Chipmunk T.10 WG474, G-BCSL

[Biggles]

Just noticed and wondered if there is a connection.
The shot of G-BCSL landing on the beach was taken by Steve Le Vein.

So the last two letters of the reg are the intials of the photographer ?

[viscount]

'Loupie', when you look in again, please log-in and have a look at your 'Messages'. Thanks.

'Biggles' in your post above it is a complete co-incidence, as G-BCSL was an in-sequence registration and passed through several owners before arriving in Liverpool.

Well done once again to 'Acklington' for locating specific Chipmunk pictures in your collection.


Now onto my own post! A scout around the Internet and my bookshelves produces the following details for Chipmunk T.10 WK622/G-BCZH.

Built in 1952 by de Havilland at their Broughton, Chester factory with Constructor's number C1/0635 and fuselage number DHB.518. It was delivered to the R.A.F. on 2nd May 1952.

Subsequently Chipmunk T.10 WG622 served with:

22 RFS
18 RFS
Oxford UAS
24 GCF
Leeds UAS
Bristol UAS
3 AEF (based Bristol area)
Bristol UAS
Wattisham TFF
2 FTS
Yeovilton
Sold, struck-off chargeon 2nd April 1975 from No.5 MU at Kemble and immediately civilianised as G-BCZH.
Without AM file card dates, it is difficult to put bases to the Units flying WG622.

As G-BCZH a Chipmunk 22, owned by:

R.A.F.G.S.A. (RAF Gliding & Soaring Association) and based at Bicester. Regd 19.3.75
London Gliding Club, and based at Dunstable Downs. Re-regd 14.7.77
Albert Byrne & various partners of Norwich. Re-regd 14.1.85, although de-registered 7.85 to 7.87.

On 6th September 1987 aircraft damaged beyond economic repair while attempting take-off from a field of wet short corn stubble at Pentney, Norfolk. Aircraft airborne when hit the boundary hedge with left wing-tip, causing a cart-wheel to left. Engine and various parts of airframe became detached from fuselage, which came to rest upside down. No fire. Passenger climbed out, pilot initially trapped by canopy frame distortion and released by fire service. Injuries to both crew were minor. (AAIB report)

Aircraft continued to be registered to Albert Bryne of Norwich, until cancelled 14.12.06 as temporally withdrawn from use.
Sources (clearly erroneously) state that aircraft was broken up for spares at Breighton 9.06 (presumably just dismantled for road transportation).
Since then has been under rebuild in a workshop in the York area. Currently not registered.

There are a number of mentions and photos on the web, easily searched using the registration and Chipmunk as key words:

WG622 noted at summer camp St.Athan 1956 in silver with yellow T-bands, no code. Unit not known, probably on loan. (mention only)
WG622 in silver or grey with dayglo strips and black code 'P' eg 6.66 at Filton; 5.68 with a yellow & green spinner with 3 AEF (nice colour piccie)
WG622 in grey with dayglo strips, no code, but cockpit side logo eg 5.70 & 9.72 at Wattisham TFF. (photos)
WG622 presumably by now in red/white training scheme, certainly uncoded, noted by myself at Yeovilton with Royal Navy, Yeovilton Station Flight, Air Show 21.9.74. (no photo in my collection though)
G-BCZH in RAF red/white training colours and white civil regn at Dunstable Downs, London GC in 1976 (two charming photos)

That's as far as I've got for now, which is a surprising amount. Could delve deeper into the service history should 'Loupie' not already have access to that information.

[loupie]

Many thanks for all the information chaps - much appreciated. WK622 will take a good few months to put back together, but there is an excellent engineer working on her right now. I still cannot find my photo from my formation flight in 1972 whilst in YUAS but hope it will turn up sometime soon, especially since it is in an envelope with other irreplaceable aircraft prints which are special to me.

It is beginning to look like my memory has failed me, but I thought the Chipmunks at YUAS were only light aircraft grey with a squadron crest on the engine cowling and no dayglo patches. I think I read that the Church Fenton aircraft sometimes had a slightly different colour scheme to standard because the painters thought it looked better.