1951 Film,"Wing to Wing"

blob:https://www.youtube.com/d78648e6-77d9-42b7-984b-adfbaf4a8532

I saw the above film in 1963 when I was an Air Cadet-The footage is very good but some of the commentary is a bit doubtful.I think the Washington shots were taken at Coningsby,the aircraft takes off on a runway marked 08 which seems to be at the eastern side of the airfield-This is now marked 07/25(I think it was designated 08/26 at one time)..If it was taken at Coningsby then the runway heading marking convention must have changed since 1951-perhaps someone may know.

A few shots of the Canberra are shown ,it looks like binbrook where the firs squadron formed in 1951.

Washingtons were based at Marham in 51 so it may be Marham in the film.

Thanks,the Marham runway heading does not match the one shown in the film.

Bloodhound1949 wrote:

...runway marked 08 ...-This is now marked 07/25(I think it was designated 08/26 at one time)..If it was taken at Coningsby then the runway heading marking convention must have changed since 1951-perhaps someone may know.

In 1955 Coningsby's main was 07/25 (from SD722). In 1970 it was 08/26 (RAF En Route Supplement)

EDIT: Couldn't get the link to work, but here's another one:

The Washington is at 6.36 mins. I thought the heading was '07'

Many thanks for sorting the link out and the gen.I have had another look and at 5.44 it appears to read 08 but,"My eyes are dim I cannot see,I have not bought my specs. with me !". I had a look at 6.36 and I think is shows a B36.

In the background of the Washington ground shots can be seen a group of hangars,maybe a J type and a B1 on the left -This may tie in with it being Coningsby,the B1 now being the B. of B. Flight hangar?

Bloodhound1949 wrote:

I have had another look and at 5.44 it appears to read 08
. I had a look at 6.36 and I think is shows a B36.

Yes you're correct (all these 'B' bombers look the 'b' same to me)

Re the B-36 at 6.36 mins etc:

From: forum.keypublishing.com/archive/index.php/t-91126.html
Only Brize had an '07' runway in 1955.

I never saw a B-36 but I had a repetitive dream I guess around 1970 where I witnessed a big bomber with multiple engines in serious trouble in the distance. It then crashed into a wood with horrible consequences. I probably had this dream half-a-dozen times and have no idea what prompted it.

A B36 crashed into a wood on the approach to Boscombe Down...I think they all walked away and survived.....

Due to magnetic variation changing over time runway headings do change.
Stanstead changed from 23/05 to 22/04 a couple of years ago

Carnaby wrote:

I never saw a B-36 but I had a repetitive dream I guess around 1970 where I witnessed a big bomber with multiple engines in serious trouble in the distance. It then crashed into a wood with horrible consequences. I probably had this dream half-a-dozen times and have no idea what prompted it.

We lived near Bovingdon in the fifties and before I even started school, I knew a what Dakota and an Anson were.
One day I saw this 'big aeroplane with 6 propellors of the back of the wings' fly past. I rushed indoors and told my older brother.
He hit me and told me I was lying; there was no such thing!
Although it was very low and heading the right way, I somehow doubt it landed at Bovingdon.