1960 - 1979 Photo Gallery

This gallery covers the period between Church Fenton's closure as a front line fighter base at the end of the 1950s, and its re-opening in 1979 as 7 Flying Training School.

These photos are all courtesy of and © Chris Chantrill. All from 1968.

	Aerial view of RAF Church Fenton from a Chipmunk cockpit
	Members of Leeds UAS outside the crew-room
	Line up of Leeds UAS Chipmunks
	Chris in front of a Chipmunk on the line
	Chris sitting in the captain's seat of a Chipmunk
	Chipmunk with its engine running on the line
	Chipmunk taxies in from the runway
	Chipmunk taking off
	Chipmunk WG478 taking off
	Chipmunk WK518, now with the Battle of Britain memorial flight
	Chipmunk just becoming airborne
	The world-famous Red Arrows
	Red Arrows Gnats in the sun on the pan after their display
	Patrouille de France, flying Fouga Magisters
	Various views of Chipmunks landing
	Chipmunk WK590 becoming airborne
	Walk-round checks on Chipmunk WP915
	Instructor and student walk back to the crew room after a sortie

These photos are thanks to Dennis Pasco; all were taken by the Station Photographer, and therefore are Crown Copyright.

	Two photos of Church Fenton QFIs on the gate guard Spitfire, BM597. These were taken just before the disbandment of 7FTS in Novmber 1966.
	Three photos from the Station Sports Day, summer 1966. The first is the final of the 100 yards, with Pilot Officer Threadgould winning, and Dennis coming in second, far right. The second photo is the final of the 220 yards, with the same result as for the 100 yards. The last photo is the final of the 440 yards, with Dennis winning on the right.

Two photos taken at a Station Open Day, 31st May 1971, courtesy of Brian Lewis

	A Meteor F8 cockpit looking in a sorry state on the fire dump
	An unidentified Jet Provost which also looks to have seen better days

Two photos sent to me by Eddie Klaja, of time spent in various drinking establishments in the early 1970s!

	Alex Heath, Eddie, Chuck McKinley and 'Big Phill' in the NAAFI
	George Edwards, Eddie, Phill Sinnett, and ???????

Some photos from Keith Allsopp, stationed at Church Fenton in the early-mid 70s.

	A Bulldog of Yorkshire UAS, which force-landed near Ulleskelf/Towton, at about 4pm on 18th September 1974. The aircraft was de-winged, and towed back to Church Fenton, where it was repaired in 3 Hangar and soon back out on the line.
	Wing being loaded on the back of an RAF wagon
	RAF Landrover towing the Bulldog down the slope of the railway bridge in Ulleskelf, with the Ulleskelf Arms in the background
	Manoeuvring the Bulldog through one of the Church Fenton crash gates.
	SAC Tommy Wright, and SAC Keith Allsopp in front of the Church Fenton gate guard Meteor NF14 WS739, mid-1973.
	Chief Tech Ted Kelly, SAC Paul Scott, and SAC Keith Allsopp, at RAF Rufforth in 1973, to act as ground-crew for the visit of Prince Richard, who was on his way to York Races.

This photo sent to me by Alastair King

The Red Arrows fly over the airfield at an open day, circa 1969 / 1970. Photo taken by SAC Ray Johnston.