Accidents/Incidents at RAF Sek Kong
Don't forget 660 Sqn AAC, operating Scout AH1s there between c1978 and 1994.
One 'overland' ditching (tail rotor failure ??) splashed into a shallow fish farm/duck pond up around the Mai Po marshes. The cab was recovered by the Royal Navy 824 Sqn A Flight Sea King detachment based there as part of the anti-II and Asian refugee effort.
Good bunch of lads in both 660 and 28(AC). Great memories, superb flying environment, happy days included playing for the Flying Kukris RFC based at SK. pp.
One 'overland' ditching (tail rotor failure ??) splashed into a shallow fish farm/duck pond up around the Mai Po marshes. The cab was recovered by the Royal Navy 824 Sqn A Flight Sea King detachment based there as part of the anti-II and Asian refugee effort.
Good bunch of lads in both 660 and 28(AC). Great memories, superb flying environment, happy days included playing for the Flying Kukris RFC based at SK. pp.
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Venoms
A friend who was on 28 Sqn in 1952, flying Venoms from Sek Kong, told me about an accident involving two aircraft at that time. A pair were due to fly on an air-to-air gunnery detail, shooting at a banner towed by a DH Hornet from Kai Tak. The pilots were a flight commander and a very newly-arrived first tour pilot.
They lined up to take off, and at full throttle the leader nodded ‘brakes off’ and off they went. When they had reached about 50 knots a dog ran across the runway ahead of them and the leader closed the throttle and braked. Unfortunately his number 2 wasn’t quite so sharp and shot past him. Seeing him go past, and also seeing the dog depart the runway, the leader decided to save the lad’s face and so opened the throttle again. Simultaneously, the number 2 realised he had unforgivably overtaken his leader, and so he braked. This see-sawing went on with the result that both aircraft went off the end of the runway at speed and ended up in the rice paddy minus their undercarriages.
A couple of hours later, while the engineers were up to their knees in rice paddy trying to work out how to extricate what was left of two armed Venoms, a Hornet flew at low level down Sek Kong’s runway at high speed. It was towing a target banner, on which was written: ‘Beware of the Dog’.
They lined up to take off, and at full throttle the leader nodded ‘brakes off’ and off they went. When they had reached about 50 knots a dog ran across the runway ahead of them and the leader closed the throttle and braked. Unfortunately his number 2 wasn’t quite so sharp and shot past him. Seeing him go past, and also seeing the dog depart the runway, the leader decided to save the lad’s face and so opened the throttle again. Simultaneously, the number 2 realised he had unforgivably overtaken his leader, and so he braked. This see-sawing went on with the result that both aircraft went off the end of the runway at speed and ended up in the rice paddy minus their undercarriages.
A couple of hours later, while the engineers were up to their knees in rice paddy trying to work out how to extricate what was left of two armed Venoms, a Hornet flew at low level down Sek Kong’s runway at high speed. It was towing a target banner, on which was written: ‘Beware of the Dog’.
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Hunter Dennison
Hi Old Duffer
I can confirm that Hunter Dennison was killed in a motor cycle accident in Hong Kong. He was a real gentleman with a great sense of humour.
I can confirm that Hunter Dennison was killed in a motor cycle accident in Hong Kong. He was a real gentleman with a great sense of humour.
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Hi Pete I remember a 660 cab landing just before a typhoon came through and 28 SQN under-slung it back to camp. Chris James was the pilot of the Wessex and I was the sector controller that afternoon. Jeeeez! The memories all come flooding back by reading a comment. Hope this helps clarify things on this one for you.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I've just come across this thread, and looked up XR500 in my logbook. An ex-78, ex-Aden machine. My last flight in her was from Intrepid to Sharjah, when we arrived from Aden. 4.12.67. That's over 48 years ago! I think I need a lie down.
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Hunter Dennison
Having seen a couple of memorial brass plagues commemorating the deaths of 2 individuals in Sek Kong I wonder if anybody has any history or background they could share.
the first says
"To the memory of Flying Officer Hunter Dennison who tragically died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 13 January 1986"
the second says
"In memory of Sergeant Andrew George who died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 4 May 1988 Aged 37"
I have tried a Google search for the names but unfortunately have drawn blanks so any help would be appreciated.
the first says
"To the memory of Flying Officer Hunter Dennison who tragically died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 13 January 1986"
the second says
"In memory of Sergeant Andrew George who died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 4 May 1988 Aged 37"
I have tried a Google search for the names but unfortunately have drawn blanks so any help would be appreciated.
- Hunter was killed between SK camp and village on his trail bike a car pulled out on him he was from the Isles Orkney’s?
- nice bloke spoke a few times at football etc no airs/ graces just a nice guy in his early 20’s flying Wessex. Always remembered him and his personal effects came through Brize Norton, bit of a shock really seeing the name on the box.
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I was an Officer cadet with Hunter in the RFA (Royal Fleet Auxilary) in 1979. He was a senior cadet just about to take his second Officer exams and I was a junior of just six months service at age 16. We were sailing on a dirty old oil tanker called the Olna, roughing it out in bad weather for weeks in the North Sea. On board we had a Wessex from a squadron at Culdrose and Hunter was fascinated to the point where he made the decision that he no longer wanted to be a Merchant Naval Officer, but wanted to be a pilot!
One Sunday morning we put into Scapa Flow in the Orkneys for a breather from the washing machine of the North Sea in Winter. Hunter was delighted because he lived in Kirkwall and was the first off on a small tender to get milk and papers (and pop home to see his folks).
I spent four months on board with him and his buddy Chris. Always remember him for his ‘just get it done’ attitude and his acute Scottish accent!
I now live in Australia age 61. Was just googling old shipmates yesterday when this thread came up. Hunter would have been 65 now and I am saddened that he has been lost 37 years ago. But so happy for him that he achieved his dream of flying helicopters.
One Sunday morning we put into Scapa Flow in the Orkneys for a breather from the washing machine of the North Sea in Winter. Hunter was delighted because he lived in Kirkwall and was the first off on a small tender to get milk and papers (and pop home to see his folks).
I spent four months on board with him and his buddy Chris. Always remember him for his ‘just get it done’ attitude and his acute Scottish accent!
I now live in Australia age 61. Was just googling old shipmates yesterday when this thread came up. Hunter would have been 65 now and I am saddened that he has been lost 37 years ago. But so happy for him that he achieved his dream of flying helicopters.
