WAVERTREE PARK, LIVERPOOL
-aviation related events recalled
LIVERPOOL SHOW - 1954
The only 1950's show I have information at present is from 19th July 1954 when Vampire FB.5 VV695 and Meteor NF.11 WM185 were on display during the Liverpool Show Exhibition at Wavertree Park.
There were likely further years in the 50s/early 60s when aircraft were exhibited for recruitment purposes, but these are as yet not known to me at present.
LIVERPOOL SHOW - 1968
No reports of aircraft at Wavertree, however Dragon Rapide G-AKIF was based at Speke for para-drops on 18th, 19th & 20th July, presumably by the "Red Devils" team.
LIVERPOOL SHOW - 1969
Held at Wavertree, Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th July. Grounded items on display were a vintage Royal Navy Whirlwind WV198 and XT581 a North American MQM-57A Shelduck SD.1 drone of the British Army. Flying displays were put on daily by the Army “Blue Eagles” helicopter team in Westland-Bell 47G Sioux XT193, XT206, XT509, XW191 and XW192, along with para-drops from Dragon Rapide G-AKIF.
(Sioux regn corrected in light of post #6, thanks) THE MYSTERY EXHIBITION - 1969
Some images are on a later post of this thread.
From the MSAE magazine of the time, a review of a Battle of Britain exhibition in September 1969, written by forum member George Jones.This year, 1969, Liverpool was chosen as the venue for the Battle of Britain Exhibition, which is held in a different major city each year. The site for the event was the area known as the ‘The Mystery’, but officially as Wavertree Playground. It was open for the period 13th to 21st September. The first sign of activity at the site came in early September when a Kite Balloon Mk.XX was seen suspended in the sky over Penny Lane. In due course the tents, aircraft and other exhibits arrived from No.71 MU and were assembled. A ‘fish-eye’ lens photo of the City centre, which was displayed in the large marquee was presumably taken by the Canberra PR.7 which circled the city in the lunch-hour of 5th September.
The day prior to the official opening was reserved for the press to view the final rehearsal, so I went along too! The proceedings opened with the arrival of AVM A.Magill, AOC 22 Group, onboard Whirlwind 10 XP338/N of the CFS from Tern Hill. He inspected the Guard of Honour and went on to view the other exhibits, which aircraft wise comprised:
K9942/SD:V Spitfire I, 72 Sqdn markings
P2617/AF:T Hurricane I, 607 Sqdn markings
XK740 Folland Gnat F.1, in the new red/white Training Command colours
XM693 Folland Gnat T.1, in ‘Red Arrows’ scheme
XF946 Hawker Hunter F.6
XV951 Slingsby T.53 ‘Air Cadets’
WB758/P DHC.1 Chipmunk T.10
Nose/cockpit sections of:
WG511 Shackleton T.4
WH905 Canberra B.2
XA893 Vulcan B.2
XM191 Lightning F.1a
The ATC tend hid a Chipmunk fuselage centre section.
The RAF marquee exhibited a Nimrod fuselage mock-up.
Damp squibs were present in the form of a Bloodhound and a Blue Steel.
As the AOC commenced his rounds, so the limited flying display began with aircraft making a single pass across the area at an altitude of 500ft. The participating aircraft had formed up over Nantwich and descended towards Liverpool Airport’s runway 35 and hence over the 17 threshold, the runway directly pointing at Wavertree, and thence out over the suburban roof tops towards Woodvale. First over was Buccaneer XV869. A following Vulcan (XL321) was some way off target to the east, though a Victor (XH621) was a little nearer. Hercules XV303 was overhead however, as was Dominie XS733 which rapidly overhauling the former forced it to climb steeply out of the latter’s way. Four of Cranwell’s Jet Provosts whistled over before Britannia XL660 droned by and a formation of Woodvale’s Chipmunks buzzed past. The CFS example having left, it was replaced by XP361 Whirlwind HAR.10 from 22 Sqdn at Valley, which performed a series of rescues.
The following day brought low cloud, wind and rain for the official opening ceremony. A large number of Society members were on hand to watch plus other less interested citizens. First casualty was the Lord Mayor who was indisposed and then the CFS Whirlwind couldn’t get through, so the AOC was obliged to arrive by car. Thanks to the miserable weather the Jet Provosts, Dominie and a promised Varsity were absent from the flying display. The flypasts consisted of Vulcan XL321, Victor XA928, Hercules XV303 along with the same Buccaneer and Britannia as the previous day. Again the Woodvale Chipmunks added to the thrills, as did Valley’s Whirlwind.
It was a damp start, but during the week which followed various service aircraft shot over on odd occasions. In addition, there were twice daily performances by the 22 Sqdn Chopper and Chipmunks. On the ground there was much marching to and fro’ and a deal of puffing and blowing from the Bands, Police dogs and ATC Cadets. The later, from 90 and 1966 Sqdns, were involved in demonstrating their prowess in erecting and dismantling two dead Cadet gliders, which wore the ‘duff’ serials “VM791” and “WL925”. These two Cat.4 write-offs, rebuilt for ground display purposes, had earlier arrived by road at Speke where the ATC had practised their display.
Battle of Britain Day, Saturday 20th September, saw further ‘flying visits’ being paid to the Mystery by aircraft attending ‘At Home’ events at bases around the country. Noted over Wavertree included:
XL450/764:BY Gannet AEW.3, 849 Sqdn, RN
XV869 Buccaneer S.2 (also visited Finningley). (Royal Navy XV867/611:LM of 803 Sqdn RN was at Gaydon and Biggin Hill, but it was a RAF aircraft at Liverpool)
XR806 VC-10, C.1, 10 Sqdn
XL360 Vulcan B.2, 617 Sqdn
XH867 HP Victor B.2
XL658 Britannia C.1, 99/511 Sqdns
XV292 Hercules C.1, Lyneham Wing
Two formations of Varsities (from other sources very likely: 4 x 1 ANS aircraft: WL626/U, WL668/X, WF382/Q & WJ939/Z (appeared at Finningley), with 3 x 2 ANS Topcliffe aircraft: WL637/C, WF385/H and WL669/J (these aircraft also appeared at Gaydon))
All in all it was a very successful event and the MoD was well satisfied, commenting that they were surprised by the number of people who had attended. But, when it is realised that this was the first occasion for years that Liverpudlians have had even a glimpse of the Royal Air Force, perhaps the attendance wasn’t so surprising!
PS Thanks to 'Rob125' for providing amendments and additions to this list July 2021.THE LIVERPOOL SHOW - 1970
In advance of the Liverpool Show in July 1970, the MSAE in ‘Flypast’ noted that participants would be the “Blue Eagles” helicopter team of the Army, with the RAF very much in evidence too, with flypasts by Chipmunks, Gnats and Jet Provosts twice a day, and a larger flypast on the Saturday – all subject to confirmation. There would also be displays by a Wessex helicopter.
Apart from some of the “Blue Eagles” Sioux helicopters visiting Liverpool Airport on 16th July from Wavertree, there is no mention in ‘Flypast’ of what, if anything, turned-up. The weather that weekend was wet and windy though!
THE LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1971
From MSAE ‘Flypast’ an unaccredited report of much aviation activity:The 1971 Liverpool Show, held at Wavertree Playground non July 15th, 16th & 17th, was dominated by an American flavour. Centre-piece of the exhibition was the Apollo 10 capsule, along with other moon-roving hardware, some moonrock, rockets and missiles, with a Military band and an astronaut or two thrown in for good measure.
The RAF had its usual propaganda stand, equipped with Canberra nose WH903, and Gnat T.1 XM693 for the kids to crawl over. The “Red Devils” parachute team performed daily, being dropped on the first two days from the Northern Executive Islander G-AXXH and on the final day from Dragon Rapide G-AGJG. The U.S.Army provided the ‘new’ 56th Avn. Coy., Burtonwood based, Bell UH-1D Iroquois 61161, which gyrated on all three days, while USAF participation was in the form of a flypast at three o’clock each day as follows:
Thursday, July 15th:41035/AT RF-4C Phantom, 32 TRS, 10 TRW at Alconbury
68064/JS F-111E, 55 TFS, 20 TFW at Upper Heyford
64819/WT, 64829/WT, 64881/WT, 64892/WT F-4C Phantom, 92 TFS, 81 TFW at Bentwaters/Woodbridge
Friday, July 16th:41005/AT RF-4c Phantom, 32 TRS, 10 TRW
68069/JR F-111E, 79 TFS, 20 TFW
64924/WS, 63524/WS, plus two. F-4C Phantom, 91 TFS, 81 TFW
Plus two F-100D Super Sabre, 493TFS, 48 TFW at Lakenheath, tail code LS
Saturday, July 17th:60427/AT RF-4C Phantom, 32 TRS, 10 TRW
68064/JT F-111E, 77 TFS, 20 TFW
95825 HC-130H, 67 ARRS – flight refueling a HH-3E Jolly Green Giant 14715, 67 ARRS at Woodbridge
64677/WT, 64819/WT, 64823/WT, 64835/WT F-4C Phantom, 92 TFS, 81TFW
Plus two F-100D Super Sabre, 493 TFS, 48 TFW, tail code LS
As to be expected, there have been several variations of these serials, but we believe that the above list, supplied by Stuart McDiamid and Mike Bishop is accurate, although the serials of the F-4Cs on the Saturday are still open to doubt.
LIVERPOOL SHOW - 1972
Held over the weekend of 13th, 14th and 15th July, from my own logs I find that ground exhibits provided by 71MU were: Gnat F.1 XK740, Hunter XF946 and Jet Provost cockpit XR700. The RN Presentation Team flew their Wessex HU.5 XT764:PT certainly on the 14th and likely other days as well. I have no note of any parachute team and associated aircraft – perhaps the weather was too poor for a jump?
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1973
Held on the 19th, 20th and 21st July, the RAF Exhibition Flight provided only a Canberra nose. The MAS was in attendance, along with their Fa.330 at a very soggy stall. On all three days parachutists leapt from Northern Executive’s Islander G-AXXH.
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1974
Held on the 18th, 19th & 20th July, the RAFEF sent along TE311 (7241M) a Spitfire LF.XVI and XE670 (7762M) Hunter F.6 nose section. Tethered inflations were made by Cameron O-84 hot air balloon G-BANG “Salamander”, sponsored by Aznar Line. This year operating out of Speke, NEA’s Islander G-AXXH again provided the mount for para-drops.
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1975
Held on 16th, 17th & 18th July, once again 71 MU/RAFEF provided Spitfire LF.XVI TE311/AU:Y, displayed inside a marquee. Royal Navy Presentation Team’s Wessex HU.5 XT764/PT provided role demonstrations on all three days, while parachutists leapt from Isladner G-AXXH.
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1976
I can find no mention in MAS’s ‘Flypast’ magazine, nor in my own logs of aviation related activity.
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1977
I can find no mention in MAS’s ‘Flypast’ magazine, nor in my own logs of aviation related activity.
LIVERPOOL SHOW – 1978
Held on 21st & 22nd July, by now the ‘Liverpool Show’ was not the status event it once was, indeed this may well have been the last one? Even so, the RAFEF provided Spitfire LF.16e TE311, along with a collection of missiles as a focus for the R.A.F. recruitment stand. Cameroon hot air balloon G-BAIY “Budget Rent-a-Car” was tethered inflated in the arena. The “Black Knights” sky-divers parachuted out of Cherokee Six G-AWCY each evening, and were then collected and flown out of Wavertree on “Barratts” Jet Ranger G-BEKH.
MILITARY TATTOO - 1979
Held on the regular weekend of Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st July, a change of title and emphasis for the Wavertree event. The RAF EF displayed XR638 a Jet Provost T.4 on the ground. In the air the “Falcons” team dropped from Hercules XV294 on all three days, while the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on 19th and 20th performed with PA474/KM:B Lancaster I, LF363/GN:F Hurricane I and PS853 Spitfire PR.XIX in pale blue. Also tethered inflations by blue and yellow hot air balloon G-BGWI “Fly Army”. Operating out of Woodvale, the “Red Devils” free-fall team leapt out of Islander G-AXDH on the first two days, but the weather interfered with plans to jump on the Saturday, however the aircraft displayed to the crowd at Wavertree. It is thought that a Whirlwind from Shawbury performed a demonstration on at least one day of the event too.
’METRO 80’ – 1980
From MAS’s ‘Flypast’ a report on an attempt to revive the Wavertree Park based show of civic pride.On Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May, Liverpool’s huge playing ground staged ‘Metro 80’. The show itself was a farce and a rip-off, which might explain why large numbers of people broke down fences and skilfully avoided paying! BUT there were some aircraft. On Friday 23rd, 8 Sqdn Shackleton AEW.2 WL754, calling ‘AOX66’ practised its show in the early afternoon – very low!
On the day of the event, little Benson Autogyro G-ATLP thrashed about several times, operating from the Playground itself. There was evidence of a powered hang-glider (Ed: in today’s terminology a Flexiwing microlight presumably), but our on-the-spot reporter did not see it fly. Nord 1002, alias ‘Bf.108’, G-ATBG, operating out of Speke performed with some vigour. Then came Shackleton AEW.2 WL747, again using call-sign ‘AOX66’, which did a low level beat-up of the field before setting course for Rainhill and another beat-up there. This beast came down Woolton Road, Wavertree, very low indeed – so much so that it set off burglar alarms in sequence all the way down the road! Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire PR.XIX PS853 then did an impressive display – ah …… Merlins (even if they are Griffins!).
So far as I am currently aware, 1978 was the final major City of Liverpool, civic show event hald at Wavertree - although there have been further commercially organised 'Liverpool Shows' during the 90s these were limited in size, and without aviation participation. Today there are athletic meetings on part of the site.There was another event in a Liverpool Park during summer 1980. The
LIVERPOOL CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS were held in
CAMP HILL PARK, Woolton over a two week period in early June. Aimed mostly at schools, the event was dogged by poor weather and poor attendances. During the first week the “Red Devils”, operating from Woodvale, jumped out of Islander G-AXDH on at least Wed 4th and Fri 6th, while during the second week the “Hitachi” team from Nottingham used Cessna 182 G-ASHO on Mon 9th, Tues 10th and Thurs 12th – the weather restricting the days drops could be made.
After the demise of the major civic Liverpool Show, the Woolton Show increased in popularity for a few years through the 1980s. There were parachute drops into the Camp Hill Park/Woolton Woods site for a couple of years, but hardly count as aviation events.
