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The Buccaneer Aviation Group

Today’s photoshoot has been organised by Threshold Aero and The Buccaneer Aviation Group, more affectionately known as TBAG. Before we get into the shoot let’s look at the history of Kemble as this is a first time visit for me.  

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XX894 - Sean Strange

RAF Kemble began its life in 1936, becoming operational on the 22nd June 1938 with N°5 Maintenance Unit. In 1940 N°4 Service Ferry Pool joined the party becoming one of the main bases for the Air Transport Auxiliary in the region. Post-War, between 1966 and 1983, Kemble was home to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows operating Folland Gnats and Hawk T1s respectively. After the Red Arrows made their move in 1983 the station hosted a maintenance facility for the USAF seeing the likes of A-10s, F5s, F-15s, C-130s and KC-135s. The station was returned to the MoD on 31st March 1992 where airfield operations ceased, with the Royal Air Force officially leaving on 31st July 1992. Inevitably the Army took over maintaining it as a storage site. The site is now owned by Ronan Harvey and his business Cotswold Airport Holding Co Limited. Kemble has featured in several TV shows including Top Gear, Ultimate Force, Casualty and Wheeler Dealers.

 

I am pleased to say the Kemble is playing host to some fantastic aviation heritage groups. The Bristol Britannia (XM496), The British Phantom Aviation Group (XT597, XT905 & ZE360), Canberra Gnat T1 (XP502, Hawker Hunter (XE665) and of course The Buccaneer Aviation Group (XX894 & XW544).

 

The Buccaneer Aviation Group - Sean Strange

Let’s get to it then, TBAG, so today we’ll be looking at Buccaneer XX894 and XW544 which are both S.2B variants. XX894 started its operational life with 16 Squadron stationed at RAF Laarbruch in Germany, this was followed by some time with 15 Squadron. This airframe took part in Ex Red Flag in 1980 over the pond in the United States. In the early 1980s XX894 was transferred to 208 Squadron stationed at RAF Lossiemouth, subsequently seeing service with 237 OCU and 12 Squadron, also at Lossiemouth. In 1990 XX894 was to fly the flag for 12 Squadron’s 75th Anniversary sporting a green and black flash down the fuselage. Of course at this time Operation Granby was about to take place and XX894 would take part in these operations in Iraq. Each aircraft was given a name and tail code, XX894 was given Aberlour ‘O’. On the 27th February 1991, on returning from a combat sortie, XX894 made an attack on an Iraqi airfield Shaykh Mazhar, where an AN-12 was taxiing making it the only Buccaneer in the Gulf War to destroy another aircraft. In February 1994 XX894 was repainted to represent FAA colours with the code XV869 ‘020’ in celebration of the Buccaneers use in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. XX894 made its final flight on 7th April 1994 where it flew into St Athan ready for disposal.

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XX894 - Sean Strange

XW544 entered service in the Royal Air Force in 1972 initially with 15 Squadron at RAF Laarbruch however it was later moved to 16 Squadron in 1979 and moved back again to 15 in 1982. XW544 was bit of problem child spending ‘many hours in hangars’ owing to fuel leaks which inevitably lead to it being withdrawn from service on 4th July 1983 at RAF Shawbury with just 2,227 hours and 10 minutes of flight logged on the airframe. XW544’s operational life was far from over however, it was moved to N°2 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford. With the retirement of the Buccaneer from active service in 1994 many of the types went to scrap and XW544 was also sent for open storage in the corner of a yard with only a tarpaulin for cover. In mid 2004 rescue came in the form of Dave and Andy Webber and George Palmer who ensured that XW544 started a new life at Bruntingthorpe alongside XX894 and XX900. XW544 is currently undergoing maintenance and will hopefully be repainted in that signture green cammo scheme in September 2025.

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XX894 XW544 - Sean Strange

If you are interested in their history there is plenty of information on TBAG's website in the link at the top of this article.


The next step of the story here is on 20th August 2020 TBAG made the move to Kemble from Bruntingthorpe. I live not too far away from Bruntingthorpe and remember the Cold War Jet days with fondness. They were fantastic days but the site became a mess through poor decision making from the airfield owners making it unfriendly to those of us dedicated to aviation heritage. I am very hopeful that with this move to Kemble, the airfield owners understand the importance of these aircraft  and the painstaking work that the volunteers put in to keeping it alive for future generations to appreciate.

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XX894 - Sean Strange

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XW544 - Sean Strange

Blackburn Buccaneer The Buccaneer Aviation Group XX894 - Sean Strange

I dedicate this article to George Palmer affectionately known as ‘Piggy’ who passed away just before Christmas. Blue skies good sir!   



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