Avro Shackleton MR.3 – WR977 NAHR – Significant
In service Shackletons were nicknamed the Growler, and for a small donation visitors are sometimes able to go inside Avro Shackleton WR977 and speak to the cockpit opener about its service. It was also the choice of Sqn Ldr Brian Withers MBE AFC RAF (Retd), an Open Cockpit team member often seen in WR977 on Sundays, sharing his Shackleton and Nimrod pilot experiences. You could quiz the openers about the names of AEW2 Shackletons that were based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Waddington; who famously carried the names of characters from the BBC’s Magic Roundabout and The Herbs cartoons! By Jan McGeachie
WR977 remains as one of the last seven complete Avro Shackleton airframes in the UK; which were British designed long range maritime patrol / reconnaissance aircraft (MPA). Named after the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Avro Shackleton used by the RAF was developed by Avro during the late 1940s following the advent of their Lancaster and Lincoln bombers.
The Avro Shackleton entered operational RAF service In April 1951 used primarily in the ASW and MPA roles and as an aerial search and research (SAR) aircraft; eventually being replaced by Hawker Siddeley Nimrods during the 1970s. Some Shackletons were adapted to carry out airborne early warning duties before the arrival of Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft.
Of the thirty-four Shackleton MR.3s produced, WR977 was constructed very early in the first production batch with the redesigned tricycle undercarriage configuration; a larger fuselage and new wings were added with better ailerons and wing tanks. A proper galley and sleeping space were included for longer SAR flights in the North Sea and northern Atlantic of up to 18 hours with MR.3s. After various phase modifications, the increased size and weight, saw the addition of two Armstrong Siddeley Viper Mk 203 engines into the outboard nacelles to aid take-off in hot climes.
WR977 had an active operational life, serving with five different squadrons. Entering squadron service in 1958 with 220 Squadron, WR977 became the longest serving Shackleton Mk.3 in RAF service. By October 1958 it was operating with 201 Squadron. From November 1959 to January 1962 WR977 operated with 206 Squadron before returning to 201 Squadron in April 1963.
After being upgraded by Avro at Langar airfield to the improved performance MR.3 Phase 3 variant WR977 became one of two Shackletons (carrying journalists) who located the round the world yachtsman Francis Chichester in 1967 at the end of his epic solo voyage. The crews reported that he wasn't too keen to have been found, and fired his Very pistol as a warning to keep away, causing one crew member to comment how it was the first time he'd come under friendly fire from a British yachtsman!
Further spells with 203, 206 and 42 squadrons from July 1968 to August 1970 preceded WR977’s final squadron service from August 1970 to November 1971 with 203 squadron before being retired from service to RAF Thorney Island. WR977 was moved to RAF Finningley, where prior to the Silver Jubilee Royal Review of the RAF in 1977, the collection of aircraft which had been established there was dispersed.
WR977 was saved from being scrapped by museum members Stuart Stephenson and Charles Waterfall, and purchased by Stuart. A six-week race against time in the spring of 1977 culminated in WR977 being completely dismantled and moved to Newark on seven lorries by 1st May 1977. Incredibly the members completed main re-assembly within four weeks.
As the 40th anniversary of WR977’s move to the museum approached, a major repaint project was started in 2016. Despite the need for major structural repairs to the aircraft’s main undercarriage legs, the museum took ownership of WR977 in December 2021. It’s thanks to the constant dedication of the maintenance volunteers that the airframe has been stabilised and is once again able to be used for cockpit tours.
Photo credit: Gordon McGeachie