The Crimson Kite

Gallery Article by Dave Bailey, aka The Rat on Jan 4 2017

Silly Week 2017

 

      

RAF Gutersloh was the closest RAF base to the East German border, and as such was always a little on edge. So when bang and a roar awoke everyone from the relative boredom of a quiet summer afternoon, teacups and nerves were rattled. Even more so when it became obvious that it was a MiG, which, according to most opinions, was not an aircraft which the RAF had in service. It had come in fast, at tree-top height, surprising the tower and causing a few shoes to stand at attention in the Base Commander’s office.

After a few moments, during which few hearts pumped at normal speed, and few breaths were taken, it became apparent that there were bigger surprises to come. A high-g turn brought the aircraft back toward the airfield, the landing gear and flaps were deployed and a normal approach and landing carried out. Lost? Mechanical problem? Someone with a Rudolf Hess complex?

The questions were resolved when the canopy opened as the aircraft taxied in, and two hands were raised in the classic ‘I give up’ pose. The only question remaining was “Will the diplomatic screaming begin before the engine stops?”

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This was a Czechoslovak MiG-17PF, which had been carrying out joint exercises in East Germany. The pilot had been with the RAF during the Second World War, and, in a moment of nationalistic fervour and naiveté, had returned home soon after, believing that the Soviets would also return home and leave Europe in peace. His will to continue flying, and his skills, allowed him to serve his nation’s air force, but his disappointment at the political situation was constantly on his mind. When he could no longer tolerate it, he decided to defect. He had no family, which made things easier.

And so it was that on July 8, 1959, the RAF immediately re-formed 1426 Flight, which had already been established and disbanded twice. Initially formed in 1941 to evaluate captured German aircraft, it was commanded by the now-legendary Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, and contributed much to winning the war and to advancing aerodynamic knowledge. Disbanded in 1945, it had existed for another year, 1956, as a Photographic Reconnaissance Flight in Aden.

Predictably, the howls from Moscow were almost audible in London, and many trees and electrons were sacrificed in the course of diplomatic (and occasionally not so diplomatic) wrangling. Accusations, denials, fibs, and grumblings, fuelled the press for a long time, but one thing was clear: this was an opportunity not to be wasted. In some small deference to international relations, the guns were removed and sent back to Czechoslovakia. 

To reduce the chance of misidentification, the wings and horizontal stabilisers were painted a bright red, and word was passed to all stations en route that a MiG would be transitioning from Germany to the UK. Captain Brown was tagged to make the first flight, and he found it easy enough that he decided to forego any lengthy stay in Germany, and the second flight went immediately west, landing at RAF Duxford, where 1426 had first been based. After enough personnel had ogled it, Boscombe Down was the next stop, where it would be thoroughly wrung out by a detachment of the Empire Test Pilots’ School, as Farnborough was considered too open to prying eyes. (This useful interval was perhaps instrumental in moving the ETPS back to Boscombe Down in 1968) The colour scheme was retained for easy identification during the evaluation, and pilots were honoured with a bright red flying helmet. The original identification number was retained, and no official RAF designation was given. The pilots, however, soon started calling it the Crimson Kite, and almost fought to have the chance to fly it.

On August 2nd, 1962, it was written off during a test over the English Channel when the engine stopped at low altitude, and would not restart. The pilot successfully ejected, but the aircraft was lost.

This model depicts the aircraft as it appeared in 1961, with the original Czechoslovak markings looking a little weatherbeaten. 

Dave Bailey

Photos and text © by Dave Bailey