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03MAR56
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First flown as F.Mk.6 XE614 | |||||||||||||||||||
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OCT57
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Issued to No 263 Sqn at RAF Wattisham | |||||||||||||||||||
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JUL58
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No 263 Sqn disbanded at RAF Stradishall | |||||||||||||||||||
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JUN60
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Rebuilt as FR.Mk.10 | |||||||||||||||||||
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MAR63
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1417 Flight was formed at RAF Khormaksar, Aden to provide a photo reconnaissance capability for No 8 Squadron RAF which operated the Hunter FGA Mk 9 as part of the Aden Strike Wing. 1417 Flight took over the five Hunter FR Mk 10 (including XE614) which were previously assigned to 8 Sqn. The first Commanding Officer of 1417 Flight was Peter Lewis whose personal aircraft, XE614, carried his initials PL on the tail and nosewheel door. Peter Lewis' account of his time in Aden can be read here. | |||||||||||||||||||
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APR63
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By the end of April 1963, 1417 Flight was ready for operations. (Source: Peter Lewis) | |||||||||||||||||||
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22APR64
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Flight Lieutenant George Cole joined 1417 Flight at RAF Khormaksar, Aden where he was allotted Hunter XE614. Hunters of 1417 Flight carried their pilot's initials as codes so XE614 was painted as GC. "1417 Flight was a very small flight with five aircraft and six pilots and a very popular posting as 90% of the flying was at low level, very low level. I had also managed to arrive on the flight at the time the Radfan campaign started, so the flying tended to be varied and interesting. Only pilots from 1417 Flight were cleared to fly as singletons upcountry." (Source: George Cole) | |||||||||||||||||||
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19MAY64
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George Cole's first flight in XE614. (Source: George Cole) | |||||||||||||||||||
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26OCT64
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George Cole in XE614 was escorting another Hunter returning to Muharaq via Masirah. Climbing out from Masirah after refuelling, the engine of XE614 surged and flamed-out. Fortunately, the weather was perfect and the subsequent dead-stick landing back at Masirah was not a problem. The whole flight had lasted only 20 minutes. George Cole returned to Khormaksar on an Argosy of No 105 Sqn and thus never learned the reason for the flame-out. XE614 remained at Masirah where the engine was changed. (Source: George Cole) | |||||||||||||||||||
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25JAN66
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George Cole's last flight in XE614. It is believed that XE614 returned to the U.K. for servicing shortly thereafter. (Source: George Cole) | |||||||||||||||||||
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68
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The Republic of Singapore ordered 12 FGA Mk.74 fighter-bombers and 4 FR Mk.74A reconnaissance fighters. All were refurbished ex RAF FGA Mk.9s. | |||||||||||||||||||
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71
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1417 Flight disbanded | |||||||||||||||||||
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JUN71
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Refurbished as FR Mk.74A and delivered to Singapore's Air Defence Command (later RSAF) with serial number 533 | |||||||||||||||||||
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73
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Modified to FR.Mk.74B | |||||||||||||||||||
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09MAR83
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Photographed at RAAF Williamtown | |||||||||||||||||||
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SEP87
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Modified to FGA Mk.74BS | |||||||||||||||||||
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JUN89
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Last flight with RSAF. Total Time 4736:6 hours. Fatigue Life 63.98% | |||||||||||||||||||
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95
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Sold to Geoff Moesker | |||||||||||||||||||
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05APR05
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Sold to Greg Ackman | |||||||||||||||||||
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14DEC05
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Arrived at Caloundra by road from Tocumwal | |||||||||||||||||||
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03FEB06
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Reassembled at Caloundra | |||||||||||||||||||
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01JUN06
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Donated to QAM by Greg Ackman | |||||||||||||||||||
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