RAF Chivenor, 22nd August 1970 - PART 2 - Hunters

[acklington]

Continuing with my early morning visit to Chivenor's annual air display, here is a selection of the 32 Hunters of 229 OCU that were on display

Starting with XE626, an FR.10 which were a rare sight in the UK, all operational examples being based abroad. Note also the very glossy finish. The disc on the fin was yellow and this applied to all the 229 OCU Hunters
XE626, 9, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XE626, 9, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XE626, 9, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

One of the three 'shadow squadrons' within the OCU was 63 Sqdn, and here are two of their F.6 examples
XE653, 28, 63 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XE656, 56, 63 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The other major 'shadow squadron' was 234 Squadron, and here is one of their F.6 Hunters with the red/blue diamonds on the nose
XF383, 45, 234 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Another example, XF516, was the only Hunter still fitted with the twin aerials on the spine, a throwback to earlier days
XF516, 49, 234 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XG160 did not display any squadron markings
XG160, 30, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XG168 was the only FR.10 on the flight line, displaying 79 Sqdn markings. Note the bigger fuel tanks on this version, the braking shute above the jet pipe, and the absence of outer-wing pylons explosive mounts on the top of the wings
XG168, 10, 79 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The only example of an FGA.9, XG254, was in the static park, displaying a 229 OCU 'letter' on the fin, rather than the two-digit codes worn by everything else
XG254, K, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XG254, K, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XJ634 was an F.6 but in 79 Sqdn markings which seemed to signify the photo-reccy unit within 229 OCU
XJ634, 34, 79 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (1) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XJ634, 34, 79 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (2) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The RAF ground crews were pre-flighting all the Hunters, here seen removing the rudder lock
XJ637, 52, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XJ639, an F.6 of 63 Sqdn with a replacement tail cone
XJ639, 50. 63 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

Another 79 Sqdn F.6, XK149
XK149, 44, 79 Sqdn 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The rest of the flight line were T.7s, mostly painted light aircraft grey overall with red day-glo strips. No squadron marks were carried although one had a small 229 OCU OCU badge on the nose
XL569, 85, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XL571 and XL575 were exceptions, with grey-green camo on top and light aircraft grey undersides
XL571, 99, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XL575, 80, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

T.7 XL577 was in the static park
XL577, 82, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (3) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr
XL577, 82, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 (5) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XL586 had the small OCU badge on the nose
XL586, 90, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

XL593, another T.7
XL593, 96, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 pfw by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The third camo T.7 was XL618
XL618, 87, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

The peeling day-glo strip on XL623 shows why it was soon dispensed with
XL623, 88, 229 OCU, Chivenor, 22 Aug 70 w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

So the Hunters were XG254, K, 229 OCU, FGA.9; XE626, 9, 229 OCU and XG168, 10, 79 Sqdn, FR.10s; then F.6s XE653, 28, 63 Sqdn; XG160, 30, 229 OCU; XG196, 31, 234 Sqdn; XE608, 32, 63 Sqdn; XF386, 33, 234 Sqdn; XJ634, 34, 79 Sqdn; XG197, 39, 63 Sqdn; XG131, 41, 234 Sqdn; XG229, 42, 63 Sqdn; XK149, 44, 79 Sqdn; XF383, 45, 234 Sqdn; XG226, 47, 234 Sqdn; XF387, 48, 63 Sqdn; XF516, 49, 234 Sqdn; XJ639, 50, 63 Sqdn;, XJ637, 52, 229 OCU; XG152, 53, 234 Sqdn; XG161, 55, 234 Sqdn; XE656, 56, 63 Sqdn; XG225, 58, 63 Sqdn; XE627, 61, 234 Sqdn; and then all T.7s, XL575, 80; XL577, 82; XL569, 85; XL618, 87; XL623, 88; XL578, 89; XL586, 90; XL593, 96; and XL571, 99.

Also logged in hangars were Hunters WW594, 11, 79 Sqdn FR.10; XF515, 60, F.6; XG156, E, 79 Sqdn, FGA.9; XG158, 35, 234 Sqdn, F.6; and XL617 (sometime 89), T.7.

Regarding the two-digit codes on most of the Hunters, there had been some attempt made to match the 2-digits to the 'last two' of the aircraft serial, but this was the exception.

That's it for PART TWO, and Part 3 will follow next.