This is a listing of units that have operated Bloodhound and Thunderbird systems.
All with BRH / AEI
Type 83 “Yellow River” radar.
21 Wing Lindholme -
94 Sqn Misson
112 Sqn Breighton –
1959 -65
247 Sqn Carnaby –
1960-63
24 Wing Watton –
242 Sqn Marham, October
1959 to September 1964 – 32 launchers
263 Sqn Watton.
266 Sqn Rattlesden
148 Wing North Coates -
161 Sqn Dunholme
Lodge (? 141 Squadron, RAF Dunholme Lodge)
222 Sqn Woodhall Spa
- May 1960 –July 64
264 Sqn North Coates
- Jul 1958- ? , first BH
deployment – 24 launcher pads
151 Wing North Luffenham –
62 Sqn Woolfox Lodge
257 Sqn Warboys
30 Sqn RAAF Williamtown Jan. 1961 - 1968
39 Sqn RAAF Williamtown from Jan.30 1963 ?
(There is some
conflict here, an RAAF source says that only 30 Sqn. had bloodhound.)
Details unknown,
Ferranti source suggest Mk 1 exports as well as Mk 2
Details unknown, Ferranti source suggest Mk 1 exports as well as Mk 2
Note: type 87 = AEI Blue Anchor radar
type 86 = Ferranti Indigo Corkscrew radar
25 Sqn - Oct 1963-70
North Coates
Type 87 radar and
Type 86 radar
25 Sqn -1971-83
Bruggen(A flight
& HQ), Laarbruch (C flight) and Wildenrath(B flight) (Germany)
Type 86 radar only
(T87 in storage)
25 Sqn - March 1983-
Aug. 89
Barkston Heath (A
flight), Wyton (B&D flight &HQ), Wattisham (C flight)
Type 87 radar and
Type 86 radar
25 Sqn – Malta, 1969-
?
Type 86 radar
33 Sqn – 1/3/1965-31/1/1970
Butterworth (Penang, Malaya)
Type 87 radar.
33 Sqn – 1/3/1966-
Kuching (Malaya)
Type 87 radar
41 Sqn - Sept 1965 –
Sept. 1970
West Raynham
Type 87 radar and
Type 86 radar (three of each)
41 Sqn - 1967-68, 1 section
El Adem (Libyia)
Type 86 radar
41 Sqn –1969- ?, 1
section
Cyprus
Type 86 radar
65 Sqn - 1964-73
Seletar (Singapore)
Type 87 radar and
Type 86 radar, two of each
(T87 systems
transferred to Singapore on withdrawal)
85 Sqn – 1975-93
West Raynham plus
North Coates, Bawdsey, Coltishall, Wyton, Barkston Heath and Wattisham
Type 87 radar and
Type 86 radar
(West Raynham, 3 x
T87 2 x T86 until 1986 then 5 x T86)
112 Sqn - 1968 - 1975
Paramali (Cyprus)
Type 87 radar.
Other UK locations to have seen Bloodhound –
Aberporth, Donna Nook, RAF Newton, Edinburgh
Swedish system
designation RB68, Bloodhound II with Ferranti Firelight AD10 radar.
12 systems
1964-72
Six radars retained
for surveillance until 1974 (Fenix).
Nine radars then
returned to UK for conversion and replacement of Type 87 radars.
Swiss system
designation BL64, Bloodhound II with AEI Scorpion type 87 radar.
1965 - 1999
Bloodhound II with
AEI Blue Anchor type 87 radar.
2 sections, 1973 -
1998
Singapore rumoured
to have handed over at least one system in 1998. It would be a remarkable feat
to get a venerable and complex analogue system like this into effective
service.
Thunderbird I
details unknown, believed to use BRH / AEI Type 83 “Yellow River” radar.
Thunderbird II with
Ferranti Firelight AD10 radar. Ten radars purchased.
Five “Green Ginger” surveillance systems purchased from AEI / Marconi.
36 Regiment 1965- 1976 ?
457 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery ?
UK locations to have seen Thunderbird include–
Aberporth, Stevenage, Ty Croes, Manorbier
Ten Thunderbirds
sections ordered in 1966, cancelled in 1968 when King Idris overthrown. Some
radars were built and later used in the UK.