INDIVIDUAL HISTORY WESTLAND WESSEX HCC.MK.4 XV732 MUSEUM ACCESSION NUMBER X002-9905 1969 Manufactured by Westland Helicopters Lt at Yeovil to contract No.KK/M/192/CB25b, issued 1968. Penultimate Wessex built. Identical to the Wessex HC Mk.2 except for the special VIP interior furnishings, external folding step below cabin door, and additional navigation fit including Decca rolling map. Flown in distinctive colour scheme of signal red with royal blue top; cheatline white (top) and royal blue. Undercarriage units and steps light aircraft grey; Mainwheel covers white, serial numbers black. Queen’s Flight crown on port fuselage. Colour photos – Aeroplane October 2001 p.6; Wingspan International No.11 pp.13 & 20. B/W – Aircraft Illustrated June 1983 p.271; Scale aircraft Modelling Volume 11/4 p.155. 17 Mar 69 First flight at Westland’s, Yeovil, Somerset Mar/Jun 69 Both Wessex involved in Navigation/Radio installation trials with the Fixed Wing Test Squadron, Aeroplane and Armaments Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, Wilts. 25 Jun 69 Awaiting Collection; delivered to Queen’s Flight. 27 Jun 69 Both Wessex HCC.4s entered service with the Queen’s Flight at RAF Benson, Oxon, replacing Westland Whirlwind HCC.Mk.12 Helicopters. (XV732 actually officially taken on by the Flight 30 June 1969; by 27th June 1969 it had accumulated 47.35 airframe hours) TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent were flown on this date, in XV732, from Maidstone to Coppins; the first Wessex Royal flight. A passenger cabin window blew into the Duke of Kent’s lap whilst in flight, the windows duly being modified after this event. From this period, records are supplemented by Annual Daily Flying Registers for Royal Flight Aircraft held by DoRIS at Hendon. Both aircraft were used not only for carrying the Royal Family, but also the carriage of Government Ministers and visiting foreign dignitaries. 1 Jul 69 First major task was operating in support of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon. 2 Jul 69 First flight of HRH The Prince of Wales in XV732, Glanllyn – Newtown – Newquay to board HMY Britannia. 28 Jul 69 Flew HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who became a regular passenger, Kensington Palace –Sandringham (Royal Estate in Norfolk). 29 Jul 69 HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Philip, and Earl Mountbatten of Burma flown from Benson to the helicopter cruiser HMS Blake and the carrier HMS Eagle and on to Benson, for the review of the Fleet by HM the Queen at Torbay. 3 Aug 69 Flew Prime Minister R Hon Harold Wilson MP Chequers (PM’s official residence) to RAF Mildenhall. 4 Aug 69 Queen Mother flown Sandringham – Barnwell – Buckingham Palace. 28 Sep 69 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester flown Cleethorpes – RAF Scampton – Cleethorpes – Benson. 10 Oct 69 HRH the Duchess of Kent flown Calne – Coppins 12 Oct 69 HRH the Duchess of Gloucester flown Broadstairs – Manston – Broadstairs – Barnwell. 14 Oct 69 HRH the Prince of Wales flown RAF Oakington – Cardiff – RAF St Athan. 15 Oct 69 HRH the Prince of Wales flown Cardiff- Buckingham Palace – RAF Oakington 25 Oct 69 HRH the Duchess of Gloucester flown Tidworth – Benson. 28 Oct 69 HRH Princess Anne became the first member of the Royal Family to be flown to an oil rig by an aircraft of the Queen’s Flight – Gas Rig Amoco ‘B’ in the North Sea, from RAF Coltishall. 31 Oct 69 HRH Princess Anne flown to RAF Gutersloh-Wildenrath – Ostend – Benson. 5 Nov 69 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester flown from Wolverhampton to RAF Tern Hill, Salop, and on to Barnwell and Benson. Between 1970 and 1980 the taskings of the two Royal Flight Wessex doubled as the engagements undertaken by the Royal Family increased. At this time, both the Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh, both qualified military pilots, maintained their flying proficiency by flying themselves to and from engagements. 7 Feb 70 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester flown Henley – Benson and return. 20 Mar 70 Roy Hattersley MP flown to Sheffield. 25 Mar 70 Dr David Owen MP flown Plymouth – Exeter – Benson. 2 May 70 HRH The Prince of Wales flown Windsor Castle – Benson – Windsor Castle – A&AEE Boscombe Down – Benson. 3 May 70 HRH The Prince of Wales flown Boscombe – Oakington – Benson. 8 May 70 HRH The Princess Margaret flown Odiham – Bramshott – Odiham. 11 May 70 HRH Prince Philip flew himself Manadon (Plymouth) – Taunton – Yeovil. 14 May 70 HRH Prince Philip flew himself and the Duke of Norfolk Ashford – Lewes – Piddinghoe – Brighton – Chichester – Buckingham Palace. 22 May 70 HRH The Princess Alexandria flown Warton, Lancs. – Heysham – Warton. 30 May 70 HRH Princess Alexandria, Airlie Castle – Helensborough. 9/12 Jun 70 HRH The Prince of Wales flown on XV732 for his first tour of the Duchy of Cornwall, including 12 Royal Flights, returning to Kensington Palace at the end. 22 Jun 70 HRH Prince Philip flown Wolverhampton – Tern Hill – Wolverhampton airport – Wolverhampton – Buckingham Palace. 25 Jun 70 Flown himself by HRH Prince Philip Buckingham Palace – Sevenoaks – Fordingbridge – Buckingham Palace. 26 Jun 70 Flown by Prince Philip Buckingham Palace – Bracknell. 27 Jun 70 HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother flown Sandringham – Windsor (Royal Lodge) . 29 Jun 70 HRH Prince Philip flown around Scotland from Turnhouse and on to RAF Kinloss, with further flights around Scotland the following day. 11 Jul 70 HRH The Princess Margaret flown Glasgow – Blackpool – Benson. 18 Jul 70 HRH The Princes Margaret flown Scotland – RAF Shawbury. 22 Jul 70 HRH The Prince of Wales flown Holyrood House – Gore Bridge – Holyrood House – Turnhouse. 29 Jul 70 HRH Prince Philip flew himself Mountbatten (Plymouth) – Cowdray House. 30 Jul 70 HRH Princess Margaret Kensington Palace – Sandhurst Military Academy – Kensington Palace. 2 Aug 70 HRH The Princess Anne Birmingham – Birmingham airport – HMS Vernon – Benson. 5/6 Aug 70 Winching trials at RAF Benson 9 Aug 70 HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from her Scottish residence, the Castle of Mey to Longhope RNLI Memorial, and from the Castle of Mey to Skaill House and return the following day. 11/12 Aug 70 Royal Mail flights from HMY Britannia to RAF Valley and points in Scotland. 13 Aug 70 Flown from Stornoway for a Casualty Evacuation sortie to German trawler ‘Skaageraak’ 90 miles west of the Hebrides. Trawler crewman dead on arrival and not taken on board. Winchman, ‘Jack’ Frost, given award for bravery. Returned to Stornoway. 16 Aug 70 Second SAR flight; Responded to ‘Mayday’ from MFV Fairmorn in distress and on fire – vessel located and escorted to harbour. 15 Sep 70 HRH the Duchess of Kent RAF Leuchars – Dunkeld and return. 18 Sep 70 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester Duntroon Castle – Machrihanish and return. 16 Oct 70 HM The Queen Mother Edinburgh – Turnhouse – Birkhall 24 Oct 70 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester Heathrow – Barnwell Manor – Benson. 29 Oct 70 HRH The Princes Anne Buckingham Palace – Portsmouth and return. 3 Nov 70 HRH The Prince of Wales St Asalph – Llandudno – Menai Bridge – Llandudno, and the following day from RAF Valley to Vaynol Park – Valley – Llandudno – Hawarden. 5 Nov 70 HRH The Prince of Wales Buckingham Palace – Benson. 25 Nov 70 HRH The Prince of Wales Buckingham Palace – Benson and return 26 Nov 70 HRH The Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace – Wyton – Abbott’s Pipton – Sandy – Sombourne – Benson. 10 Dec 70 HRH The Princess Anne Buckingham Palace – Hereford – Buckingham Palace 15 Dec 70 HRH The Prince of Wales Buckingham Palace – Benson. 17 Jan 72 Declared damaged, Cat 3R (cause unknown) 18-24 Jan 72 Repaired on site by No.71 Maintenance Unit, Bicester. By 1st January 1972 XV732 had made 1792 landings and accumulated 884.40 flying hours. 9 Aug 73 To Kemble for re-spay, flying again 13th September 1973. 5 Apr 74 HRH Prince Philip for 35 minutes 20 Apr 74 Royal passenger 9 May 74 Royal Flight 13 April 74 Royal flight to Germany 1 Jul 74 HRH Princess Anne 2 Jul 74 HRH the Duke of Gloucester 4 Jul 74 HRH Princess Alexandra 8 Jul 74 HRH the Duke of Kent. 10 Jul 74 HRH Prince Philip, and again the following day. 12 Jul 74 HM The Queen Mother 13 Jul 74 HRH The Prince of Wales 19 Jul 74 HRH The Duke of Kent 22 Jul 74 HRH The Duke of Kent 24 Jul 74 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 25 Jul 74 HRH Princess Anne26 Jul 74 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 30 Jul 74 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 8/15 Aug 74 Royal Mail flights 21 Nov 74 HM The Queen Mother 26 Nov 74 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 30 Nov 74 Prime Minister Harold Wilson 24 Jan 75 HRH The Duchess of Kent 27 Jan 75 Declared Cat.3R (cause unknown) 12 Feb 75 HRH Prince Philip Mar 75 No flights recorded – aircraft grounded from 19th February. 30 Apr 75 HRH Princess Margaret 3 May 75 HM The Queen Mother 7 May 75 HRH Princess Margaret 8 May 75 HRH Princess Alice 16 May 75 HRH Prince Philip 27 May 75 HM The Queen Mother 28 May 75 HRH Princess Anne 29 May 75 HRH Prince Philip 30 May 75 HRH Prince Philip 1 Jun 75 HM The Queen Mother 3 Jun 75 HRH Princess Anne 4 Jun 75 HRH Princess Anne 5 Jun 75 HRH Princess Anne 8 Jun 75 HRH Prince Philip 9 Jun 75 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 10 Jun 75 HRH Princess Alice 11 Jun 75 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 30 Jun 75 Prime Minister, Harold Wilson 1 Jul 75 HRH Prince Philip 5 Jul 75 Prime Minister Harold Wilson 7 Jul 75 HRH The Duchess of Kent 19 Jul 75 HM The King of Sweden 11 Jul 75 HRH Prince Philip 15 Jul 75 HRH Princess Alexandra 16 Jul 75 HRH Princess Margaret 19 Jul 75 HRH the Duke of Kent 22 Jul 75 HM The Queen Mother 26 Jul 75 HRH Princess Anne 28 Jul 75 HRH Princess Anne 30 Jul 75 HRH Princess Alice 1 Aug 75 HRH Prince Philip 2 Aug 75 HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales 8 Aug 75 HRH Prince Philip 22 Sep 75 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 6 Oct 75 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 13 Oct 75 HM The Queen Mother 21 Oct 75 HRH Prince Charles 25 Oct 75 HRH Prince Philip 3 Nov 75 HRH Prince Philip 9 Nov 75 TRH Prince Charles and Prince Philip 13 Nov 75 HRH The Prince of Wales 26 Nov 75 HRH Princess Anne 4 Dec 75 HRH Princess Anne 10 Dec 75 HRH The Duke of Kent 16 Dec 75 To RAF St.