinguisher symbol was also in day-glo.  Beyond it inside the hangar can be seen De Havilland Dove 6, G-ARMT of Clarke Chapman Co Ltd.

This is a 1/72 scale model of Pembroke C.1, XK885, as it appeared at Ouston on 31st March 1966, showing the simple but elegant colour scheme.

Finally on 31st March 1966 the opportunity was taken for another photo of the gate guardian, Spitfire LF.16e, TE462. In this view the upper wing 'modern style' roundels can be seen, and also that paint is starting to peel from the wing root. The aircraft was repainted regularly at Ouston, perhaps some six or more times during its 15 years on the gate.

Another rare example of an Ouston aircraft being seen away from base. This was at a Sunderland (Usworth) Airshow on 2nd July 1966. It is Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1, WB964 of 641 Gliding School. It had been air-towed to Usworth by Ouston's Chipmunk T.10, WG465, and was then released overhead to display and land.

Seen on their 1967 or 68 annual Summer Camp at Ouston are 38 (F) Perth Air Training Corps squadron. Cadet Chris Dale supplied this photo and he is 2nd left back row.  Flying Officer J Allan is 3rd from left middle row.  The 'gate guardian' Spitfire LF.16e TE462 provides the backdrop, and beyond is the Guardroom with the barred window of the cell on the left.

The fire training area on the north-western boundary of the airfield was always worth a visit, to see what had become the latest 'fodder' for the RAF firemen.  

On 15th August 1968, two of the aircraft present were Percival Proctor 3, G-AIHD, and Hawker Hunter F.2, WN948. The Proctor had been housed in the hangar at Ouston for many years, being owned and flown by the manager of Airwork Ltd, a civilian contractor who maintained the Northumbria UAS Chipmunk fleet. It was also a former wartime RAF aircraft, having carried the serial DX241, and being used for communications and radio training. Presumably it was eventually grounded and donated to the firemen when its wooden structure deteriorated with age. Its colour scheme was overall blue with white registration letters.

The Hunter F.2 WN948 had seen squadron service at RAF Wattisham with 257 Squadron, coded 'R', from 1954 to 1957. The early Hunters were quickly replaced by more capable versions, but WN948 had suffered structural damage, and it was allocated for ground training with the maintenance serial 7441M. It was brought by road to Ouston in 1965 and it then languished on the fire ground until at least 1976.

A more recent arrival to be seen on the fire ground on 15th August 1968, was Gloster Meteor NF (T).14, WS842, coded 'B' formerly of 1 Air Navigation School at RAF Stradishall. It had been flown in a year or so previously, and this was originally a Night Fighter that had been converted for training fast-jet navigators. It was painted in the RAF training colours of silver overall with red day-glo strips, with a greenish coloured nose radar cone. This aircraft languished on the fire ground for many years.

In the rear of the last photo the mast for the Airfield radio beacon can be seen, together with a derelict wartime 'Maycreet' hut.

A further visit to the fire ground on 22nd July 1970 found the Meteor WS842 to be in a very sad condition. Traces of the day-glo strip paint can still be made out on the wing tip, and tail. The white objects in the foreground of the first photo, are bed matresses to be used as fire fodder.

The hilly nature of Ouston Airfield is obvious in the photos, with only the Water Tower showing where the main camp is. At least this terrain made it easy to visit the fire ground, out of sight on the north-western boundary.

'Bashing the circuit' at RAF Ouston on 31st August 1972, was Chipmunk T.10 WG474 of Northumbrian UAS (University Air Squadron). The name of the pilot, Fl Lt T. Ware, is carried below the windscreen. In the third photo, Harlow Hill appears.

This UAS had distinctive markings with the fin, fuselage spine and wing tips being very dark blue, and each aircraft had a different coloured propellor spinner. WG474 was 'yellow'. The Northumbrian UAS badge is carried on the top of the fin. The overall paint scheme was the standard RAF trainer colours of light aircraft grey with strips of day-glo red applied to nose, rear fuselage, wings and tailplane. The cockpit canopy frame was painted white, and the top of the engine cowling was matt black. 

In 1974 this aircraft was sold into civilian use with the registration G-BCSL, and remains airworthy based at Liverpool Airport. It is now in an overall red colour scheme.

Also in the circuit on 31st August 1972 was Northumbrian UAS Chipmunk T.10, WK633. This had the same colour scheme as described above, but with a red propellor spinner. The pilot's name displayed below the cockpit is "Flt Lt A.J. Lovett".

This aircraft was later sold onto the civil register as  G-BXEC, and it is still airworthy at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire.

The third Chipmunk T.10 in the circuit on 31st August 1972 was WP845. Again the same colour scheme described above, but with a blue propellor spinner. The Northumbrian UAS used different coloured spinners to easily identify each aircraft.

This aircraft was later converted by RAF to a 'Chippax' ground  instruction trainer which reduces the aircraft to a fuselage and cockpit only. They were usually issued to Air Training Corps squadrons for Cadet training. It was subsequently sold to a private owner and is now located at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire.

In the second of these photos of WP845, the prominent airfield water tower is clearly visible. The hangar is just to the left out of the picture, and the Technical Stores building is nearest the camera, overshadowed by the large Airmen's Mess building behind. In the fourth photo Harlow Hill is prominent in the background.

The three Chipmunks were not alone in the busy circuit that afternoon of 31st August 1972. Up from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire was Jet Provost T.3, XM459, coded '21' of 3 Flying Training School. It flew several practice 'touch and goes', and this harked back to the days when the Jet Provosts of 6 FTS at RAF Acklington used Ouston as a satellite airfield for daily training.

XM459 was painted in the new RAF training colours of red with light grey wings and white top. The 3 FTS badge is displayed on a white square, just below the cockpit.

Finally, the fifth aircraft in the circuit on 31st August 1972, was Jet Provost T.3, XM471, coded '26', also from 3 FTS at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire. Its colour scheme was as described above.

A visit to Ouston on 12th March 1973 produced only these two distant photos of the fire ground wrecks. In the first photo is Gloster Meteor NF(T).14, WS842, and in the second photo can be seen Jet Provost T.4, XR649 (on the left), and Hunter F.2, WN948 on the right. The photos are included here because they show the scenery looking towards the south-west of Ouston airfield. The main west to east runway runs across the foreground of these photos, and the wind-blown shape of the trees indicates the direction of the prevailing wind, thus the orientation of the main runway.

Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XA288 of 641 Gliding School, at RAF Ouston on 26th August 1973. The glider is mounted on a trolley so that it can be towed into position by the Landrover. The pupil sits in the front seat, and the instructor's seat is behind. The glider is always flown solo from the front seat. The fork-like object on top of the nose is the air pressure tubes for the air speed indicators. There was also a high-tech (sic) gadget tied to the tubes - a length of string. The aim was to keep the string fluttering straight back towards you, otherwise it meant that you were 'side-slipping' or 'crabbing'.

Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XA288 (again) of 641 GS at RAF Ouston on 26th August 1973.  The ATC cadets are gathered around, waiting for the winch cable to be returned. The winch itself was on a large yellow-painted vehicle, parked hundreds of yards away up-wind. The winch operator had a lonely and very noisy time, heavily protected in a wire cage lest the cable should break and whip back down.

XA288 has led an interesting life since its days at Ouston. In 1978 it was badly damaged in a hangar fire at RAF Kenley in Surrey. Three other gliders were destroyed,  but XA288 was rebuilt. It was then sold and became civil registered as G-BPCW, but now fitted with an 1835cc VW engine and propellor. Still motorised, it was then sold in Ireland, becoming EI-CJT. It is believed to remain stored in an Irish hangar.

Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XN244 of 641 Cadet Gliding School at Ouston on 26th August 1973. It is sat on its towing trolley, and is also in the standard glider colour scheme of silver overall with day-glo red nose, tail band, and wing tips.

XN244 was still in use elsewhere with the RAF as late as 1986, but since then it seems to have disappeared with no further record. It may have just been used for spares, or it may reappear from a store some day?

Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XN250 of 641 GS at RAF Ouston on 26th August 1973. In the first photo his glider is ready for a winch launch, with the 'Cable Orderly' waiting instructions to attach the cable to the nose, and he is believed to be Philip Jordan.  An ATC cadet holds the wings level, and the pupil in the front seat is ready for a solo flight. The detachable trolley is in the foreground.

The colour scheme on the gliders was silver overall, with day-glo red painted nose, fuselage band, and wingtips. The serial number (XN250) is displayed in large characters under both wings, reading with the 'X' closest to the wingtip on both sides.

XN250 was sold by the RAF in 1979, and came onto the British Gliding Association register as BGA4746, with 'JSP' on the tail. It has since migrated to Deelen in the Netherlands where it remains in storage.

Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1, XN187 of 641 GS at RAF Ouston on 26th August 1973. The Sedburgh had side-by-side seating, and was generally used for air experience flights. There were only two Sedburghs at Ouston at any time, whereas there were usually about six Cadet TX.3 gliders. The two objects on top of the wing are 'speed brakes' which are raised into the airflow to slow the glider and increase the rate of descent.

In the middle (landing) photo of XN187, the Instructor in the RAF peaked cap is likely to be Eric Stephenson, as the cap was his standard flying headgear.

XN187 was sold by the RAF in 1987, becoming BGA3903 /HFE on the British Gliding Association register. However it remained (with permission) in its later RAF colours of red/white/light grey, and flew as such with the civilian gliding club at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, where it is assumed to remain.

This photograph was taken by 641 GS Instructor Roland G Adams, in 1975, shortly after the Gliding School had moved to its new base at RAF Dishforth in North Yorkshire.  The photo is included here to illustrate in full glory, the colours worn by all the gliders at Ouston, including this Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XN244.  Silver painted finish, with 'day-glo' fluorescent red areas.  Not long afterwards the gliders adopted the new RAF training colours of light grey, white, and non-fluorescent red.

The visit on 23rd October 1973 was also an opportunity to inspect the newest arrival on the fire ground, a Jet Provost T.4, XR649. This aircraft had a local history, having one time served with 6 FTS at RAF Acklington, coded '53' in 1967. It was struck off charge in 1971, probably to be used for spares, and the fuselage arrived at Ouston in 1975. The fuselage was in the latest RAF trainer scheme of red and white.  On the Ouston fire ground efforts had been made to turn it in to a crash rescue training aid i.e. not for burning. The efforts included adding two unrelated wings, which were also from Jet Provosts, but bearing faded earlier silver and day-glo colours, dating from the 1960s. Also added were a tail fin and tailplane parts that similarly had earlier style paint.

In the first photo the wing tip of long-term fire wreck Hunter F.2, WN948, is visible.

Here on the 23rd October 1973 is the badly burnt wreck of Hawker Hunter F.2, WN948. Formerly it had been aircraft 'R' of 257 Squadron at RAF Wattisham, but the F.2 version of the Hunter was soon replaced in service by more capable versions. It had been delivered to the RAF in 1954, and by 1957 it was out of service having sustained damage, becoming a ground training airframe with the maintenance serial 7441M. It was delivered by road to Ouston in 1965.

Also to be seen overflying Ouston on 23rd October 1973, was this Piper PA-23 Aztec 250, G-BBCC of Peter Clifford Aviation Ltd, only recently registered. For aircraft approaching Newcastle (Woolsington) Airport from the West, Ouston was an obvious visual navigation landmark. There are comments to be found on the internet, from airline pilots regularly flying into Newcastle Airport, who would look down fondly each time they overflew Ouston, remembering their early Air Cadet, RAF flying training, or University Air Squadron days spent there.

On 16th September 1974, the RAF "Red Arrows" were at Ouston, together with their Hercules support aircraft. The full set of photos for this visit can be found on the separate "Red Arrows" page, and the two example photos above show Folland Gnat T.1, XS101, and Lockheed Hercules C.1, XV211.

Just a couple of weeks later, on 26th September 1974, De Havilland Devon C.2, VP963 of 207 Squadron, came to Ouston to escort out Supermarine Spitfire PR.19, PS853 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Spitfire had been in the hangar for three weeks, undergoing repairs following engine failure during a display over Tyneside. The full set of photos for this test flight and display can be seen on the separate "Last Spitfire" page, here Last Spitfire at Ouston

A visit to Ouston on 12th October 1974 was the first time that a badge was noticed on the right hand side of the fireground's Jet Provost T.4, XR649. So another trip was made the following day, 13th October 1974, specifically to get photos. The opportunity was also taken to crawl under the wings, to see if they could be identified.

As can be seen in the photos above, the badge on the right hand side consists of a crown and sword, and this was the official crest of the College of Air Warfare at RAF Manby. This was obviously the last unit to use XR649. The photos also show that someone had been using XR649 for shotgun practice, and both the fuselage roundel and the serial number were well peppered with shot.

The starboard under-wing serial number was XP674, also a Jet Provost T.4, which had been scrapped in 1971. The last unit to use it is not known.

The left under-wing serial number was XP618, yet another Jet Provost T.4, also scrapped in 1971. The last unit to use it was 3 Flying Training School, and it had worn the code '50'.

The wonky fin also revealed something of its history, and traces of yellow paint were appearing through the later silver paint. Also a previously worn code '39' could be made out. The yellow fin marking was exclusive to 2 Flying Training School at RAF Syerston, and their Jet Provost T.4 trainers included one with the tail code '39'. The actual serial number of this aircraft has not yet been identified.

Thus Ouston fireground's Jet Provost T.4 hybrid consisted of no less than four Jet Provost T.4s.

On a cold and snowy 1st February 1976, the fire ground in the north-west corner of RAF Ouston contained this barely recognisable relic. It is the tail of former Durham/Northumbria UAS Chipmunk T.10, WD332. Some 10 years earlier this Chipmunk was to be found in the back of the hangar, engineless, but otherwise looking to be in good condition. However it had officially been written-off in 1960 following structural damage and was allocated the 'maintenance serial' 7644M (not worn) and used at Ouston for ground instruction. It languished in the hangar for several more years, becoming increasingly derelict, and much abused by visiting ATC cadets. In the early 1970s some comedians crudely re-painted it in blue and yellow colours, and applied the fictitious titles of "The Free Northumbrian Air Force". Thereafter it was passed on to the Firemen for fire & rescue training.

Beyond it in the first photograph can be seen the tail of another fire ground wreck, Gloster Meteor NF(T).14, WS842, coded 'B', and formerly with 1 ANS (Air Navigation School). In the background is South Ouston Farm, on the B3609 road to Stamfordham. The third photo of WD322 (above) looks towards the south-west and Harlow Hill, and just to the right is Nesbitt Hill Head Farm. In this third photo, close to the aerial mast, can be seen the 'other' fireground with the Jet Provost and Hunter aircraft. Ouston was unusual in having two separate fire training sites, and it is assumed that the Meteor / Chipmunk site had been abandoned.

Also on 1st February 1976, this is the tail of Gloster Meteor WS842, with the code letter 'B' of 1 ANS still visible. Ouston had closed to flying in 1974, and it appears that with the departure of personnel, including the firemen, the aircraft remains still on the fire ground were just abandoned. In the background of the second photo the forward fuselage of WS842 also remains in place, and the two large rectangular objects are its fuselage fuel tanks. While over to the top left, the tail of Chipmunk T.10 WD332 is visible.