Nimrod information

[Firebird]

Gents,
For reasons that are too weird to go into I am looking for some info on old RAF squadron strength. What I am after is the strength of the Nimrod sqns and OCU.
I know that 51 had 3x R1's, but what of the MR1 and MR2 sqns. As there were 46 MR1's in 5x Sqns plus OCU, and 35 MR2's in 4x Sqns plus OCU I can make a guess but I would like to know for sure.

Anybody have any ideas?

[jimrodger]

The only Sqn allocated aircraft were for 203Sqn (MR1 only)
42 & 236OCU shared 7/8 at St Mawgan
The rest were shared by the 3 Sqns at Kinloss.

Once 203 was disbanded (Dec 1977) the aircraft went back into the pool.
At this time various airframes were taken away for conversion to AEW3 & MR2, with some going directly from Woodford as AEW3.

203 @ Luqa

Anything I can help with, don't hesitate.

All the best

[VulcanDriver]

This may help:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ivWA ... on&f=false

[Firebird]

Thanks for the link John, but it says my viewing limit is reached (really?!)

Jim,
So my guess was 6 a/c per MR2 squadron and OCU and it seems that I was a bit off. Can you confirm the number in pool use at Kinloss for MR1 and MR2. The reason I ask is that there are always some in the maintenance chain somewhere so I know that all 35 MR2s weren't in front line use.

[VulcanDriver]

Hi Steve

This is what the link says:

Kinloss Air Wing had 18 MR2 aircraft broken down thus:

120 Sqdn 8 MR2
201 Sqdn 7 MR2
42 Sqdn 3 MR2

Cheers

John

[Firebird]

Ta for that, John. That sums up post-St Mawgan.

Now if Jim is able to throw some light on the allocation during St Mawgan then I think I have enough info for what I need.

[jimrodger]

In the early '70's 25 were based at Kinloss.
There would always have been 2 in ASF for minor servicing, possibly one on major, those away on detachment & probably 8 airborne at any time.

Please, please, please disregard anything that says such & such Squadron had so many etc.
Kinloss and St Mawgan operated a Wing structure and all aircraft were pooled as such.
Some aircraft may have had a special paint job for special occasions. eg 201 Sqn 70th Anniversary. 40 Years Nimrod, or for the Fincastle competition which was held annually between UK, Canada, Australia & New Zealand.
So you could end up with a 120Sqn crew flying ina 201Sqn painted up jet

Hope this helps.

Jim

[Delboy99]

This might be of help. Taken from Military Aircraft Markings 1986.

Derek

[Firebird]

Thanks guys for the info. Very useful.

I think I only have one final question. At St Mawgan when 38(R) was around was it a case that there was no aircraft allocated for them and they had work around 42 Sqn, or was an aircraft or two added to that pool to enable them to carry out their role.

[jimrodger]

St MAWGAN HAD 7/8 aircraft shared between 42 & 236ICY


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[jimrodger]

236OCU

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[Firebird]

Thanks. For some reason I always prefer the Reserve plate rather than the OCU designation.

[pliph]

In the early '70's 25 were based at Kinloss.
There would always have been 2 in ASF for minor servicing, possibly one on major, those away on detachment & probably 8 airborne at any time.

Please, please, please disregard anything that says such & such Squadron had so many etc.
Kinloss and St Mawgan operated a Wing structure and all aircraft were pooled as such.
Some aircraft may have had a special paint job for special occasions. eg 201 Sqn 70th Anniversary. 40 Years Nimrod, or for the Fincastle competition which was held annually between UK, Canada, Australia & New Zealand.
So you could end up with a 120Sqn crew flying ina 201Sqn painted up jet

Hope this helps.

Jim

Lead Wet Concurs