XM103 Beverley C1 with 84 Squadron Markings
WFU at Bicester on the 8th April 1968
Picture Notes & Links
XM103 flew for the first time on 23rd October 1957 before going to 242 OCU in May 1958.
Soon after its arrival a 242 OCU, XM103 was detached to Aden arriving in June. In Aden
it was used by 53 squadron, and whilst with them suffered a ground accident in the July.
It returned to 242 OCU in the November, but later that same month was detached to 30 squadron.
After modifications it returned to the OCU; in April 1959. A Cat 3 accident on 24th May 1961 when
a battery exploded which result in the cockpit being filled with smoke, forcing the crew to make
an emergency landing at Dishforth. After repairs returned to 242 in the September.
Another incident resulted in XM103 making an emergency landing at Thorney Island on 9th May 1963 following a
generator failure which caused a fire.
On the 8th March 1965 XM103 left 242 OCU for the last time, being ferried to 32 MU for refurbishment
and camouflaging. Once this completed the Aircraft was assigned to 84 Squadron and left the UK in
May 1965.
On the 3rd March 1967, another Cat 3 accident when the nose wheel leg fractured at Nairobi.
But XM103 was soon back in service, although not for much longer, being ferried back to the UK
before being declared an Non Effective Airframe (NEA) on the 18th November 1967.
Sold as scrap to BKL August 29th 1969.
For more information See: Beverley Main Album Notes:
30 Squadron
53 Squadron
84 Squadron
242 Operational Conversion Unit
Mass Scrapping..
For more information onThe Blackburn Beverley See: Beverley Main Album Notes:
The Blackburn B-101 Beverley
Other sites on the Web of interest:
30 Squadron - MoD Site
RAF 30 Squadron - Wikipedia Entry
53 Squadron - MoD Site
RAF 53 Squadron - Wikipedia Entry
RAF 84 Squadron - MoD Site
RAF 84 Squadron - Wikipedia Entry
The Beverley Association
and
Blackburn Beverley - Wikipedia Entry
