HAWKER HUNTER FGA MK 74BS 533
MSN 41H679972
(AA000054)

 

 

QAM thanks Greg Ackman for this aircraft which was donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

 
XE614
    
03MAR56
 First flown as F.Mk.6 XE614.
27APR56
 Accepted by RAF. (Source: 3)
18FEB57
 At No 5 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
17MAY57
 At No 263 Sqn coded R. (Source: 3)
OCT57
 Issued to No 263 Sqn at RAF Wattisham
JUL58
 No 263 Sqn disbanded at RAF Stradishall.
01JUL58
 At No 1 Sqn coded R. (Source: 3)
28AUG58
 Overran the runway at Duxford sustaining Cat 3R damage. (Source: 3)
13OCT58
 At Hawkers, Dunsfold for repair. (Source: 3)
15SEP59
 Repairs completed. (Source: 3)
01JUL60
 To Hawkers for conversion to F.R. Mk. 10. (Source: 3)
27FEB61
 At No 19 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
28FEB61
 Conversion completed. (Source: 3)
25APR61
 Allotted to the RAF Middle East Air Force. (Source: 3)
28APR61
 At No 8 Sqn coded W. (Source: 3)
MAR63
 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.
26APR63
 XE614 allotted to No 1417 Flight. (Source: 3)
APR63
 By the end of April 1963, 1417 Flight was ready for operations. (Source: 1)
22APR64
 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: 2)
19MAY64
 George Cole's first flight in XE614. (Source: 2)
26OCT64
 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: 2)
17JAN65
 Allotted to No 19 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
16JUN65
 Allotted to No 5 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
25JAN66
 George Cole's last flight in XE614. It is believed that XE614 returned to the U.K. for servicing shortly thereafter. (Source: 2) (See next entry)
66
 XE614 was photographed still in service with 1417 Flight assigned to Flt Lt Richard Johns and carrying his initials RJ.
XE614 later carried the code RW. (Source: 3)
04SEP67
 At No 8 Sqn coded Z. (Source: 3)
26APR68
 Damaged in a heavy landing. (Source: 3)
18JUL68
 At No 19 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
68
 The Republic of Singapore ordered 12 FGA Mk.74 fighter-bombers and 4 FR Mk.74A reconnaissance fighters.
15JAN69
 At No 5 Maintenance Unit. (Source: 3)
10FEB69
 At No 8 Sqn coded Z. (Source: 3)
At this time 8 Sqn was based at RAF Muharraq, Bahrain.
25AUG69
 Flown to the UK in Belfast XR363 Goliath. (Source: 3)
by NOV69
 To Hawker Siddeley Aviation. (Source: 3)
71
 1417 Flight disbanded.
JUN71
 Refurbished as FR Mk.74A for Singapore's Air Defence Command (later RSAF).
19JUL71
 Sold to Hawker Siddeley Aviation.
G-9-366
    
Allocated British Class B registration G-9-366. (Source: 3)
533
    
Allocated Singapore ADC serial 533.
73
 Modified to FR.Mk.74B.
09MAR83
 Photographed at RAAF Williamtown.
SEP87
 Modified to FGA Mk.74BS.
JUN89
 Last flight with RSAF. Total Time 4736:6 hours. Fatigue Life 63.98%
95
 Sold to Geoff Moesker.
05APR05
 Sold to Greg Ackman.
14DEC05
 Arrived at Caloundra by road from Tocumwal.
03FEB06
 Reassembled at Caloundra.
01JUN06
 Donated to QAM by Greg Ackman.

 

1417 Reconnaissance Flight in Aden 1963/64 by Peter Lewis


For more information on Hunters in the Middle East during the sixties,
please visit Ray Deacon's comprehensive website:

Radfan Hunters

 

SOURCES
1
 Peter Lewis
2
 George Cole
3
 Hawker Hunters in RAF Service, Part 10, Keith Wilson-Clark, Air-Britain Aviation World, Winter 2019.

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 



 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
13
22DEC19
 Added significantly to the history from Source: 3.
12
29MAY19
 Added an image of the aircraft at Williamtown in 1983 thanks to Grahame Hutchison.
11
17OCT16
 Added an image of the aircraft in the sunshine.
10
07FEB14
 Added a close-up image of the squadron markings on XE614 at Aden in 1963. Thanks to Peter Lewis.
9
31AUG09
 Ray Deacon has supplied an image of XE614 in service with 1417 Flight in Aden in 1966. The photo was taken from an accompanying Hunter flown by Flt Lt Ken Simpson.
8
06APR09
 Peter Lewis has rediscovered an image of XE614/PL taking-off at Aden in 1964. Thank you Peter.
7
04APR09
 Added three images of XE614 in Aden thanks to Ray Deacon who was there. Also added an image of the Hunter pilots from 1417 Flight thanks to Peter Lewis who was also there.
6
18NOV08
 Added two images of a recent visit to QAM by Peter Lewis who flew this Hunter in Aden in 1963-64.
5
24JUN08
 Added an in-depth account of 1417 Flight in Aden written by Peter Lewis who was the Flight's first CO.
4
01SEP06
 Added considerable detail of the aircraft's time with No 1417 Flight. Thanks to George Cole.
3
12JUL06
 Added reference to presence at RAAF Williamtown in 1983.
2
16FEB06
 Added arrival and reassembly dates at Caloundra.
1
18OCT05
 Original issue.