The Percival Pembroke is a British high-wing twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the
Percival Aircraft Company, later
Hunting Percival.
Development
The Pembroke was a development of the
Percival Prince
The Percival Prince is a British light transport of the early postwar period. It was a twin-engine, high-wing, cantilever monoplane of all-metal stressed-skin construction; the undercarriage was of retractable, tricycle type.
Development
...
civil transport. It had a longer wing to permit a higher fully laden weight. The prototype flew on 21 November 1952. Production was complete in early 1958.
Operational history
![Percival Pembroke C](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Percival_Pembroke_C.1_WV746_BCCS_BLA_09.56.jpg)
It entered service with the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
as the Percival Pembroke C.1 in 1953 to replace the
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engined, multi-role aircraft built by the aircraft manufacturer Avro. Large numbers of the type served in a variety of roles for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) a ...
for light transport duties. As with other RAF transports, the passenger seats are rearward-facing for improved safety.
Six were produced as the Pembroke C(PR).1
photographic reconnaissance
Imagery intelligence (IMINT), pronounced as either as ''Im-Int'' or ''I-Mint'', is an intelligence gathering discipline wherein imagery is analyzed (or "exploited") to identify information of intelligence value. Imagery used for defense intel ...
aircraft. These saw use by
No. 81 Squadron RAF
No 81 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War, and reconnaissance aircraft in the Far East after the war and was disbanded in 1970.
History
First World War
No. 81 Squadron Royal Flyin ...
during the
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War was a guerrilla war fought in British Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the military forces o ...
. The RAF's Pembrokes were modified to extend their lifespan in 1970. The last unit to use them was
No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of No. 1 Flying Training School RAF, No. 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire flying the Eurocopter EC135, Airbus H135 Juno HT1.
...
based at
RAF Wildenrath
Royal Air Force Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) military airbase near Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that operated from 1952 to 1992. Wildenrath was the first of four 'clutch' stations ...
in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, these were withdrawn from use in 1988 and were replaced by the
Hawker Siddeley Andover
The Hawker Siddeley HS 780 Andover is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft produced by Hawker Siddeley for the Royal Air Force (RAF), developed from the Avro-designed HS 748 airliner. The Andover was named after the Avro Andove ...
.
The
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force (FAF or FiAF; fi, Ilmavoimat, , Air forces; sv, Flygvapnet, , Air weapon) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of Finnis ...
operated two aircraft for
aerial photography
Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography.
Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircra ...
between 1956 and 1968, on behalf of the
National Land Survey of Finland
The National Land Survey of Finland ( fi, Maanmittauslaitos, sv, Lantmäteriverket) is an official body, dealing with cartography and cadastre issues in Finland. It is subordinated the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
On May 1, 201 ...
. One of the aircraft was destroyed when it hit a snow wall during landing in 1965. The other aircraft is currently stored at the
Aviation Museum of Central Finland
The Finnish Air Force Museum ( fi, Suomen Ilmavoimamuseo), formerly the Aviation Museum of Central Finland ( fi, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo), is an aviation museum located near Jyväskylä Airport in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä, Finland. The museum ...
.
Variants
;P.66 Pembroke C.1
:Communications and transport variant for the RAF, 44 built.
;P.66 Pembroke C(PR).1
:Photographic reconnaissance variant for the RAF, six built and two conversions from C.1.
;P.66 Pembroke C.51
:Export variant for Belgium.
;P.66 Pembroke C.52
:Export variant for Sweden. Swedish military designation Tp 83.
;P.66 Pembroke C.53
:Export variant for Finland.
;P.66 Pembroke C.54
:Export variant for West Germany.
;P.66 Pembroke C.55
:Export variant for Sudan.
;P.66 President
:Civil transport version, five built.
Operators
![Percival Pembroke C](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Percival_Pembroke_C.54_Luftwaffe_Hermeskeil_23.06.07R.jpg)
;
*
Belgian Air Force
The Belgian Air Component ( nl, Luchtcomponent, french: Composante air) is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force ( nl, Belgische Luchtmacht; french: Force aérienne belg ...
operated 12 C.51s from 1954 to 1976.
;
*
Royal Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force ( da, Flyvevåbnet, lit=The Flying weapon) (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of The Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Defence. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was ...
;
*
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force (FAF or FiAF; fi, Ilmavoimat, , Air forces; sv, Flygvapnet, , Air weapon) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of Finnis ...
;
*
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
*
German Army
The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...
*
German Navy
The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...
;
*
Military of Malawi
;
*
South Rhodesian Air Force operated two C.1 aircraft diverted from Royal Air Force contract.
;
*
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...
;
*
Sudanese Air Force
;
*
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
operated 56 aircraft delivered from 1953.
**
No. 21 Squadron RAF
**
No. 32 Squadron RAF
Number 32 (The Royal) Squadron (sometimes abbreviated as No. 32 (TR) Squadron) of the Royal Air Force operates in the Very Important Person, VIP and general air transport roles from RAF Northolt in Greater London.
Originally formed in 1916 as ...
**
No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of No. 1 Flying Training School RAF, No. 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire flying the Eurocopter EC135, Airbus H135 Juno HT1.
...
**
No. 70 Squadron RAF
**
No. 78 Squadron RAF
**
No. 81 Squadron RAF
No 81 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War, and reconnaissance aircraft in the Far East after the war and was disbanded in 1970.
History
First World War
No. 81 Squadron Royal Flyin ...
**
No. 84 Squadron RAF
No. 84 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is at present a Search and Rescue Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri, using the Bell Griffin HAR.2 helicopter. It is currently one of the two operational parts of the RAF Search and Rescue Force left in ser ...
**
No. 152 Squadron RAF
**
No. 207 Squadron RAF
**
No. 209 Squadron RAF
Number 209 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force was originally formed from a nucleus of "Naval Eight" on 1 February 1917 at Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, France, as No. 9 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)Rawlings 1978, p. 324. and saw active servic ...
**
No. 267 Squadron RAF
*
Empire Test Pilots' School
The Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) is a British training school for test pilots and flight test engineers of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. It was established in 1943, the first of its type. T ...
;
*
Zambian Air Force
The Zambian Air Force (ZAF) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force. Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former Northern Rhodesia Air Force was renamed as the Zambian Air ...
Surviving aircraft
![hunting percival p-66 pembroke c1 flying arp](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Hunting_percival_p-66_pembroke_c1_flying_arp.jpg)
;Belgium
* RM-4 – On static display at the
Brussels Aviation Museum in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
.
* RM-7 – On static display with the Dakota Documentation Centre at
Melsbroek Air Base
Melsbroek Air Base is a Belgian Air Component facility in Steenokkerzeel, northeast of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. It is located on the northern side of the same site as Brussels Airport, with which it shares runways and ground and air c ...
in
Steenokkerzeel, Flemish Brabant.
;Germany
* 54+02 – C.54 on static display at the
Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum
The Technik Museum Sinsheim is a technology museum in Sinsheim, Germany. Opened in 1981, it is run by a registered association called "Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim e. V." which also runs the nearby Technik Museum Speyer.
Statistics
, the museum ...
in
Sinsheim, Baden-Württemberg. It is painted as D-CAKE.
* 54+07 – C.54 on static display at the
Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow
The Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr – Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow (''Bundeswehr Museum of Military History – Berlin-Gatow Airfield''; formally known as ''Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr''), is the Berlin branch of the Bundeswehr Military ...
in
Gatow, Berlin.
* 54+08 – C.54 on static display at the
Aeronauticum Aeronauticum is the official German maritime aircraft museum – located in Nordholz (close to Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony). The museum has a large collection of aircraft that has been used by the German Marine/Navy, among other places also in the adjace ...
in
Nordholz, Lower Saxony.
* 54+21 – C.54 on static display at the
Flugausstellung Hermeskeil
The Flugausstellung Peter Junior, previously the Flugausstellung Hermeskeil, is a private aviation museum in the town of Hermeskeil in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
The museum opened in July 1973 in several buildings with a covered ...
in
Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate.
* 54+24 – C.54 on static display at the Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate.
;Sweden
* 83007 – Tp 83 on static display at the Svedino Automobile and Aviation Museum in Ugglarp, Halland.
* 83008 – Tp 83 airworthy at the
Västerås Flygmuseum
Västerås Flygmuseum ("Västerås Aviation Museum") is a museum dedicated to flight and aviation history. It is located in Västerås, in an old hangar at Västerås Airport (IATA: VST, ICAO: ESOW) in Sweden, located 100 km west of the cap ...
in
Västerås, Västmanland. It is registered as SE-BKH and previously served with the Royal Air Force as XK884.
;United Kingdom
* WV740 – C.1 airworthy with Mark Anthony Stott in
Exeter, Devon
Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol.
In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...
. It is registered as G-BNPH.
* WV746 – C.1 on static display at the
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, located in Cosford in Shropshire, is a free (currently, 2022) museum dedicated to the history of aviation and the Royal Air Force in particular. The museum is part of the Royal Air Force Museum, a non-departme ...
in
Cosford, Shropshire
Cosford is a village in Shropshire, England. It is located on the A41 road, which is itself just south of junction 3 on the M54 motorway. The village is very small and is mostly made up of dwellings that house Royal Air Force personnel who work ...
. It was formerly the personal aircraft of the Commander in Chief of the Air Support Command in the 1970s and was modified around that time to carry a wheelchair ramp. It later served with 60 Squadron in Germany in the 1980s.
* XL954 – C.1 airworthy with
Air Atlantique in
Coventry, West Midlands. It is registered as G-BXES. It was previously owned by the
Classic Air Force
Classic Air Force was a charitably-based aircraft preservation organisation sited in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands. Specialising in classic aircraft from the period between the end of the World War II, Second World War and the ...
.
;United States
![Percival Pembroke - Neelyville Missouri](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Percival_Pembroke_-_Neelyville_Missouri.jpg)
* XF796 – C.1 airworthy with Giuseppe Baldassarri in
Carrollton, Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia is a city in the northwest region of Georgia, about 45 miles (72 km) west of Atlanta near the Alabama state line. It is the county seat of Carroll County, which is included in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Historically, ...
.
* RM-1 – Currently on Static display in Oshkosh Wisconsin. It previously served with the
Belgian Air Force
The Belgian Air Component ( nl, Luchtcomponent, french: Composante air) is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force ( nl, Belgische Luchtmacht; french: Force aérienne belg ...
.
*RM-9-C.51 stored outside at Anoka-Blaine airport Slated to be dismantled and moved to Nashville Michigan / Round Engine Aero.
* C/N P66/0017
RM-2/OT-ZAB (BAF82), N51948 (Air America), N66PK, Puyallup/Thun Field, (WA USA), preserved near Taylor's Stateside Liquor Store, Neelyville, Missouri (MO, USA)
Unmarked on display at Stateline Liquor Store in Neelyville, Missouri. It displays nose art of a Tequila bottle and the name "Tequila Sunrise".
Specifications (Pembroke C.1)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
*Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1956–57''. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1956.
* ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' (Part Work 1982–1985) London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
* Jackson, A.J. ''British Civil Aircraft since 1919 (Volume 3)''. London: Putnam, 1974. .
* Jefford, C.G. ''RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912''. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. .
* Silvester, John. "Call to Arms: The Percival Sea Prince and Pembroke". ''Air Enthusiast'', No. 55, Autumn 1994, pp. 56–61.
* Sturtivant, Ray,
ISO
ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance
* Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007
* Iso ...
and John Hamlin. ''RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. .
External links
RAF museumcutaway drawing military mission roles
{{Swedish military aircraft designations
Pembroke
1950s British military transport aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1952
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft