CLUB
HISTORY
The Royal Air Force and the Classic Mini, two very British and iconic legends in our country. Their existence both immortalised not only in the history books but also in the movies. The heroics of the Royal Air Force made legend across world due to movies like The Battle of Britain, The Dambusters and The Great Escape. Britain’s most loved car, the Mini made famous by the movie, The Italian Job. But what made this little car so very popular is it’s unmistakable appearance, those round headlights and that cheeky front grille. Back in 1959 the Mini was the brainchild of a genius designer, Sir Alex Issigonis. The Mini looked like no other car, known and recognised for so many achievements the Mini has become a motoring icon, acknowledged for its pioneering concept, economy of use, sports handling, the star of many films and the winner of countless rallies and races.
These two very different stars in history have had a connection as far back as the late 50s, and the birth of the Mini. With it being renowned for its ability on the racetrack, the Mini provided a cheaper alternative to the multi million pound adrenalin rush of piloting in the RAF. Motorsport has always been encouraged in the armed forces along with many other sports. Usually a competitive sport of the rich, the Mini opened the gates to all ranks of the RAF making it even more popular. The Motorsport enthusiasm still exists today with the Mini, classic and new shape playing a strong role on the track.
The practicality and simplicity of the Mini also made it very useful around the station. Mechanical Transport soon adopted it into their fleet of vehicles, including the saloon and van variants and seen in roles from the execs personal transport to being the general dogs body of the squadron.
The Mini was used by the RAF Police when patrolling the airfields.
Used by the engineers, the aircraft would often be on the other side of the airfield. The Mini was the perfect vehicle for scooting round the perimeter tract, many of which have become famous race circuits.
The Mini was often painted in the same colours as the rest of the Mechanical Transport fleet. Olive Drab green with a yellow stripe and the words Royal Air Force cut into it.
The nimble Mini would be used by pilots on standby to race to the aircraft before taking to the skies.
The Mini was adopted by many pilots looking for an adventure not in the skies but on the track.
RAFMC VRN Register
Royal Air Force Vehicle Registrations Numbers (VRN)
AB - Cars
02AB28 to 02AB31 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1961
06AB76 to 06AB84 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1963
18AB76 to 18AB79 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1964
18AB88 to 19AB32 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1963
19AB33 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1963, BMH162A
40AB22 to 40AB58 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
95AB50 to 96AB88 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1961
97AB67 to 99AB48 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1962/63
99AB51 to 99AB99 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1964
AE - Airfield Caravans and Cargo Trucks
37AE03 Austin Mini Moke
AF - Trucks, Fire Appliances, Cars, Minibuses
02AF02 to 03AF48 Austin Mini 850 Saloon
03AF66 Austin Mini 850 Saloon
AM - Light Vehicles, Cars, Land Rovers
10AM005 to 10AM68 Morris Mini Saloon 1967
17AM44 Mini 850 Saloon
20AM37 to 20AM91 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1964
21AM05 to 22AM29 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1964
22AM94 to 23AM07 Morris Mini Minor 1965
23AM84 to 25AM04 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1966
26AM06 to 26AM78 Morris Mini Minor Saloon 1966
29AM72 to 29AM76 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
29AM78 to 30AM13 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
31AM94 to 32AM39 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
32AM74 to 32AM94 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
33AM23 to 34AM86 Morris Mini Minor Saloon
35AM98 to 36AM06 Mini 850 Saloon
36AM10 Mini 850 Saloon
38AM73 to 39AM63 Mini 850 Saloon
44AM99 to 45AM99 Morris Mini Saloon
46AM69 to 47AM01 Mini 850 Saloon
49AM22 to 50AM09 Mini 850 Saloon
55AM90 to 56AM39 Mini 850 Saloon
68AM11 to 68AM98 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
74AM46 to 75AM01 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
79AM17 to 79AM69 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
84AM88 to 85AM98 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
86AM85 to 87AM47 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
89AM89 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
91AM20 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
92AM20 to 92AM94 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
94AM39 to 95AM06 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
97AM24 to 97AM94 Austin Mini 850 Saloon Car
AR - Vans,Snow Ploughs, Brushes
36AR11 to 36AR82 Morris Mini Van Apr - Nov 68
88AR11 to 88AR60 Austin Mini Airportable Pick Up Mar – Jun 62
88AR61 to 89AR60 Morris Mini 5C Van Jul 62
91AR00 to 91AR99 Morris Mini 5C Van Apr 63
92AR51 to 92AR69 Morris Mini 5C Van May 65
96AR32 to 96AR81 Morris Mini 5C Van Jun 66
99AR73 to 99AR94 Morris Mini 5C Van Mar 67
AS - Vans
37AS10 to 38AS09 Morris Mini Van Dec 69/May 74
38AS80 to 38AS99 Morris Mini Van Apr 69
39AS19 to 39AS47 Morris Mini Van Dec 69
39AS98 to 40AS44 Morris Mini Van Aug 70/Jun 71
41AS25 to 41AS57 Morris Mini Van Jul 72
42AS03 Morris Mini Van Oct 72, ex RN Lossiemouth, new in Mar 67
42AS10 to 42AS32 Morris Mini Van Jul 73
42AS72 to 42AS83 Morris Mini Van Jul 74
42AS84 Morris Mini Van Jul 74, to Army Hong Kong as 47BT13, Mar 78
42AS85 to 42AS98 Morris Mini Van Jul 74
42AS99 Morris Mini Van Jul 74, to Army as 40BT85 in Jul 76
43AS00 to 43AS50 Morris Mini Van Jul 74
43AS59 Morris Mini Pick Up Truck Nov 73, Ex RN Sydenham as 20RN95
43AS60 Morris Mini Pick Up Truck Nov 73, Ex RN Sydenham as 49RN34
43AS81 to 44AS17 Morris Mini Van Jul 78
44AS23 to 44AS88 Morris Mini Van Apr 76
45AS06 to 45AS07 Morris Security Mini Van Nov 76
45AS23 to 45AS57 Morris Mini Van Feb 78
45AS94 to 46AS04 Morris Mini Van Jul 78
46AS74 to 46AS77 Morris Mini Van Jul 78
47AS20 to 48AS03 Morris Mini Van Dec 78
50AS09 to 50AS27 Morris Mini Van
51AS46 to 51AS64 Morris Mini Van 1982
