Serial - XX885 C/n - B3-01-73 |
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| Date Delivered | 30/04/1974 |
To Royal Air Force |
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Issued to 16 Sqn, RAFG Laarbruch, West Germany |
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27/07/1977 |
Transferred to 15 Sqn, RAFG Laarbruch, West Germany |
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09/02/1979 |
Transferred to 12 Sqn, RAF Honington |
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27/03/1979 |
Transferred to 216 Sqn, RAF Honington |
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Feb. 1980 |
Buccaneer fleet grounded for six months following crash of XV345 at Nellis AFB, Nevada, USA during Exercise 'Red Flag 80' |
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17/12/1980 |
To No.19 MU St. Athan for wing transplant |
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06/08/1981 |
Issued to 208 Sqn, RAF Honington |
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Jul. 1983 |
208 Sqn relocated to RAF Lossiemouth - coded '885' |
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Sep. 1983 |
One of six aircraft deployed to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus under Operation 'Pulsator' in support of British Army contingent of the UN peace-keeping force stationed in Lebanon - 12 Sqn.( XV359 XV361 XW530 ) & 208 Sqn.( XX885 XX901 XZ430 ) - coded '885' |
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04/05/1984 |
Transferred to 12 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth - coded 'OF' |
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29/06/1988 |
Transferred to 208 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth - coded '885' |
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Withdrawn from service Allocated 'Maintenance Airframe' number 9225M - RAF Lossiemouth |
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| Date Received | 27/04/1989 |
To BAe Woodford - ASR1012 (Set No.042) Avionics Upgrade Programme (AUP) - 43wks cycle |
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| Date Delivered | 23/02/1990 |
'AUP' completed - returned to 'Operational Status' — Sea Eagle 'Anti-Ship' missile capability |
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24/02/1990 |
To 'Station Flight', RAF Lossiemouth |
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Mar. 1990 |
Re-Issued to 208 Sqn., RAF Lossiemouth - coded '885' |
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| Date (exact) Between .gif){kind=small} |
(unknown) Aug.1989 Jan. 1991 |
Mod.1736 'Modified' - Smaller Wingtips — Fitted to extend airframe flying hours by reducing wing-loading. Result of fatigue testing of XN982 at HS Brough, to determine cause of the crash of XV345 while participating in 'Red Flag 80' on 07/02/1980 - (Fatigue testing commenced Jun. 1982 - solution implimented to specific airframes from Aug.1989-onwards) |
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Mid.1990 |
'Medium Sea Grey/Camouflage Grey' colour scheme, 12in. low-viz. 'Pink/Pale Blue' roundels applied, including 208 Sqn., insignia |
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Jan. 1991 |
Prepared for Operation 'Granby' - painted Desert 'ARTF' (Alkali Removable Temporary Finish) - coded 'L' |
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07/02/1991 |
Direct Transit to Muharraq Air Base, Bahrain - with In-Flight Re-Fuelling 2nd six aircraft: XX863/ S XX885/ L XX894/ O XX895/ G XV352/ U XX901/ N 'Nose Art' added during the campaign - 'Hello Sailor/Caroline/Famous Grouse' By the end of campaign, seven mission symbols displayed on starboard nose below cockpit canopy |
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17/03/1991 |
Returned to RAF Lossiemouth form the Gulf |
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Mar. 1991 |
Re-joined 208 Sqn., RAF Lossiemouth |
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Aug. 1992 |
Transferred to 12 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth - 'Desert Pink' ARTF removed to reveal 'Medium Sea Grey/Camouflage Grey' colour scheme, 12in. low-viz. 'Pink/Pale Blue' roundels — 12 Sqn. insignia applied (Gulf War 'Nose Art' and code 'L' retained) |
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01/10/1993 |
Retired - 12 Sqn., stood down from (Buccaneer) active service |
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09/12/2005 |
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grant approval for Buccaneer XX885 (G-HHAA) to be operated in the 'Complex Category' on the UK Civil Register Current position - Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire (date currency at 23/02/2006) |
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| Gulf War History of XX885 - "L" Hello Sailor/Caroline/Famous Grouse | ||
| Date: | Additional Information: | |
| 07/02/1991 | Transit from RAF Lossiemouth to Muharraq Air Base, Bahrain | Direct flight - (8 hrs 45 mins) |
| Date: | Target: | Additional Information: |
| 08/02/1991 | As Samawah — Highway bridge | |
| 08/02/1991 | Al Busalih — Bridge | |
| 09/02/1991 | Bayji Production South — Tanks | |
| 10/02/1991 | As Samawah — Pontoon bridge (west) | |
| 11/02/1991 | Al Amarah — Highway bridge | |
| 13/02/1991 | Al Fallujah — Highway bridge | |
| 14/02/1991 | Al Taqaddum Airfield — HAS* sites | *Hardened Aircraft Shelter |
| 15/02/1991 | As Salman East Airfield | |
| 16/02/1991 | Qal'at Salih Airfield | |
| 17/02/1991 | Kut Al Hayy East Airfield | |
| 18/02/1991 | Jalibah South East Airfield — HAS sites | |
| 19/02/1991 | Shaibah Airfield | |
| 19/02/1991 | Shaibah Airfield — Hangar | |
| 20/02/1991 | Ar Rumaylah South West Airfield | DNCO (Duty Not Carried Out) - weather |
| 21/02/1991 | Qal'at Salih Airfield Airfield — Runway Intersection | |
| 22/02/1991 | Qalat Sikar Airfield | |
| 23/02/1991 | Al Amara New Airfield | |
| 23/02/1991 | Al Amara New Airfield | |
| 25/02/1991 | Al Taqaddum Airfield | DNCO - weather |
| 27/02/1991 | Al Taqaddum Airfield — Hangars & Ammunition stores | |
| Date: | Additional Information: | |
| 17/03/1991 | Transit from Muharraq Air Base, Bahrain to RAF Lossiemouth | Direct flight - (8 hrs 45 mins) |
- by courtesy of the 'Buccaneer Aircrew Association'
| Source - | Buccaneer: The story of the last all-British strike aircraft (Tim Laming) Hawker Siddeley/Blackburn Buccaneer (Paul Jackson & Peter Foster) RAF Buccaneer (Peter R. Foster) (see Reference Library page for full details) Survivor's current position - The Blackburn Buccaneer Society |
Additional Info. - | R. Kelley: Airframe C/n NJ. Roberson (Historian, Buccaneer Aircrew Association) for information on: ASR1012 'Avionics Upgrade Programme' + 'Modified'-Smaller 'Wingtip' Airframes British Aviation Review - Vol.36 No.4 'CHECK SIX' decal sheet - No.72005 |