WP833’s RAF Service

1952-07-11

Forward fuselage section signed-off by DH Inspector

1952-07-11

1952-08-12

Aircraft weighed and cleared for flight (1,417 lbs, -5.9″ CG)

1952-08-12

1952-08-12 (?)

45 min air test, Hawarden (EGNR).
Unilaterally declared (by RGW) as the official ‘first flight’ date.

1952-08-12 (?)

1952-08-15

Allocated to No 24 Reserve Flying School, Rochester, Kent (EGTO) (Short Bros & Harland).
Allocation was by 41 Group

1952-08-15

1952-08-18

Written into the weekly letter to Air Ministry that aircraft is ready for collection/dispatch.

1952-08-18

1952-08-19

A.I.D Inspector 4 EM signs aircraft “off contract” No 6/ACFT/6449/CB.5(a).

Aircraft delivered Broughton (Hawarden) to Rochester.     Coded ’26’ at 24 RFS.

1952-08-19

1952-08-22

Weekly letter sent to Air Min 60hrs 25 mins flown with 24 RFS.

1952-08-22

1953-02-20

Flown out to 17 RFS, RAF Hornchurch, Essex. Allocation HC/A (Home Command – Aircraft).

1953-02-20

1953-02-23

On strength at 17 RFS (Short Bros & Harland)    Coded ’26 ‘ at 17 RFS.
141hrs 40mins flown with
17 RFS.

1953-02-23

1953-03-31

24 RFS closed.
Flew 141hrs 40mins with 17 RFS

1953-03-31

1953-05-21

Moved to Hull University Air Sqn at Brough (EGNB). This allocation may have been for Summer Camp.
146hrs 55mins flown with Hull UAS.

1953-05-21

1953-08-07

Moved to No 10 RFS Exeter (EGTE).  Probably still carried Code ’26’.
353hrs 15mins flown with 10 RFS.

1953-08-07

1953-08-11

Allocated to Home Command Major Servicing Unit (HCMSU), RAF Lichfield – subsequently cancelled.

1953-08-11

1954-04-07

Allocated to No 31 Sqn at RAF Hendon (arrived 04-08).

1954-04-07

1954-04-09

On strength at Hendon – Aircraft allocated code letters ‘CB-G’.

1954-04-09

1954-04-19

10 RFS closed

1954-04-19

1955-03-01

31 Sqn assigned to a Canberra Unit at Laarbruch, with aircraft at Hendon being transferred to Metropolitan Communications Sqn.

1955-03-01

1957-04-11

Mets Comms moved to Northolt (EGWU) on closure of Hendon

1957-04-11

1958-12-15

Allocated to No. 5 MU RAF Kemble but changed to …

1958-12-15

1958-12-29

… No. 22 MU RAF Silloth.
From the flying hours 1,833.10 for both MU’s the aircraft went Northolt to RAF Silloth in Cumbria which is reflected in the 4hrs 10 mins flight time when it flew back to Cambridge (EGSC) on 1960-09-16.

1958-12-29

1960-09-16

Allocated to Cambridge University Air Sqn (CUAS).

1960-09-16

1966-01-13

Cat 3 repairable – for Mod 288 – Lower fuselage tie-bar work at RAF Dishforth by DH Working Party.
Hours flown to date at CUAS 3,692 hrs 25 mins.

1966-01-13

1966-05-20

Return to CUAS ex Cat 3 repair.

1966-05-20

1969-02-14

RAF Marham (EGYM) Tactical Task Force.

1969-02-14

1969-09-25

Cat 3 repair required, performed by No 71 MU on station.

1969-09-25

1969-12-15

Returned to Stn Flt RAF Marham. Hours flown at Marham 306 hrs 40 mins.

1969-12-15

1971-10-08

RAF Church Fenton (EGCM).

Hours flown at Church Fenton 4hrs 15 mins – this would suggest either used as a standby aircraft for No. 2 FTS or some major maintenance work was carried out.

1971-10-08

1972-01-14

Allocated to University of London Air Sqn (ULAS) RAF Abingdon (EGUD). Coded ‘K, ‘L’ & ‘H’.

1972-01-14

1972-03-04 … 09-15

Log book entries by
Geoffrey Quick, ATC Cadet –  five entries (two solo) between these dates, flown out of White Waltham.

1972-03-04 … 09-15

1974-02-08

Allocated to Oxford UAS.

1974-02-08

1975-01-05 … 1976-10-09

Pilot’s log book entries by
Flt Lt C.F.J. Watts – 41 flights in WP833 (and others in WB560)  

1975-01-05 … 1976-10-09

1975-01-09

Allocated to No 4 Air Experience Flight, Exeter,  Coded ‘A’.

1975-01-09

1975-01-14

Partial reconditioning accomplished, RAF Leconfield (EGXV)

1975-01-14

1979-07-21
& 1980-03-01

Log book entries by
Paul Shenton, ATC Cadet, each as ‘AEF’.

1979-07-21
& 1980-03-01

1980-03-21

to RAF St. Athan for Summer Camp

1980-03-21

1980-04-25.

  Rtn to 4 AEF, Exeter

1980-04-25.

1980-10-06

To St. Athan – short term loan possibly ATC Flying

1980-10-06

1980-10-29

Rtn to 4 AEF, Exeter.

1980-10-29

1980-11-01, 1981-09-12 &
1982-02-20

Log book entries by
Ivan Manley, ATC Cadet,
all as ‘AEF’.

1980-11-01, 1981-09-12 &
1982-02-20

1985-04-16, 1987-01-03,
1988-08-08 & 1989-03-30

Log book entries by
Chris Power, ATC Cadet,
all as 4 AEF.

1985-04-16, 1987-01-03,
1988-08-08 & 1989-03-30

1985-11-(10?)
& 1987-03-21
 

Log book entries by
MH Sparks, ATC Cadet,
each as ‘AEF’.

1985-11-(10?)
& 1987-03-21
 

1996-04-17 to 06-14    

Preparation for Northern Venture (first attempt)

1996-04-17 to 06-14    

1996-07-21 to 08-17

Exercise Northern Venture
(first attempt)

1996-07-21 to 08-17

1997-05-20 to 07-21

Exercise Northern Venture
‘Around The World at 90 Knots’

1997-05-20 to 07-21

1998-02

To RAF Newton (EGXN), for disposal

1998-02