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| MORE OF
MORT'S BLUE HERONS COLLECTION |
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| Current
images: 20 |
Current
estimated download time: 43 seconds |
"Derek Morter lives in France. He was a FRADU pilot from
1970-85, flying 5500 hours with the Unit.
He retired in 1985 with
a total of 9000hrs, 6500 of which were in Hunters.
He was also
founder/leader of the Blue Herons aerobatics team until its
disbandment in 1980. He sent me a second batch of photos from his
collection."
| CAUGHT
IN THE BOX FORMATION |
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1. 
[© Royal Navy] |
2. 
[© Royal Navy] |
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1.
The team photographed as they perform a flyby in the box,
with XF977/865 leading
the formation, with WT806/838 and XE682/835 in the
No.2 and 3 slots. Lastly bring up the rear is the usual
lead aircraft of the team WW654/833.
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2.
Another box formation photo, this time capturing the team
as they are performing a formation-roll for the camera
ship.
The four aircraft in the photo are WT806/838 leading,
with WV267/836 and WT804/831 in the 2
and 3 slots and XE668/832 in the
No.4 position.
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3.
[© Richard Wilson]
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4. 
[© Richard Wilson]
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3.
Looking up on the under-surfaces of the four
aircraft in "card 4" formation as they carry
out another piece of precision formation flying. Making
up the team on this occasion were WW654/833, WT806/838,
WV267/836 and lastly XE682/835.
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4. This
shot shows the team completing a loop whilst in the
"card 4" formation.
The box comprises from top
left: WT804/831, WT806/838, XE668/832 and lastly
WV267/836.
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| RESTING ON
THE GROUND AT GREENHAM |
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5.  |
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5. Here
are the Blue Herons parked up on the Greenham Common ramp
ready for their display slot.
On the photo you can see
all the ladders have been attached to the aircraft ready
for the pilots to strap themselves in.
Also, you
can see WV267/836 in the foreground with WT806/838
behind.
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| SHOWING
OFF THE UPPER SURFACES ... |
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6. Capturing
above the formation as they perform a very tight box
routine.
This formation comprises the same four aircraft
seem in photo 2, and is taken on an air-to-air
photographic sortie.
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7.
Another box shot this time showing the team in the latter
stages of pulling out of a formation roll.
Aircraft here
include the same as above ... again :) Here you can see
the two-tone colour scheme on the RN GA.11 Hunter fleet,
slightly nicer then all grey I think.
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8.
Another result from the photo sortie, taken at a slightly
different angle then that of photo 6.
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| ...
AND THEN THE UNDER SURFACES |
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9. This
shot shows the aircraft with their white under-surfaces.
You also get a peak at the Hunter's undercarriage too, as
their wheels are down. Leading as usual is WW654/833 with
XE682/835 and WT806/838 in the 2 and 3 slots and
WV267/836 as No.4.
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10. The
team captured carrying out the Swan formation against a
very cloudy backdrop.
Leading is MORT in his cherished
WW654/833 with WV267/836 behind. WT806/838 and XE682/835
form the wings at the rear of the formation.
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11. Another
peak at their undercarriage legs, but this time there are
both the usual lead aircraft at the front and rear of the
formation. Sandwiched in between No. 1 XF977/865 and No.4
WW654/833 are WT806/838 and XE682/835 in the box
formation.
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12. 
[© Andy Tait]
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12. Here
is the scene taken from an airborne photo-ship taken by
Andy Tait on 27th June 1984.
It shows a Canberra T.22
with a Hunter under each wing. The T.8C is WT722/873 whilst
MORT is in the office of the GA.11 WV256/862. This
type of exercise was commonplace every Thursday when the
FRADU aircraft would test out the capabilities of various
RN ships in the Channel. However the photo doesn't comply
with the caption as this exercise actually took place on
a Wednesday :)
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| GREENHAM
COMMON TATTOO, 1979 |
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13.
[© Derek Morter]
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14. 
[© Derek Morter]
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13.
This shot captures some of the Blue Herons after they
have just touched down to Greenham on completion of their
display. The two aircraft pictured as they ran down the
runway are WT804/831 in the foreground with WV267/836 in
the background.
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14. Back
on the ramp for this shot that pictures the aircraft
lined up ready for action the next day.
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| MORE
COVERAGE FROM GREENHAM ... |
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15. 
[© Derek Morter]
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16. 
[© Derek Morter]
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15 &
16. These two shots show the aircraft
photographed on the ramp waiting for their display slot
at Greenham.
On this display the Unit brought five
aircraft to the show enabling them to keep a spare
aircraft in case one of the other aircraft went
unserviceable. The aircraft at the show were PR.11
XF977/865, with GA.11's WT804/831, XE682/835, WT806/838
and WV267/836.
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| THE
LEADER CAPTURED IN THE OFFICE |
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17. 
[© Derek Morter]
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18. 
[© Derek Morter]
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17 &
18. Here is Derek Morter photographed taxiing out and latterly taxiing
back in from the Blue Herons
display at Greenham Common in PR.11 XF977. This aircraft
was a regular member of the team and often was seen as
the lead aircraft when WW654 was not available.
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| THE
"REAL" ROYAL NAVY HUNTER SCHEMES |
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19. 
[© Derek Morter]
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20. 
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19.
This GA.11 made an appearance at another Greenham Common
event, and shows the aircraft, XE689/864 taxiing back to
its parking spot on the ramp. This aircraft too appeared
as part of the Blue Herons at some stage of its career,
and appeared at a few events between 1975 and 1980.
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20. This
shot is a fantastic air-to-air experience with a Hunter
T.8C. The shot was taken over the Yeovilton area and
shows XL598/871 top-side. The image also shows off the
day-glo colour scheme over the upper surfaces of the
aircraft ... looks a lot better then battleship grey to
me :)
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[Page 1 of MORT's
photos]
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Derek Morter gave all images shown above to myself. If you
wish to use these photos on another web-site you must first his permission.
© Mark Russell, 1998-2007.