Percival Provost R3616, taken outside the Field Aircraft Services hangar, August 1972. This is one of the 'New' Provosts that arrived and were refurbished by Fields. (photo, Robin D.W.Norton)

Percival Provost T.52 * Retired *
4 Provost T.52 flown out from the UK in November 1954, followed by 12 more in late 1955, giving a total of 16 aircraft. Used by 4 Sqn for the basic training role, then moved to 6 Sqn in the same role. 9 additional aircraft obtained covertly during the early 1970s, some of which may have come from Oman. These later aircraft were allocated serials which generally repeat those of crashed aircraft, probably for security reasons. Withdrawn from service in 1977 when their fatigue life had been exhausted. At least half of these aircraft were fitted with hardpoints to allow the use of weapons in the close support role.

Provost T.52 R3601 'K' (photo, Philip Evans)

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
R6300	PAC/P56/195	WV645	4 Nov 1954	initially SR136/RRAF300. wfu May 1975, on display Thornhill
R3601	PAC/P56/196	WV646	4 Nov 1954	initially SR137/RRAF301. wfu 1971. to SAAF Museum, w/o 19 Mar 1998
R3062	PAC/P56/197	WV647	4 Nov 1954	initially SR138/RRAF302. wfu 29 May 1974
R3036	PAC/F/177	WV648	4 Nov 1954	initially SR139/RRAF303. wfu 17 Aug 1977
-	PAC/P56/356	XF849	12 Oct 1955	RRAF140 w/o 6 Feb 1958
R3064	PAC/5/357	XF850	12 Oct 1955	initially RRAF141/RRAF304. wfu 17 May 1977
R3605	PAC/5/358	XF851	12 Oct 1955	initially RRAF142/RRAF305. wfu 17 Aug 1977
-	PAC/P56/360	XF852	12 Oct 1955	initially RRAF143/RRAF306. w/o 24 Mar 1965
-	PAC/P56/366	XF870	7 Dec 1955	initially RRAF144/RRAF307. w/o 4 Feb 1963
R6308	PAC/P56/367	XF871	7 Dec 1955	initially RRAF145/RRAF308. w/o 16 Aug 1974
R3609	PAC/P56/369	XF872	5 Dec 1955	initially RRAF146/RRAF309. w/o 19 June 1975
-	PAC/P56/370	XF873	5 Dec 1955	initially RRAF147/RRAF310. w/o 12 Oct 1966
R3161	PAC/P56/377	XF878	5 Dec 1955	initially RRAF148/RRAF311 wfu 21 July 1977
-	PAC/P56/378	XF879	19??	RRAF149. w/o 6 July 1956
R3126	PAC/P56/379	XF880	8 Dec 1955	initially RRAF150/RRAF312 wfu 20 May 1976
R3163	PAC/P56/380	XF881	5 Dec 1955	initially RRAF151/RRAF313 wfu 21 Jul 1977
R3606		WV421	20 Feb 1972	G-AWTF. wfu 21 Jul 1977
R6307	PAC/5/086	WV540	1 Dec 1971	G-AWTG. wfu 19 Nov 1977
R3160		WW419	2 Feb 1970	G-AWTA. wfu 1977, still flying with AFZ Historic Flight
R3614	PAC/5/285	XF554	8 May 1972	G-AWTD wfu 21 Jul 1977. to Military Museum, Gweru
R3165		XF691	27 Mar 1972	G-AWTE. wfu 21 Jul 1977
R3616	PAC/F/338	XF693	1 Dec 1971	G-AWTC. wfu 17 Nov 1977
R6317	PAC/F/342	XF838	1 Dec 1971	G-AWTB. wfu 24 Aug 1977
R3618			Jun 1973	wfu 21 Jul 1977
R3619			31 May 1974	wfu 21 Jul 1977

References:

1. Rhodesian Air Force, A Brief History 1947-1980 (W A Brent, 1987)
2. Britain's Rebel Air Force (Roy Nesbit & Dudley Cowderoy, 1998)
3. African Military Aviation (W A Brent, 1994)
4. Air (WLAG) January 1990