Javelins in Service

"Hello Hunter" and "Jav Hunter formation" were taken 20th August 1961 for a fly past over Brighton commemorating the Dieppe raid.		Javelin at Luqa, Malta
Javelin starting engines at Sharja.	Javs on the ground at Masirah.	I think it is either at Dyarbikir, Turkey or Mehrabhad - Tehran, Iran
Javelins taking off from Varanasi (Banares), India... clouds indicate monsoon season.		RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia
Intrepid Aviator... F/L Alex Saunders (Navigator) (RCAF Exchange Officer)		F/L Ken Pye, RAF Pilot, F/L Alex Saunders (Navigator) (RCAF Exchange Officer)
Javelin over the UK
Javelin firing Aden cannons over the Wash.

These photos were taken by Trevor Taylor, who served with 64 Squadron as an Instrument mechanic. He was based at RAF Binbrook from 1963 to 1965 and worked on Mk 9 Javelins. The colour pictures were taken in 1963 on a detachment to Kalaikunda, an Indian Air Force base. (Images © Trevor Taylor, used here with kind permission.)

	Javelins of 64 Sqn taken when they were based at Duxford	23 sqn taken at Horsham-St-Faith just outside Norwich about 1960

Unusual air to ground shot! Taken from a Belvedere flying over the ramp at Kuching in 1963 showing two Javelins (probably 60 Squadron) with a pair of 20 Squadron Hunters alongside

(Image © Len Gibson, used here with kind permission.)

Air to air shot of Javelin over Borneo.
An old photograph showing the Javelin over Borneo taken on September 19th, 1965 by Indonesian Air Force (AURI) recon aeroplane.
(Image © Jaka Anindita, used here with kind permission.)

Air to air shot of Mk 1 Javelin.
With thanks to Mark Sherlock

(Image © unknown)

Javelin Mk 9s..."at RAF Luqa, Malta, in 1964 (I think) whilst they were staging through."

(Image © David Price, used here with kind permission.)

Another Mk 9 in Borneo, from Dave Wadman in Canada:

"...one of my 60 Sqn Javelin photos which I took at Kuching in 1964. I don't remember the exact date but know that it was in mid to late 1964 and IIRC it was returning after flying escort to a re-supply Hastings or Valetta. I'm sorry that I can't give you the serial but I think that the letter may be 'R'."

(Image © Dave Wadman , used here with kind permission.)

As the last Javelin unit, RAF 60 Squadron at RAF Tengah held a special ceremony at sunset on the day it was disbanded, 30 April 1968. This picture of the line up was taken the next morning.

"There were nine aircraft altogether, eight FAW Mk 9's and one T3. This would have been the last occasion on which all the Sqn's aeroplanes were photographed together.
Later that day, the aircraft began to be ferried to RAF Seletar for disposal, several going to the fledgling Singapore Air Force as ground instructional airframes, whilst the others were, I believe, broken up."
(Image © Laurence Bean , used here with kind permission.)

A Mk 7 Javelin, XH756, armed with Firestreak missiles poses for the camera on a special photo shoot. The pilot, Mo Aller, remembers:

"This photo of 756 was taken from a Mk.14 Meteor. The Javelin crew was F/L Mo Aller, RCAF exchange pilot, and S/L John Ross,RAF navigator Many photos were taken,one of which was on the cover page of the Feb 61 Royal Air Force Flying Review mag.Another was on pg 173 in a book called " RAF - A History of the Royal Air Force Through its Aircraft"-a great close-up of 756 with 4 Firestreaks

These pictures are from Phil Balsdon in Sydney, Australia: "My father Flt./Lt. Raymond Balsdon, served as navigator on 23 squadron at RAF Coltishall from July 1958 to June 1960. He passed on some years ago and my mother recently put into my care his memorabilia. I thought these photos would be of interest to you." (Images © Phil Balsdon, used here with kind permission.)
	23 squadron Javelin (XH849) in mid air refuel from a Valiant.
	The 23 squadron crew in front of XH960.
	My father centre back, I think Wng. Cmdr Graham Chapman, and pilot I think Flt./ Lt Les Arthur showing Firestreak missiles to some VIPs. In the background is a Lightning of 74 squadron.

A nice shot of a Mk 9 Javelin again with all four Firestreaks, landing at Farnborough with flaps and airbrakes selected.

Some information and pictures from Michael Slorance, who served with 5 Squadron: "I spent 6 years as an Instrument Fitter working on Javelins starting in 1959 on 29(f) Squadron with Mk 6's then Mk 9's . Our Sister Squadron was 151 operating Mk 5's so XA699 would have been there at the time 59/62 at RAF Leuchars . I was posted to RAF Laarbruch in May 1962 and joined 5 Squadron there .Ground crew don't keep log books but I must have worked on XA699 . It was a bit of a culture shock at Laarbruch to realize that we held fully armed Javelins on "Battle Flight" in readiness to repel the Russian threat .We had plenty of Scramble's but never actually shot anything down , although we did actually manage to fire a 30mm cannon on the ground ,I'm told! The main problems for Instrument Bashers when not pulling oxygen trolleys up and down pans was pitot static leaks and flickering fuel gauges . The later fault caused by droplets of water in the fuel .Rectification meant removing the underwing fuel tank unit panel's (thank God for pump screwdrivers) removing the tank capacitance units and swabbing out the fuel tanks .Everybody stank of kerosene in those days! Nov 62 the Squadron moved to RAF Geilenkirchen and re-equipped with Mk 9's .Battle Flight duties resumed with the assistance of our sister Squadron 11(F) at the far end of the airfield . The Mk 9's were armed with 4x Firestreak Missiles and 2x 30mm Cannons so the Eastern Block knew not to mess with us although now and again we deployed to RAF Gutersloh ,nearer the border when there was a threat . End of 1965 meant the end of an era as 5 then 11 disbanded and were replaced with 19 and 92 Lightnings who eventually moved to Gutersloh . I returned to Germany on a subsequent tour in 1984 to join 19(F) Squadron operating Phantoms at RAF Wildenrath where we still maintained readiness with "Battle Flight" until 1992 . I'm proud to have done my bit . (Images and captions © Michael Slorance, used here with kind permission.)
	4 FAW Mk 9's of 5 Squadron Geilenkirchen in formation over Germany in 1965. The Squadron was to disband in October and reform with Lightnings at RAF Binbrook.
	This was taken at IAF base Cameri Italy in June 1965 whilst on detachment From RAF Geilenkirchen in Germany. XH903 (G) was the aircraft of the Squadron Commander W/C Gordon and his Navigator S/L McCabe. This aircraft has been preserved at Gloster Aviation Museum and was displayed at RIAT last year , looking magnificent Sadly 5 Squadron would disband 4 months later and reform with Lightnings at RAF Binbrook. All those in the picture are groundcrew of 5 Squadron .I am 2nd from the right , in the cockpit Cpl Arnie Lord .
	At Cameri again XH780 crewing in.
	Cameri again XH713 being prepared for flight.
	Cameri again enjoying the Italian sunshine left to right: Cpl Jim Howard (Instrument Basher) Cpl Mick Slorance (Instrument Basher) Cpl Paddy Budina (Electrician) and Cpl Bill Elliott (Electrician). When we were young! 1965.
	Leaving IAF Base Cameri to return to RAF Geilenkirchen XH903 with W/C Gordon and his Nav S/L McCabe. Ground crew would return later in an Argosy.
	Another view of 5 Squadron Formation Team Geilenkirchen 1965.
	And another !
	Taken late 50's 29 Sqn Mk.6's on a Summers evening awaiting the night flying sorties.
	Once again late 50's at Leuchars. Two Mk.6's of 29 Sqn airborne out of Leuchars.
	long distance shots... This one taken late 50's during an exercise shows 29 Sqn Mk.6's on the ORP at Leuchars with 151 Sqn Mk.5's on the line (XA699 probably there). Impressive line up but one attacking aircraft could have taken out the lot!
	Another one take late 50's at Leuchars looking at 29 Sqn Mk.6's and to the right 151 Sqn line and in all probability XA699 !
	Origin unknown but dated 1957 46 Sqn I believe.