Seeking information on Captain C. N. Pelly - my grandfather

[mandyW]

Many thanks RampTramp, I will buy a copy this week!

[one11]

Good to hear that you located a copy of "Sword in the Sky". Nobody on this thread has yet mentioned the on-line archive of Flight magazine - which has every copy since its foundation. The search facility is not brilliant but it came up with some references , although unfortunately Nigel was apparently not the only aeronautical Pelly, so you have to do some sifting. The site is at

Aviation History - Browse the History of Flight from 1909

[mandyW]

Thanks one11 I had already done a good search of Flight and found some very good references. Very impressive they managed to get all the issues online & searchable.

By the way - "Sword in the Sky" arrived yesterday, fantastic book with loads of references to Pelly and I love the cartoon! Thanks again for telling me about it.

[oldboacpilot]

Nigel Pelly! He was always good fun and everyone loved him. I never had the privilege of flying with him (as we were both Captains) but we were together at Whitchurch and Aldermaston at the same time during our BOAC training and I often saw him down the route. He was one of nature’s gentlemen and I have never heard a word against him.

I should think there are very few people left alive who still remember him. One of them Ron Ballantine died about 8 years ago. Ron knew him well.

I wish I could remember some of the stories for Nigel was a legend.

Kind Regards

Old BOAC Pilot (ex Dakotas, C749s, Argonauts, B312s and B707s)

[mandyW]

Hello OldBOACPilot lovely to hear from you! Wonderful you knew my grandfather, I have PM (Private Messaged) you with some more questions, hope you receive the message ok.

Best wishes

Mandy

[RachelSalt]

Hello.... a few people were trying to identify the person in the middle of this photo. This is Harald Seabrooke-Smith, my maternal grandfather, who was with Imperial Airways and helped organise these flights.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...r_Abkommen.jpg

If anyone is interested I'd be happy to send some other photos of him through - there's no mistaking him with those ears!! I can see the likeness with the South African mentioned above, but that's not him.

Hope that's of interest to others - if anyone has any more information about Harald Seabrook-Smith then I'd be very pleased to receive it. He died when I was very small and I so never met him, but family history is always fascinating.

[A30yoyo]

Hallo Rachel....By coincidence a contact of mine raised the question of the crew-list for the Chamberlain flights last week and puzzingly neither Pelly or Seabrook-Smith appear on the official list for the second flight to/from Cologne which is where the photo was taken, but as the list has 4 crew on the main aircraft and only 2 on the back-up aircraft on each trip it is quite possible there were 'extras' . I see your grandfather wrote some articles in Aeroplane Monthly in the 1970s which I have and will look at today. I'll send a you a Private Message'...Mick

[HenryMac]

Informtion about Nigel Pelly

Hi Mandy. I've just come across your message, and wonder if you are still seeking information about your grandfather. My late father, Patrick Macrory, was a fellow pupil of Nigel Pelly at Mourne Grange Preparatory School in County Down c 1920, and wrote about him rather amusingly in an unpublished chapter of his memoirs. My grandparents were friends of Nigel's parents (the connection was through the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) and it was on Rosa Pelly's recommendation that my father was sent to Mourne Grange. The information I have relates solely to your grandfather as an 11-year-old schoolboy, and not to his subsequent career. Do let me know if you're interested.

[Buryflier]

Captain Nigel Pelly

Mandy, I have just found this thread - My Dad - Jimmy Miller - often mentioned Nigel , he was on the Ball Bearing run and became Fleet Radio Officer on the Argonauts. I remember being in Rome as a boy and being introduced to your grandfather.
Incidentally I too worked for BA in IM at Boadicea House.
Are you still searching for info ?

[mandyW]

Henry - I would love to hear more info about my grandfather's childhood.. my father, Chris, went to Mourne Grange too and I'll call him up & ask him if he remembers hearing about your father, I am sure he will as he actively keeps in touch with the school and goes to all the reunions. Please feel free to message me privately.

Buryflier I would love to find out more info, this thread has been quite for a long time so lovely to hear from people recently, how amazing your father was Jimmy Miller, I have read a few articles mentioning his name and my father's including this one: RAFCommands Archive :: Researching BOAC Operations and Pilots. Please do feel free to get in touch.

[A30yoyo]

Captain Pelly in Africa

Hallo Mandy...There is a very good 13-page account in Air Enthusiast #55(autumn1994) of British Airways Ltd early involvment in WWII, written by a Radio Operator, Alan Wood, who mostly crewed with Capt. Flowerday but was in close contact with Capt. Pelly (who is mentioned several times)....can scan if required

[mandyW]

yes please @A30yoyo! Nice to hear back from you!

[eejaym]

My Father often talked about Captain Pelly visiting Dungiven - he often flew there landing behind the Manse on the outside of the town. He always called for Dad's cousin to come and see to the plane. Dad often talked about him as the pilot who flew Chamberlain. He is buried in our graveyard - that's what made me search for him and I found this forum - he is just 2 graves up from my father's grave.

[mandyW]

Thanks so much for replying, lovely to hear the story. I have never visited his grave but would very much like to.

[A30yoyo]

There's currently an old 'official' photo of BOAC Mosquito G-AGGF on the runway at Leuchars on eBay generously sized scan, too

Photograph of de Havilland Mosquito - G-AGGF - BOAC | eBay

[mandyW]

A30yoyo - can't remember if I let you know but I forwarded the ebay info to Captain Wilkins' great-nephew and he won it! Many thanks for letting me know, he was delighted.

[BrianAM]

Nigel Pelly

Mandy I have a pilot friend who died a few years ago called Geoff Moss. I have been researching his life to write a book on him. This is an extract:-
My first flight under Captain Nigel Pelly was a wonderful experience. He was a first class pilot and a fine man. As only one pilot was required to fly the Junkers 52, I had time to study and memorise the outlines of towns when lit up.

There are other references in my book especially his flight with Chamberlain.
If you are interested I have researched quite a lot about when your grandfather flew. (But it relates to Geoff) I have several hours of taped interviews with Geoff when he was alive. If you want to contact me my email is [email protected]
Best wishes Brian

[bean]

Sme Captain Moss who was the check Captain on the 707 disaster at Heathrow in 1968 i presume

[lizzy3ah]

Alan Finch

Originally Posted by mandyW

Apologies if this is not the correct place to post but I am researching the life of my grandfather - Captain C. Nigel Pelly.

He was born in 1908 and worked for Hillman/Imperial Airways/BOAC/British Airways flying Lockheed Electras,Canadair, Mosquitos, Argonauts and Britannias up until he retired around 1964.

His pilot training was done with 502 Ulster Squadron Special Reserve at Aldergrove.

He was also based in Egypt as part of 216 Squadron during WWII and was involved in the Berlin Airlift.

He flew Neville Chamberlain to meet Hitler in 1938 for the Peace in our Time talks.

I'd be very interested if anyone has any more information about him or even flew with him.

Many thanks

Mandy

Hi Mandy, my Grandfather Alan Finch was on the 1938 flight as a radio officer. I have an original copy of a letter dated Oct 1938 from 10 Downing Street thanking all involved for the successful flight.
It's packed away but, if you are stilling interested I can dig it out. The names of the crew are listed.

[India Four Two]

lizzy,

Welcome to PPRuNe,

I'm just an interested bystander, but I would encourage you to get out the letter and scan it and then post it. That is an interesting historical document that a lot of people here would be interested to see.

PM or email me if you don't know how to post.

I42