Avro Shackleton

I couldnt sleep the other morning so got up at crack of sparrows and watched a documentary on "movies for men" on the Shackleton.

Now a question, anyone remeber the crash on Harris in 1990? If you do was OC 8 Sqn on board? IIRC the then OC BBMF was drafted in at very short notice to be the last OC 8 on Shackletons.

When we went to ATC Summer Camp at RAF Ballykelly in 1963, we all thought we'd get a long trip in a Shackleton on patrol but this was not to be. The runways were being re-surfaced so no flying was taking place however on one day, we were trucked to RAF Aldergrove, this being in the days before it became Belfast International.
At Aldergrove we were divided up into groups and flown. My sortie was 2 hours in Mk2 WR966 and include things like practice engine shutdowns and even a couple of stalls. To experience a stall in something that big was amazing especially when your 'seat' was to be on the floor (no passenger seats) jammed between the mainspar and a large dinghy pack!
My last encounter with a Shackleton was at the Farnborough Airshow. No 8 Sqdn were about to disband as the AWACs was being introduced.
I was tower/display controller and the plan was an AWACs would do a flypast, followed by a Shackleton. It would have been more appropriate the other way round, but in air traffic control terms, you tried to put the faster aircraft first.
The AWACS did its flypast and I told the Shackleton, which was using the unusual callsiign 'Gambia 08', to tuck in as close behind as possible.
I can't remember what year this was, maybe 1990?

IIRC 8 Sqn converted to the Sentry AEW1 to give it its RAF name in june/July 91. As for the callsign, in Shackleton days 8 Sqn always used Gambia and 2 numbers. The knife on their badge is a gambia knife, or should I say thats the corrupt pronounciation.

canberra wrote:

IIRC 8 Sqn converted to the Sentry AEW1 to give it its RAF name in june/July 91. As for the callsign, in Shackleton days 8 Sqn always used Gambia and 2 numbers. The knife on their badge is a gambia knife, or should I say thats the corrupt pronounciation.

Not familiar with the 'Gambia knife' although I holidayed there twice in the '80s, so I am familiar with 'Gambia Gut' or 'Banjul Belly'

The Gambia knife doesnt refer to the country. 8 Sqn spent a lot of its time in Aden and the knife on their badge is an Arabian dagger which IIRC is pronounced something like gambia.

I must admit that I alwys found it odd in the days of cold war and "comsec" that they were allowed such a callsign.

canberra wrote:

The Gambia knife doesnt refer to the country. 8 Sqn spent a lot of its time in Aden and the knife on their badge is an Arabian dagger which IIRC is pronounced something like gambia.

I must admit that I alwys found it odd in the days of cold war and "comsec" that they were allowed such a callsign.

An Arabian dagger as in jambiya.

That answers that one then!!!!!!!!!!!

Avro Shackleton MR3/3 WR985/8103M at Long Marston 5/19

History

A/Cn 17.4.58 and delivered to 23MU 23.4.58. Issued to 206 Sqn 6.58 and coded E. Despatched to the A&AEE Boscombe Down 3.4.59 for trials of the Maritime Tactical Position Indicator (OR/3042). The acceptance trial was completed 22.5.59 and the aircraft returned to St Mawgan 29.5.59. To 49MU 10.59 for Phase I modification by Avro CWP, completed 12.59, when issued to 203 Sqn and coded J. Cat.3 damage was repaired on site 8.61, when WR985 was sent to 49MU for Phase II update by Avro CWP. To 206 Sqn 2.62 and coded A until despatched to Avro Langar 6.63 for Phase III modernization. Completed 2.65, when WR985 returned to 206 Sqn and was coded T. Cat.3 damage sustained in flying accident 13.9.65 was repaired by 60MU 10.65 - 11.65, the aircraft returning to 206 Sqn until transferred to 120 Sqn 5.66 as H. To HSA Woodford 6.66 - 10.66 for Viper installation, when WR985 returned to Kinloss for 201 Sqn (still as H). Transferred to Kinloss Wing 2.67 as H, remaining until 9.70, except for a visit to HSA Bitteswell 10.68 - 12.68 for mods. Delivered to Cosford 25.9.70 for use as instructional airframe with No.2 SoTT. Allocated maintenance serial 8103M on arrival. Offered for sale in 'fair condition' by MoD 1988 and sold to a private purchaser.It has being at Long Marston since late 1989.As it formed a part of the ill fated Stratford Aircraft Collection.

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Another great set Martyn. It looks quite surreal in the last shot. Thanks for posting them.

Here's two Shack photos that Nigel Bailey Underwood has sent me recently that he's kindly allowed me to share on the forum. Taken at Luqa Luqua -