Embedded Files
Roland G. Adams was a staff cadet and later Gliding Instructor with 641 Gliding School at RAF Ouston. His 'day job' was with Customs & Excise, and he later emigrated to Canada. Roland has kindly supplied the following photographs that he took at Ouston and given permission for them to be published here.
Roland took this photo from a glider, at about 700 feet on the downwind leg, one hazy summer evening, probably in the early 1970s. He attributes the haze to Blyth Power Station, which was a common source of pollution in north-easterly winds.
The photo contains much of interest. The J-type hangar dominates the view, with the 'Villa' type Control Tower and emergency vehicles building alongside. In front of the Control Tower can be seen the Signals Square and the identifying letters "OU" for Ouston. Signals Squares were intended for non-radio aircraft, or for times when Air Traffic Control was not staffed. The Square would show the wind direction and runway in use, however it is likely that it had largely fallen out of use by the 1970s.
The large concrete aircraft parking Apron is empty, except for some military vehicles parked in the far corner. This is where the mobile radar units and 'soviet' jamming station was located during the V-bomber years, see here Ouston and the V-Bombers . However that use ceased in the mid-1960s, so it is a puzzle as to why vehicles are still there. Also of note on the Apron, are four or five prominent 'scorch marks', usually associated with jet aircraft parking spots, but any regularly parked aircraft will leave fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid stains. It is perhaps likely that these stains are a relic of visiting Jet Provost trainers from 6 Flying Training School at RAF Acklington, that use having ceased by 1967. Or the stains might be an even older relic of the Vampire jet fighters of the based 607 Squadron up until 1957.
To the left (in the picture) of the Apron, can be seen the white threshold markings of the cross-wind runway. Also of some historic interest is that the nearest main doors of the J-type hangar have been fenced off from the perimeter taxiway. Some vehicles are parked along this fence line. The furthest building structures are the various gun firing buts, either for small arms, or aircraft gun calibration. Finally, a white marque has been erected just beyond the hangar.
This 1971 photo shows Roland G. Adams in front of Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1, WB946 of 641 Gliding School. To the left are the yellow painted Austin K9 'ambulance', in use for general transport and glider winch cable towing, plus a yellow Landrover with glider trolley attached. The view is looking towards the North West corner of the airfield, with South Ouston Farm beyond the tree line. The Sedburgh is painted in the standard glider colours of airframe silver with dayglo red nose, wingtips, fuselage band and tail planes.
Also taken circa 1971, this photo shows a landing Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1, XN187 of 641 Gliding School, with Stob Hill Farm to the right. The main east-west runway is parallel, off to the left of the picture, and the glider will be landing in to a westerly wind. The Sedburgh is painted in the standard colours, as described above.
This interesting photo was taken in the main hangar in 1971, probably in mid to late summer. It shows four or five De Havilland Chipmunk T.10 aircraft of the Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron, normally based at RAF Woodvale in Lancashire. Visible in the photo are WK624, and WD390 (left).
They are occupying the area normally used by the resident Northumbrian UAS Chipmunks, so it is likely that this was 'Annual Summer Camp' time for the various University Squadrons, and that the NUAS had gone elsewhere for their Summer Camp.
The MUAS Chipmunks are all painted in the standard training colours of light aircraft grey overall, with dayglo red strip on nose, rear fuselage, wing tips and tail. The MUAS badge is prominently displayed under the cockpit, both sides of the fuselage. There is no sign of individual aircraft letters being carried, so it seems that the MUAS used the aircraft's serial number for day-to-day identification. All of the aircraft have the engine cowling panel open, which was standard practice on a parked Chipmunk. The wheel chocks are stowed on top of the wing roots, as they are not required to be used inside the hangar.
Also of note is the yellow painted aircraft tug to the left, military RAF registration 65 AN 47. Such tugs were standard RAF equipment, but this one does seem to be rather 'hefty', given that the normally resident aircraft at Ouston were small light aircraft. Perhaps it indicates that larger visiting aircraft were routinely expected to be hangared?
WK624 is still flying, now on the Civil register as G-BWHI, and based at Blackpool Airport, Lancashire, not far from its former home at RAF Woodvale, Lancs. WD390 was demobbed at the same time, now flying as G-BWHK at Compton Abbas Airfield in Dorset.
Here is a colour photo of Slingsby Sedburgh TX.1, XN187 of 641 Gliding School, taken one summer evening in 1973. It is just being man (or Cadet) handled back to the launch point after landing on the main east-west runway. Identified in the photo is Instructor Eric Stephenson, to the left in the RAF peaked cap. This seems to have been his standard headgear when flying. The J-type hangar and water tower can be seen in the distance.
Also taken in the main hangar by Roland is this equally interesting photo of Aerospatiale Puma HC.1, XW226, coded 'DK' of 230 Squadron, normally based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. This helicopter was first flown in March 1972, and delivered to the RAF that year. So the photograph must date between mid 1972 and September 1974 when RAF Ouston closed.
The reason for its visit is obvious, with an engine change underway, presumably with a fault having developed during exercises in the north, probably on the Otterburn military exercise area. The chain hoist for lifting the engine can be seen hanging down from the hangar roof, and the author recalls seeing a Chipmunk being worked on by Airwork Ltd in 1963, in the same location near the right hand side of the east facing main hangar door.
The Puma was a medium lift troop carrying helicopter, replacing the earlier Wessex HC.2. In this photo it can be seen to have dark green and dark grey camouflage, with black undersides. The RAF roundel is the 'toned-down' blue and red version adopted in the 1970s. The 230 Squadron badge is carried in a disc on the main cabin door, this being a Tiger in front of a Palm Tree.
XW226 still exists, being held in storage at RAF Shawbury.
In this second version of the photo, more of the area to the left can be seen, including the nose of a second helicopter. Although somewhat indistinct, it appears to be a Westland Whirlwind, possibly with the nose doors removed to expose the engine. It may be one of the 22 Squadron yellow 'Rescue' helicopters from RAF Acklington, and that airfield had been given over to open cast coal mining, with just an RAF enclave remaining as a base for the two Rescue helicopters.
The Landrover vehicle is also of interest, being fitted with roof platform to work at height. There would normally be no requirement for such a work platform at Ouston, given the small size of the based aircraft. So the Landrover may have been brought in to help work on the two helicopters?
Supplied by Roland is this photo that includes himself on the left in the picture, and Phil Jordan on the right. Both being Gliding Instructors with 641 Gliding School at Ouston. The photograph was taken in the early 1970s.
The background is a 641 GS winch for launching gliders, with wire cages to protect the operator(s) in the event that a steel cable might break and whip backwards. The legend "641 GS" can be seen in white on the open door.
Taken by Roland, probably in the Spring of 1974, this rather distant view of a Chipmunk T.10 is important in that it confirms that the RAF's new training colours did come in to use at Ouston, shortly before the airfield closed to flying. The serial number of the Chipmunk can't be made out, but it can be seen that the aircraft is not carrying any UAS markings. This is similar to the author's own sighting of such a Chipmunk at Ouston, which was WK573 on 30th August 1974. The pilot's logbook of a former Northumbrian UAS student includes flights in WK573. However, the official record for WK573 shows it as belonging to the Nottingham UAS during this period, and when this author saw it at Ouston it was carrying a small day-glo badge on the fin, believed to be that of 5 AEF (Air Experience Flight) which was based at RAF Newton with the Notts UAS and shared Chipmunks with them.
So it seems that WK573 was a 5 AEF aircraft parented by Notts UAS but on loan to the Northumbrian UAS at Ouston during 1974. In December 1974 it was sold for civilian use and exported to South Africa, becoming ZS-JPT. It is believed to still be airworthy.
This photo was taken looking due South towards Harlow Hill (in the right background), and the Chipmunk has just left the western end of the main runway which is out-of-picture to the right. The Chipmunk is on the perimeter taxiway leading to the main hangar. Visible behind the Chipmunk is the Officer's Mess and married quarters. The prominent white building may be the Station Commander's house. On the left of the photo the main camp buildings are coming in to view, including the tall chimney for the centralised heating system.
Roland took this photograph at RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire in 1975, i.e. after RAF Ouston had closed to flying and 641 Gliding School moved to Dishforth,
It is Slingsby Cadet TX.3, XN244 which had been resident at Ouston for some years prior to the move, and remained in exactly the same colours used at Ouston. The basic colour scheme is 'airframe silver' with dayglo red extremities, and black lettering. The glider appears to be in a position ready for launching by winch and cable, but more likely the photograph has been posed for the camera.
Two of the individuals in the photo have been identified. Instructor Tom Carey is in the rear seat, he was full-time RAF Dishforth based. To the right of the photo, half hidden, is Instructor John Cook, his full time job was as a school teacher in Sheffield.
XN244 is believed to still exist, in storage somewhere, having been sold for civilian use but not flown since.
Google Sites
Report abuse