The right hand picture shows how much of the center section had to be removed before replacement could start.The picture below shows the new inner skin, refitted downward Ident light and the A.D.F. aerial socket . Air Direction Finding equipment was not standard on sea Venoms, was it fitted in service or when the aircraft went to F.R.U. ?
Restoration continues; if any one can provide further information on its service history or on the APR9 Electronic counter measure equipment positions in the aircraft I would like to hear from you. Please contact me Alan .XG629 was originally built as a Mk21 But was taken to the Royal Naval Air Yard in Belfast in 1958 for a cat 4 repair and conversion to a Mk22 . Following various moves over the next four and a half years in March 1963 it went to N.A.R.I.U. at Lee on Solent were I assume it was converted to its Electronic counter measures role or was this done later at R.A.F. Watton ?
Here are a few sites that may be of interest to you. Mark Russell who operates a very good site dedicated to F.R.U. Hunters , Canberras etc. and a lot of links to other sites . De Havilland Aviation for Venom , Vampire and Sea Vixen fans . Naval flying interests can be followed at the Yeovilton site .
Record of known service of XG629
DATE UNIT LOCATION Air frame hrs 23.03.1956 Stretton 2.10 14.11.1956 R.N.A.Y. Belfast 5.00 11.03.1957 Stretton 6.30 01.10.1957 R.N.A.Y. Belfast 9.15 01.11.1957 Stretton 10.15 12.11.1957 893 SQDN. Merryfield 11.20 09.09.1958 R.A.N.Y Belfast 152.05 10.04.1959 Yeovilton 154.35 29.04.1959 893 SQDN. Yeovilton 157.55 08.03.1960 Abbotsinch 353.25 26.04.1961 R.N.A.Y. Belfast 354.15 27.11.1961 Abbotsinch 05.06.1962 Shorts Belfast 18.03.1963 N.A.R.I.U. Lee onSolent 22.06.1964 893 SQDN. R.A.F.Watton 25.02.1970 R.N.A.Y. Belfast 01.06.1970 F.R.U. Yeovilton 28.08.1970 S.A.H Culdrose 678.05