Any Borneo Whirlwind veterans here?
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Nanga Gaat 1965 to 1966
Hi, I am "the " John Mellowes. How are you. What is your full name. Not sure the exact dates I was in Nanga Gaat. Labuan June 1965 then Sibu then Nanga Gaat all with 110 Sqdn. Can't remember everyones names.Have lots of photo's though.Anybody wants them please email me. I left Borneo on June6 1966.
John Mellowes Now living and retired in Sydney Australia.
John Mellowes Now living and retired in Sydney Australia.
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Whirlwind - Borneo
Hello, My Dad was stationed at Balai Ringin where these were quite frequent. I found some slides of two of these that were operational ex this Airfield: XP330 'D' 
https://plus.google.com/u/0/11352626...67124529296984
XP358 'K'
https://plus.google.com/u/0/11352626...67124529296984.
If anyone out there knows who this gent is or knew my Dad (Joe Petricevich) drop me a line.
Regards,
Darryn
https://plus.google.com/u/0/11352626...67124529296984
XP358 'K'
https://plus.google.com/u/0/11352626...67124529296984.
If anyone out there knows who this gent is or knew my Dad (Joe Petricevich) drop me a line.
Regards,
Darryn
Last edited by Ngapuhi66; 22nd Sep 2014 at 10:10. Reason: Incorrect Marking 'D' should have been 'K'
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Mr John Mellows
I am sure that the aviation community would be very interested in seeing your photographs as pictures from this theatre are rare. It would be terrible if they were lost.
Would you be able to scan them in or pass them on to someone to scan them for you.
My father served in Borneo, hence my interest.
Best regards
Anthony S Lawrence
I am sure that the aviation community would be very interested in seeing your photographs as pictures from this theatre are rare. It would be terrible if they were lost.
Would you be able to scan them in or pass them on to someone to scan them for you.
My father served in Borneo, hence my interest.
Best regards
Anthony S Lawrence
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Whirldwind's, Belvedere's & Sioux's
Just in case you needed any more, I uploaded some of the other ships (Bristol-Belvedere - Flying Longhouse, Westland-Bell - Sioux) that were in and out of the place along with some of the buildings and conditions of the site itself.
Link Here to the other slides -
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...50445401904977
Painting looks great by the way. (Wobble Stick included Here)
Link Here to the other slides -
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...50445401904977
Painting looks great by the way. (Wobble Stick included Here)
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
NG 66, check out the "tips for posting pictures" thread. These direct links to Google don't work. Look forward to seeing them.
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Hi all,
My father, Ken Gibson, worked in Borneo at 230 Sqn as an avionics tech.
I have sent him the link to this thread but if anyone remembers Ken then drop me a line.
He is alive and well, living in Perth, Australia.
Regards,
Paul
My father, Ken Gibson, worked in Borneo at 230 Sqn as an avionics tech.
I have sent him the link to this thread but if anyone remembers Ken then drop me a line.
He is alive and well, living in Perth, Australia.
Regards,
Paul
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Borneo helicopters
Bit late reading this, but was interested in the reference to Dave Cramp, as he was in the same entry as me - the 90th - and was in the same hut when we joined up in 1958. In fact his service number is the one in front of mine.
We parted to different huts at the end of the first year and he went to Ground Radar and me to Air Radio. I missed seeing him in Borneo, I was on 66 between 64 and 65 at Kuching. I did hear that he was flying Valettas in Malta.
If anyone knows where he is now, try getting him to join http://www.tomsnet.org/90thentryrecords.
We parted to different huts at the end of the first year and he went to Ground Radar and me to Air Radio. I missed seeing him in Borneo, I was on 66 between 64 and 65 at Kuching. I did hear that he was flying Valettas in Malta.
If anyone knows where he is now, try getting him to join http://www.tomsnet.org/90thentryrecords.
Aeroartist has just held an exhibition of his artwork in a gallery in Shrewsbury.
The work displayed includes the pair of Whirlwinds at Nanga Gaat and these look even better 'up close and personal' than the images posted suggest. Aeroartist tells me he is going to produce a new canvas of a Belvedere (he did one in his early days as an artist) and he's looking for photographs to help inform his research.
Old Duffer
The work displayed includes the pair of Whirlwinds at Nanga Gaat and these look even better 'up close and personal' than the images posted suggest. Aeroartist tells me he is going to produce a new canvas of a Belvedere (he did one in his early days as an artist) and he's looking for photographs to help inform his research.
Old Duffer
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The final day of the aviation art exhibition in Shrewsbury is tomorrow 1000 - 1600. The Civic Society gallery is not easy to find despite being in the centre of town next to St Akmunds church. It is closed today (Boxing Day)
The mention of Belvedere made me read this thread through over Xmas. I was intrigued that some hardy souls have trekked back into the area ......Has anyone visited the Belvedere fatal crash site in the Trusan River valley? I know the wreckage was badly burned but keen to know if the front gearbox might have survived all these years....Desperate I know but last hope chance to complete XG452 at The Helicopter Museum.
heli 1,
The crash site was visited about 20 years ago and was difficult to locate I understand. The aircraft was essentially completely gutted by fire and there were some original photographs of a log lined pit being dug, into which the remains of the aircraft were to be buried.
At the time, I understood that the crew and passengers were not recovered but I was told that they have subsequently been removed to a final resting place but cannot confirm this.
I doubt there is anything which you could recover from the site and even if there was, how to get it out - the jungle has reclaimed the site after nearly 52 years.
Old Duffer
The crash site was visited about 20 years ago and was difficult to locate I understand. The aircraft was essentially completely gutted by fire and there were some original photographs of a log lined pit being dug, into which the remains of the aircraft were to be buried.
At the time, I understood that the crew and passengers were not recovered but I was told that they have subsequently been removed to a final resting place but cannot confirm this.
I doubt there is anything which you could recover from the site and even if there was, how to get it out - the jungle has reclaimed the site after nearly 52 years.
Old Duffer
OD......Thanks. The only other slight hope was that the RSAF engineering school at Tengah kept the gearbox when they took it out of the Belvedere left with them for GI but efforts in that direction also drew a blank many years ago when the museum collected other surviving parts from the airframe. The actual school was never inspected though.......and you never know!!
hel1,
Based on your last post, I would approach the Air/Defence Adviser at the Singapore High Commission and explain your problem to him. it might just be ....
Another possible line, which you may have already pursued, is to talk with the Keeper of Exhibits at the RAF Museum. Besides complete aircraft, there are several sites where items are held and - although it will have moved - there used to be something called 'The Reserve Collection'. No: 6 Site at the former RAF supply depot at Stafford is, I believe, still home to a significant collection of items.
Have you tried the museum at Old Sarum? This now houses what used to be the Boscombe Down collection. I was there about 18 months ago but cannot recall any rotary stuff. Finally, and again you've probably already tried every angle on the Westlands approach, could it be that another aviation museum (Manchester?) might have large Belvedere bits.
Depending on how you intend to display the aircraft, can I suggest something which you might think shows I've lost my marbles. If the front of the aircraft is shown with the covers on, is it feasible to fabricate those elements of the front which remain exposed? It wouldn't necessarily have the strength to support blades but it might permit a reasonable representation to be achieved for display purposes.
Old Duffer
Based on your last post, I would approach the Air/Defence Adviser at the Singapore High Commission and explain your problem to him. it might just be ....
Another possible line, which you may have already pursued, is to talk with the Keeper of Exhibits at the RAF Museum. Besides complete aircraft, there are several sites where items are held and - although it will have moved - there used to be something called 'The Reserve Collection'. No: 6 Site at the former RAF supply depot at Stafford is, I believe, still home to a significant collection of items.
Have you tried the museum at Old Sarum? This now houses what used to be the Boscombe Down collection. I was there about 18 months ago but cannot recall any rotary stuff. Finally, and again you've probably already tried every angle on the Westlands approach, could it be that another aviation museum (Manchester?) might have large Belvedere bits.
Depending on how you intend to display the aircraft, can I suggest something which you might think shows I've lost my marbles. If the front of the aircraft is shown with the covers on, is it feasible to fabricate those elements of the front which remain exposed? It wouldn't necessarily have the strength to support blades but it might permit a reasonable representation to be achieved for display purposes.
Old Duffer
Avoid imitations
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A lot of chat here about Whirlwind XR453. I was at Odiham when it returned from Shawbury to become the gate guardian. It was still in Training Command colours of red, white and grey and in pristine condition. It still had some fuel in the tanks and fluid in the windcreen washer system (I tried it).
We reckoned if we could get a battery for it we could start it. TG, the Stn Cdr, specifically forbade us from doing so.
But it almost never got to Odiham and neither did I!
Ham E. and myself were flying XR453 on 27th April 1979 and we got involved with a search for a missing light aircraft in North Shropshire, after a pilot had made a Mayday call. We were about to RV with the SAR Wessex coming from Valley to take over from us and as the viz wasn't brilliant I switched on the searchlight to help him see us in the haze layer. As soon as I did that, a Jaguar appeared very close in front, head on and climbing right at us. He immediately rolled right and pulled and we avoided each other by a very small margin. Not only did we hear his engines, but we smelled his exhaust fumes as we couldn't avoid his downwash. The Jag pilot was using Shawbury/Ternhill (rotary wing only) LFA on an ad-hoc and unauthorised basis and I believe he got a rocket for doing so. We later got an apology from the Jag pilot who said that he hadn't seen us until I put the searchlight on.
We reckoned if we could get a battery for it we could start it. TG, the Stn Cdr, specifically forbade us from doing so.
But it almost never got to Odiham and neither did I!
Ham E. and myself were flying XR453 on 27th April 1979 and we got involved with a search for a missing light aircraft in North Shropshire, after a pilot had made a Mayday call. We were about to RV with the SAR Wessex coming from Valley to take over from us and as the viz wasn't brilliant I switched on the searchlight to help him see us in the haze layer. As soon as I did that, a Jaguar appeared very close in front, head on and climbing right at us. He immediately rolled right and pulled and we avoided each other by a very small margin. Not only did we hear his engines, but we smelled his exhaust fumes as we couldn't avoid his downwash. The Jag pilot was using Shawbury/Ternhill (rotary wing only) LFA on an ad-hoc and unauthorised basis and I believe he got a rocket for doing so. We later got an apology from the Jag pilot who said that he hadn't seen us until I put the searchlight on.
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As OP, this thread was a very productive one for me in providing much needed information to ensure that my project served to preserve the aviation heritage associated with RAF SH Ops in Borneo. I know the Navy were there also, but on this occasion, they dipped it. (Any pun intended). My project is not over for I will shortly turn my attention to Belvedere Ops, though Tengah is the most likely location for any depiction. The Whirlwind has reached its final destination; and here it is for all to see. I appreciate very much the contributions, facts, banter that have graced these pages:- Thank you.
...... and a special thank you to the Old Duffer who like a Jack Russell knawing away at you ankle; never let go!
...... and a special thank you to the Old Duffer who like a Jack Russell knawing away at you ankle; never let go!