Whats the aircraft....?

[Ray C]

This is a posting iv'e been meaning to place for quite some time, Taken early-mid 50s
it shows my dear Dad 2nd from left standing to attention.
What rank is the officer [with sword] he's about to shake hands with...? And what are the aircraft in the picture...?


Anything would be most welcome.....

[*]

[Olicat]

He's an air commodore, not sure on the aircraft... looks a bit like a Typhoon/Tempest but I'll have a look around for you.

[Ray C]

Great start.....good man, let's see what turns up. My dad joined the RAF in the mid 30s
as a builder believe it or not....! then moved on to an airframe fitter serving in Borneo during
the 2nd world war, he left in the early 60s basically to die of cancer....grim time that I can just remember.

Then my mum met another RAF man, again an airframe fitter (another great bloke), their
both gone now but I do have just a few pictures that have question marks.....like the
posted shot,

Thanks, Ray.

[Mackrick]

Don't think it's typhoon or tempest as they have no undercarriage doors attached to the leg.

[MOD]

It is a Boulton Paul Balliol

http://www.airteamimages.com/pics/129/129405_800.jpg

ibw

[Ray C]

Wonderful ....thanks all.

[Olicat]

Nothing like a Typhoon/Tempest then

[MOD]

Perhaps not Oilcan but then I never spotted the Air Commode.. Talk about 'class has its privileges'. There's the Air Commode in his 'Gieves and Hawkes' tailored uniform plus Sword and the other 4 guys looking like the line-up for the final of the inter services 'sack race' - No offence to your Pa .. RayC

[Ray C]

No offense taken.....in fact thanks to you both, & with further investigation, I discoverd from
another shot namely me in a pushchair entitled " ray aged one @ middle wallop", further
investigation resulted in Balliol's in service at Middle Wallop from 1953, Bingo.....! I was born 52,

Conclusion, this picture must be my dad serving with 288 squadron middle wallop circa
1953-55?.....

[Dan4th]

Just to add a little something::::::::::::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulton_Paul_Balliol

Danf.

[Ramshornvortex]

I never spotted the Air Commode

It's always useful to know where the 'facilities' are in an aircraft Ian!!

I think you mean Air Commodore (1* General)....

[Ray C]

I wonder who the Air Commodore is......?

[MOD]

It's always useful to know where the 'facilities' are in an aircraft Ian!!

I wonder who the Air Commodore is......?

I think you might be pushing your luck a bit there Ray.. But you never know with this bunch of forumeers..


ibw

[Paddy]

MOD is right. The Bolton Paul Reliant was originally going to be a turbo-prop 3 seat trainer (why?) in 1947. It was adopted with a piston engine but only stayed in service until the early fifties when replaced by the Vampire.