Grostenquin France

Remains of 421 Squadron Sabre Aircraft – September 1963

Interestingly enough, these are the only photos I have that have anything to do with 2 Wing. This surprises me because during my three years on the other Indian squadron, 422 Squadron, at 4 Wing, I was at 2 Wing on several occasions and I have pictures from both 1 Wing and 3 Wing.

The reason I was able to take the Prestwick photos was that as the sabre squadrons were disbanding I ended up on 439 at Marville for another few months of sabre flying after 422 stood down. Hence I had the opportunity to take a sabre to Prestwick two more times, with 441 Squadron, and finally with 439 Squadron.

There is an amusing little sidebar to the sad scene of the scrap heap. When we delivered our birds from 422 Squadron, one of our stalwarts thought that a stick grip would be just the souvenir for him, since everything was to be scrapped eventually anyway. So he had a pocketful of all the necessary tools to remove one and off he went happily back to 4 Wing with his trophy. Eventually there was a great ruckus when this was discovered by the powers that be, an investigation, some knuckle rapping and so on. Six months later when 439 delivered the last bunch, one of the engineering officers at Prestwick was standing by the Bristol Freighter as we piled on next morning for the return trip to Marville, with a box of stick grips, passing them out to anyone who wanted one.