More Shetland Air Travel

A few more reminders of air travel as experienced by servicemen and their families travelling to & from Unst, either on posting or, on leave. The photos have been grouped into two sections, the first group being associated with Sumburgh and the second, with Unst. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).

Sumburgh

Unst

The picture below must be of one of the first aircraft to use the Unst Airstrip. Loganair did not start operating scheduled services to & from Unst until 1971.

The next 3 photos are of a Devon (the RAF equivalent of the De Havilland Dove). The Devon, along with the Percival Pembroke, was quite frequently used for transporting important equipment and senior officers to and from Saxa.

I’m grateful to Rein Boomsma (Saxa 71 to 73) for allowing me to use the next series of photos depicting Loganair operations in and out of Unst in the early years of the Airstrip.

Finally; two recent pictures of the Unst Airstrip. It is officially closed and unmanned. Very occasionally a private flyer may make a short visit but it is at their own risk – though the second photo below shows that the runway is still in good condition.

Previous sections associated with Air Travel are here:-

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2010/01/unst-airstrip.html
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2009/11/travel-to-and-from-unst-by-air.html
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2009/11/air-transport-within-shetland.html

CONTENTS LIST

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/contents-list.html

AVM John Allison Visit 1994

In the first half of 1994 AVM John Allison, who was AOC 11 Gp until 15 Jul of that year, visited RAF Saxa Vord. I’m not sure about the purpose of the visit, perhaps it was just to say farewell. The eight b&w photos in this section were taken whilst ne was on the Unit.
The first four pictures appear to show an exchange of trophies between the AOC and the Stn Cdr. The AOC seems to be presenting a cup to the station – the wording on it is indistinct in the pictures but it looks like “HQ 11 Gp Small Stations Performance Trophy”. In return the Stn Cdr, Sqn Ldr Kevin Hann, is presenting some kind of Puffin memento to the AOC.(Left click on photos to enlarge).

The last four photos were taken up the hill, either at the Ops Site, or at the Radar Heads (possibly one or more at both sites).

 

CONTENTS LIST

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Pete Brindley – More recollections of Postings to Saxa

Pete Brindley has been kind enough to let me use a number of his pictures previously in this blog. Amongst other things they formed the basis for 2 complete sections:-

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2010/10/life-at-raf-saxa-vord-196364.html
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2010/08/trips-to-lerwick-specials-196364.html
Pete was posted to Saxa on 3 occasions, 1963-64, 1973 -74 and again in 1977. The pictures already published came from his first tour and the pictures in this section were all taken in the 70’s. The first 3 photos show Pete + another at Transmitters and the type of VHF radio equipment which was in use in the earlier years of the Unit.

Although Inter-Island RoRo Ferries were operating in the first half of the 70’s, the sea link between Aberdeen and Lerwick was operated by the MV St Clair III until much later. Her last trip from Lerwick to Aberdeen was in early April 1977, after that she was replaced by the first RoRo Ferry on the route. Before then, those taking vehicles to & from Shetland were faced with slightly more old fashioned techniques as the next 2 photos show.

For those travelling by air, British Airways had replaced the Dart Heralds and Viscounts with Series 2 HS748s in 1975. The next 2 photos were, I believe, taken from an HS 748 – the first at Dyce and the second on approach to Sumburgh.

All one needed on arrival at Saxa was good weather and some time off to enjoy it – good weather & time off not always happening at the same time. However, in 1977 Pete managed to be lucky for a while as can be seen in the following pictures:-

The last few photos show the radar site on Saxa. The top of the hill was a massive construction site during this period. The second picture is an enlargement from the first and a large crane can be seen, possibly involved in the erection of the new S649 radar. The final pictures give an indication of why so many have wished to return to Unst!

CONTENTS LIST

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Functions in the Officers’ Mess in the 90’s

Towards the end of the 90’s the station strength was reducing as its’ role was changing, eventually leading to the combining of messes. I have already published a section on the last function in the Officers’ Mess:

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2010/07/last-function-in-officers-mess.html
In most Officers’ Messes there were fairly regular functions -Dining In/Ladies Guest Night every month or two, a Burns Night at the end of January, a Summer Ball and a Christmas Draw. Obviously there was also a fair share of informal gatherings such as Happy Hours etc. I hope the following pictures will give some indication of life in the Officers’ Mess at Saxa in the 90’s
Programme for Burns Night - 26 Jan 1991

Programme for the Summer Ball - 5 Jul 1991

Departure of Sqn Ldr Kevin Hann/Arrival of Sqn Ldr Bill Gray – 1995

I presume the 3 photos below are of some kind of send off and welcoming at the changeover of the Stn Cdr; the pictures were taken at the doors to the Mess.

After the meal at a Dining In Night 1995 or 96

Christmas Draw  - 1995 or 96

I would like to thank Al Callow & Ian Price for help in identifying some of the people in the photos above.

As I have said elsewhere – I would like to be able to cover events in the other Messes and Clubs but unless someone else has material I can use I won’t be able to. gordon.carle@gmail.com

CONTENTS LIST

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/contents-list.html