X-Nico

10 unusual facts about Bristol Bloodhound


Bristol Bloodhound

II can be gauged from the data on an information board at the Bristol Aeroplane Company Museum at Kemble Airfield, Kemble, Gloucestershire, where a complete Bloodhound can be seen.

Hawker Hunter in service with Swiss Air Force

To supplement the Hunter's interception capabilities, Switzerland purchased a surface to air missile (SAM) defence system from the United Kingdom, closely based on the Bristol Bloodhound II.

No. 11 Group RAF

Nos 25 and 85 Squadrons had been operating Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles, but re-equipped with Tornado and disbanded, respectively, in 1989 and on 10 July 1991.

Plugboard

One example is the Ferranti Argus computer, used on the Bristol Bloodhound missile, which feature a plugboard programmed by inserting small ferrite rods into slots, in effect creating a read-only core memory by hand.

RAF Dunholme Lodge

In 1959 the airfield became a site for Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles with 141 Squadron until it was disbanded and the station finally closed in 1964.

RAF Horham

Later, an RAF Bristol Bloodhound missile site used one part of the airfield but when this was moved, the complete site was sold during the years 1961-64.

RAF Rattlesden

In the 1960s part of the site was used for RAF Bristol Bloodhound surface to air missiles but when this was abandoned the whole airfield was sold during 1967/68.

RAF Warboys

In 1960, the former airfield became a Bristol Bloodhound air defence missile site, later withdrawn in 1963.

RAF Woolfox Lodge

In 1960 a Bloodhound surface-to-air missile site under No. 62 Squadron was positioned in a secure area adjacent to the A1 road near the former technical site.

Seletar Airport

65 Squadron based at Seletar operated Bloodhound Mk II surface-to-air missiles as anti-aircraft defence from 1 January 1964 until the squadron was disbanded on 30 March 1970 with the equipment and role handed over to 170 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force.


120 Squadron SAAF

In July 1964, South Africa placed a development contract with Thomson-CSF for a mobile, all-weather, low-altitude SAM system after a South African order for the Bloodhound SAM system was refused by the UK government.