Red Arrows at Ouston

The Red Arrows were then equipped with the Folland Gnat T.1, and the nine aircraft in this formation were XP531, XR991, XR987, XP514, XS111, XR993, XR955, XP540, and XS107. It is believed that this order corresponded to the team pilot's numbering in the formation. Thus the team leader would be "Red 1" and flying in XP531, and "Red 9" would be in XS107.

These three Gnats are not identified. It can be seen that in all the above photos the rear cockpit seats are not occupied, indicating that a proper display routine was in progress.

The Team then landed, and this photo catches the last five Gnats rolling out on the runway after landing.

The Team then parked for refuelling, and in these two photos can be seen two refuelling tankers, with their refuelling arms raised. It seems to be necessary to close the cockpit canopies while fuel is being taken. The aircraft were lined up 'in Team order' with, from the right, XP531 "Red 1", XR991, XR987, XP514, XS111, XR993, XR955, XR540, and XS107 "Red 9".

Other items of interest in the photos include a photographer (where are those photos now?); the gun firing butts (the large block building ) with another behind, probably the Rifle Range; and three children watching and playing in the background. They were presumably from Forces families and the Married Quarters.

A 10th Gnat then landed, this being XS101 "Red 10", the Team's spare aircraft. It would usually be flown by the Red Arrows Team Manager, and his role would be to watch and record each display, and hold a Team de-briefing afterwards. To do this he might land at a civil airport nearer to the display site.

After landing XS101 joined the right hand end of the line of Gnats.

Items of interest in these photos include what appears to be an overgrown wartime air raid shelter in the second photo; a derelict famhouse building within the airfield perimeter, presumably included in the airfield in 1941; and in the last photo two black painted wooden wartime huts. These views are all looking towards the South with the airfield's south-east boundary visible.

Following "Red 10" in to a landing on the westerly facing runway, was the Red Arrows support aircraft, Lockheed Hercules C.1, XV211. This aircraft would accompany the Team to away venues, carrying the support staff, and aircraft spares. The aircraft was from the Lynham Transport Wing (LTW) at RAF Lynham in Wiltshire, and it was painted in the (then) standard RAF tactical transport colours of dark brown and sand camouflage over black undersides. This 'desert scheme' was somewhat incongruous at Ouston, but in the 1970s the RAF's still had an extensive commitment in the Middle East.

In the afternoon the Team came out for departure, taxiing in pairs led by "Red 1" and "Red 2", XP531 and XR991.

In the first photo this scene of rural idyll includes Stob Hill Farm, on the southern boundary of Ouston near the eastern end of the main runway. Northumbrian stone built farm buildings, magnificent oak trees, a well manicured airfield, and the Red Arrows. Delightful!

The second photo also shows a line of curved white dashes, and this taxiway is the wartime original leading to the then end of the runway. However the two Gnats are staying on the new extended taxiway, leading to the extended runway end built circa 1951 when Ouston was rebuilt for jet operations.

XR987 "Red 3" and XP514 "Red 4" were the next pair, again passing Stob Hill Farm.

XP531, XR991, XR987, XP514, and joined by XS111 "Red 5", the first five Gnats start to line up on the eastern end of the main runway. They are taking advantage of the extra space afforded by the 1950's built 'Operational Readiness Platform' (ORP). This was a double-width area built at each end of the main runway, where jet fighters could be held at readiness for an immediate 'scramble' to intercept incoming raiders. At Ouston the 1950's users were the Vampire jets of resident 607 Squadron, but Ouston was a Fighter Command airfield, and equipped to handle any of the fighter types then in service. So in 1974 there was plenty of room on the ORP for the diminutive Gnats of the Red Arrows.

The first five lined up, ready for a formation takeoff, namely XP531, XR991, XR987, XP514, and XS111. Ouston airfield was anything but flat, in fact it was ridiculously hilly, and the first three photos show the Gnats climbing uphill at the start of their run. Stob Hill Farm appears again in the fourth photo, and in the last photo the Gnats are just becoming airbourne,

It can also be seen that all the rear seats in the cockpits are occupied, as the Red Arrows mechanics (in their trademark blue overalls) would transit with their pilot to each new venue.

The second group of Gnats are led past Stob Hill Farm by XR993 "Red 6", followed by XR955, XP540, XS107, and spare aircraft XS101 "Red 10".

In the first photo a large concrete/sandbag construction appears in the background, and this appears to be a wartime aircraft revetment, with associated air raid shelter. The last of the photos shows a patch of rough ground on the bank behind the two Gnats, and this is probably another wartime site, since demolished. From a military archaeology point of view, Ouston can be considered as 'virgin territory', as it has never been out of military hands since 1941. It has therefore been spared the attentions of metal detectorists, scrap merchants, local farmers, and souvenir hunters.

Up until the 1970s the common method of disposing of military 'junk' was simply to bury it somewhere on the edge of the airfield, and Ouston could be something of a treasure trove of wartime and post-war remains and relics.

XS107, XR993, and XR955 line up for take-off, with an airfield operations landrover and observer behind.

Also visible in the background are two relatively modern airfield buildings, probably electrical 'ring-main' substations. The electrical system for airfield lighting and power was designed on a 'ring-main' basis, so that in the event of damage to any part of the circuit, the power could just be fed back the other way round, using the sub-stations. Thus reducing the effects of enemy action and keeping the airfield operational.

XS107, XR993, and XR955 start their up-hill take-off run. The nosewheel of the first Gnat is already off the ground, but it will be some time yet before it is airbourne.

The fourth aircraft in this group of five is XR540, nearest the camera. This view is looking towards the south, and the airfield buildings are yet to appear towards the right.

XS107, XR993, XR955, and XR540 are just becoming airbourne, and in the background the family houses of the Married Quarters are visible. The tall chimney belongs to the heating plant for the camp, and Ouston was sophisticated for an RAF airfield in having a centralised heating system for all the buildings.

All five Gnats of the second formation take-off, namely XS107, XR993, XR955, XR540, and XS101. Prominent in the background is tree covered Harlow Hill on the Roman Wall.

Last aircraft out was the support Hercules, XV211. This also followed the route of the new taxiway past Stob Hill Farm, to the eastern end of the extended main runway.