Vickers Valetta

I was on a trip in 1952 with the Examining Wing whilst serving in the RAF stationed at CFS Little Rissington, I recall (I'm ninety now so bear with me☹️) I used to have the actual itinerary of the trip, it was about 15 weeks and we covered a lot of territory in that time , in some. places we had to stay in Hotels, Calcutta India was one such where we stayed at the Great Eastern Hotel, where I had my first ever taste of curry, loved it , I have some photographs of the Valetta which we flew in, I do remember that the
C.O. on that trip was Sqd Ldr Alistair Mackey. I wonder if there is anyone still around who were at CFS in that era.

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Joe de Hoop joedehoopuk@aol.com. 07973348968
Served in 3 Para '53 to '57 & I'm looking to buy a model Valetta - anyone know of a source - apart from the DIY plastic models !!
Many thanks & for the above reading

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I was permanent staff at Abingdon late 56 to 58. we jumped Valletta Hastings conversion to "Yankee packet C119 Beverly and trial jumps at Abingdon not Weston in French (nord atlas's for the ill fated Suez fiasco.Can anyone remember these times

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John Lowe, 17.05.2017 Has it wrong the Valetta had only one port side exit and held 20 Para's 9,10,11,and 12 were sat over the Spar, Number's 13 to 20 missed out going over the Spar Blue Ex P.C.A.U. Staff and 1 Para

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First flight I ever took was from Abingdon in a Valetta I didn't land in it tho' ,landed at Weston on the green by parachute, ex 1 para.

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I was national Service and sent to RAF Fayid (canal Zone)
I was made up to Corporal as I was in charge of Mail (Government, Diplomatic Troops}
December 1954 I had a terrific amount of Troops mail for UK.
Troops mail had priority over all other loads
I had to off load 6 passengers going home UK Christmas leave
to take them off because the plane would be overloaded
You can imagine the names I was called, Sorry boys--The mail has to go through Jim 2556756

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Hi,i did two parachute jumps from the valetta in June 1957on course 446 at Abingdon.If you were in the last three to jump in either stick you had to climb over the spar at the rear end.By the time you got over with all your equipment the man in front was going out of the exit.Ilater joined 1 Para.Happy exciting times John.

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For Changing (bloody predictive text) read Changi....

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In 1963 I was flown from RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia to RAF Changing in Singapore.
The Captain was Flt Lt Luby......Altitude... 9,500 ft....

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Stationed at RAF Abingdon Jan 1952 /53, I recall doing guard duty on a Valetta that crashed at Cowley, Oxford during that period - I believe that one engine was shut down and a prop feather was carried out on the operating engine.
This incident does not appear in any of the accident reports for the Valetta aircraft - Can anyone else recall this ?

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happy days these are memories never to be forgotten.































happy days never to be forgotten both in changi and in shawbury in the uk. still looking for some of my mates back in 55 to 57 asf

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I was stationed at RAF Abingdon Jan 1952 to July 1954. I remember on one occasion a Valetta (presumably of 24 Squadron) had difficulties on take-off and having to fly around the airfiel buring off fule before landing safely. Does anyone have any info on this - purely out of interest.

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I WORKED ON VALETTA,S DURING MAY 51 &AUG.52. I WITNESSED THE CRASH OF VW 156 ON 2-5-51. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT SQD IT
BELONGED TO?

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Nice to read all the comments on this site ,I`m ex 1para never used the Valetta but would like to build a model , iff there is anyone out there with a plan of about 50inch. span connact by e-mail . Many thanks.

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I was also at Dishforth along with George Langfield 1951 /2.
A great station, terrific friends, very good officers.
We all had our trips to Malta and Tripoli as supernuminary crew and really enjoyed them. We did not travel in luxury and the health and safety brigade would nowadays have kittens but we knew our planes were properly serviced and would get us back home. Wish I had stayed in the R A F
Great job, wonderfull times what an experience.Regards to
George Langfield and anyone else who was there at that time.

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My Dad , Tommy Taylor, was stationed on Valetta aircraft in Egypt .... end of WW2.

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Ref Valletta WJ494 - alanstirrujp84-aol.com
I attended this crash. Details were printed in the Singapore Straits Times dated 23rd. February 1954 and further details are available from the Aviation Safety Network web site.

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Mate of mine was in the RAF, Alan Gatford, now 79 years old worked on the flying pig. He emigrated to New Zealand at 72. Does anybody out there know him?

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I was in Air Traffic Control at Fayid (Suez Canal Zone) from 1951 to 1953. We had five squadrons of Valettas,70,78,114,204 and 216. Towards the end of my service, 114 Squadron became a V.I.P. carrier and moved to RAF Kabrit and 204 was disbanded but immediately re-formed as 84 Squadron.

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My Father, Ronnie Stirrup, survived the wreck of WJ 494 on approach to Changi airport on 21 February 1954. The aircraft developed engine trouble whilst making its final approach, unfortunately the pilot "feathered" the wrong engine causingthe aircraft to lose height, clip trees and break up.

Would anybody know where I can obtain additional information regarding this accident, is it possible that the investigation report is still obtainable and who would I contact?

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