RAF Waterbeach: December 1958 to October 1961
RAF Leuchars: October 1961 to November 1962
Contributions to this page are from Pete Goodwin, Roy Evans, Hank
Hemmings, Walter Davies and Jim Forbes
25 Squadron
Ground Crew - AOC's Inspection 1960
Photo courtesy of Jim Forbes (13th from right -
middle row)
Jim Forbes has kindly provided some
names of 25 Squadron ground crew from 1960. If you can provide
more, please email. Jim is an ex
Apprentice, 74th Entry, RAF Halton.
Cpl Pete Symonds. ( Back row
standing, 7th from left, right in front of the air intake).
Cpl Bert Bairstow (Far right, front row, sitting on the ground).
Cpl Danny Daniels
J/T Jim Forbes. (First standing row, behind the officers. 13th
from the right).
SAC David Kirkman (Jim Forbes's best
man when he got married, Jan ’62).
SAC Neville Hendy. (Next to Jim Forbes, 12th from the right).
SAC Mick Matthews
George ….? (Back row standing, 9th from left, just covering the
X of the a/c serial No).
News required of Fg Off Dick, 25
Squadron 1960. Email if you can help.
25 Squadron
Ground Crew - Firing detachment, RAF Nicosia July/Sept 1960
Photos courtesy of Jim Forbes
Mick Matthews, Jim-Forbes and A Another
Jim Forbes
Neville Hendy and David Kirkman
Pete Symonds
Video Clips of the Javelin in 25 Squadron Service
These two video clips are from a series of short
colour films shot in 1959 by Hank Hemmings of the Javelin in
service with 25 Squadron . Hank was an RCAF pilot, seconded to 25
Squadron at this time.
Click the play button twice to start the clip running. Double
click the image to play full screen.
Preparation of 25 Squadron Javelin FAW Mk7, XH910 for air firing
practice.
(No sound). Courtesy of Hank Hemmings.
The clip is best viewed using a broadband connection. The
media file size is 3 Mb.
Air to air video clip of 25 Squadron Javelin FAW Mk7, XH898
carrying out a roll.
(No sound). Courtesy of Hank Hemmings.
The clip is best viewed using a broadband connection. The
media file size is 1.3 Mb.
Mounting a Firestreak on the wing pylon of a 25 Squadron
Javelin, RAF Waterbeach, 1960
Gloster Javelin F(AW) Mk 9's.
Front to Rear - XH768/E, XH882L and XH881/M
A Portfolio of 25 Squadron's (FAW) Mk 9 Javelins The following portfolio of 25 Squadron's (FAW) Mk 9 Javelins' is
thought to be have taken in 1961 at RAF Waterbeach (very possibly). Dates indicate the period when aircraft
were allocated to 25 Squadron. Photos and serials courtesy of Walter Davies.
Javelin Mk9's on 25 squadron strength at this time.
XH767/A XH760/B XH884/C XH898/D
XH768/E XH771/F XH772/G XH883/H
XH880/J
XH770/K XH882/L XH881/M XH769/N
XH776/P XH906/Q XH909/R XH716/W.
XH767/A - 04/12/1959 to 12/12/1962
XH760/B - 03/12/1962 to 03/09/1965
XH898/D - 24/10/1960 to 12/12/1962
XH772/G - 01/02/1960 to 11/12/1962
XH880/JHW - 02/02/1960 to 03/12/1962. Personal aircraft of C.O. Wg Cdr Jim Walton.
XH880/J - 02/02/1960 to 03/12/1962
XH770/K - 03/02/1960 to 12/12/1962
XH909/R - 02/12/1960 to 12/12/1962
XH716/W - Not Known
Two photographs of the Gloster Javelin FAW.9, group photo and Pilot's Notes kindly provided by Peter
Goodwin. Peter's navigator at the time was John Galley.
Javelin XH767/A - P.I. sortie over the North Sea from RAF Leuchars - 1961
Javelin XH909/R - Compass swing at RAF Gutersloh while on detachment from RAF Leuchars - 1962
Group photo of 25 Sqn* on detachment to RAF Akrotari, Cyprus, Oct/Nov 1961. Peter is 5th from the right back row.
Javelin Checklist - 'Limitations' Part 1
Javelin Checklist - 'Limitations' Part 2
* Wing Commander Jim Walton commanded the Squadron at this time with Squadron
Leaders' Mossman as Flight Commander and Phil Hyson as Nav. Rad. leader.
Loss of Javelin 'Quebec' during Cyprus detachment -
26th October 1961
It was during the Cyprus detachment
in 1961 that 25 Squadron lost a Javelin at night over the salt flats 2.5 miles north of
RAF Akrotiri when it collided with a 32 Squadron Canberra WD995. The Javelin flew into
the rear of the Canberra (Cranberry) while it was reducing airspeed prior to
landing. The accident was due to a 'C Scope' break of lock for the Javelin
navigator. Unfortunately the Javelin pilot Flt Lt Johnny Morris died of his
injuries, he ejected but his
parachute failed to deploy as the aircraft was going down. The navigator Flt Lt
Roger 'Rocks' Lloyd survived the accident. Flt Lt Morris is buried in Dhekelia cemetery.
Photo courtesy of David Atkins
Photo shows the remains of Javelin XH906/Q at
RAF Akrotiri
Original information regarding the loss of the Javelin has been corrected and
updated by Roy Evans. Roy was SNCO i/c bearer party for the funeral of Flt Lt
Morris.
Surviving 25 Squadron Javelins
Three Javelins survive that were in service with 25 Squadron :
Mk7 - XH897, Duxford
Mk9 - XH767, Yorkshire Air Museum
Mk9 - XH768, Museo dell'Avizone, Rimini
Web sites with details or photographs of the Javelin in 25 Squadron service:
