Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
Post Reply
TimFoo
Posts: 214
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:18 am

Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by TimFoo » Wed May 18, 2022 6:51 am

Left Mildenhall Air Fete early and went to Woodbridge, Bentwaters, Honington and Wattisham where we (may) have hopped over some fences...

Imageimg646 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg647 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg648 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg649 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg650 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg651 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg652 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg653 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Imageimg654 by Tim Trethewey, on Flickr

Some debate as to whether or not the canopy would be safe on the roof rack for the journey back to Cornwall but discretion won the day....

Mustang531
Posts: 2375
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:47 pm

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by Mustang531 » Wed May 18, 2022 7:36 am

I remember seeing these on the dump, a sad sight. When it was more active, Wattisham was one of my favourite bases to visit. Thanks for sharing these, was it really all those years ago?

F3
Posts: 2966
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:06 am
Location: Rotherham

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by F3 » Wed May 18, 2022 8:49 am

Trespassed! Dear, oh dear. Anyway full marks for initiative. Lucky the Police dogs were in their kennels.

Seahawk 11
Posts: 1146
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:18 pm

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by Seahawk 11 » Wed May 18, 2022 1:30 pm

Sad sight there, I visited a few times to see the Phantoms there,

Rob

User avatar
paddyboy
Posts: 23689
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:32 pm
Location: Somewhere in Norfolk

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by paddyboy » Thu May 19, 2022 3:34 am

That is one depressing set :'(

Thanks for posting :thumbs:

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


Image
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER

Unknown74
Posts: 3946
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:13 pm

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by Unknown74 » Thu May 19, 2022 3:41 pm

I find these photos very sad, having been a regular spotter at Leuchars watching most of these lovely aircraft screaming over!

Think if that had been me I would have pinched that colourfull tail from XV574.

Vulture 01
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by Vulture 01 » Thu May 19, 2022 4:10 pm

Wattisham, like Coltishall was a great place for taking pictures. Now it's gone forever, and all we have are superb pictures like these.
Thanks for posting.

Vulture 01
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by Vulture 01 » Thu May 19, 2022 4:10 pm

Wattisham, like Coltishall was a great place for taking pictures. Now it's gone forever, and all we have are superb pictures like these.
Thanks for posting.

3Greens
Posts: 8058
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:35 pm
Location: RWY21 Grimsby

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by 3Greens » Mon May 30, 2022 3:06 pm

Missed this post Tim, but glad now to have seen it.
Ironically I had an afternoon photographing 'Treble Ones' Lightnings F.3s on 25th June 1975 which had been dumped.
My mate Norm and I had presented ourselves at the guardroom to ask if we could photograph the Lightnings - 23 and 56 Sqdns were very busy with active flying operations. No chance was the reply, but when we clarified not the operational aircraft but those on the dump.. why didn't you say.. no problem. An MP who was just finishing an afternoon brew was tasked with taking us over to the dump in a Landrover. He was brilliant and gave us a 'very' good tour around including the Meteor T.7 VZ634 which was hidden among the trees.
We did size up various parts for the memory but its amazing how big the bits are to get in the car, so only some small panels were rescued.
I did post the shots of the visit quite some years back so must get them out for a new post
Thanks for posting
3Greens :thumb:

TimFoo
Posts: 214
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:18 am

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by TimFoo » Mon May 30, 2022 3:13 pm

3Greens wrote:
Mon May 30, 2022 3:06 pm
Missed this post Tim, but glad now to have seen it.
Ironically I had an afternoon photographing 'Treble Ones' Lightnings F.3s on 25th June 1975 which had been dumped.
My mate Norm and I had presented ourselves at the guardroom to ask if we could photograph the Lightnings - 23 and 56 Sqdns were very busy with active flying operations. No chance was the reply, but when we clarified not the operational aircraft but those on the dump.. why didn't you say.. no problem. An MP who was just finishing an afternoon brew was tasked with taking us over to the dump in a Landrover. He was brilliant and gave us a 'very' good tour around including the Meteor T.7 VZ634 which was hidden among the trees.
We did size up various parts for the memory but its amazing how big the bits are to get in the car, so only some small panels were rescued.
I did post the shots of the visit quite some years back so must get them out for a new post
Thanks for posting
3Greens :thumb:
What a great story! Definitely want to see them, there was actually a Lightning and a Canberra in the dump when I took those and sometimes you wish you could go back 30 years just to slap your own, stupid face for not taking pictures....

F3
Posts: 2966
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:06 am
Location: Rotherham

Re: Wattisham 1991, 111 Sqn retire

Post by F3 » Tue May 31, 2022 8:58 pm

When I was given a tour of the dump by a relative stationed there back in '92 there was still a single ex Treble-One Toom there. He got me the hook - shoe off it which I had made into a clock. Nice thing but it ended up in the garage rusting away and eventually I donated it to the local Scrap man. Something I've regretted ever since but you know how it is when you start getting earache from the wife!

Post Reply

Return to “Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic Photography”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 67 guests