Queen's Silver Jubilee - RAF Finningley
I was a young Sgt AEOp and part of the 201 Sqn crew that was presented to the Queen. My Mother was livid when the BBC coverage only showed the officers being introduced to Her Majesty. Never did get the promised photo of shaking hands with her!!!
Curiously, the first edition of the Oporder did not include the VC10 and a first rehearsal had been held before we became aware that things had got that far. Words were said and we found a slot behind the 4 Hercs.
I was there with a Lightning on ground display. I remember OC OPs Finningley being annoyed that our leaking fuel was eroding his newly laid taxiway tarmac. However, the hospitality of our adjacent VC10 was much appreciated!
Sleepy Fred wasn't as bad as he was painted.
He came from a very lowly background, joined the Army, was captured at Dunkirk, PoW for approx 5 years, MA at both Oxford and Cambridge, called to the Bar, MP, Cabinet Minister etc etc served as a conscientious MP for a Sheffield Constituency.
Unfortunately he fell asleep next to Her Maj and that's all he's really remembered for.
He came from a very lowly background, joined the Army, was captured at Dunkirk, PoW for approx 5 years, MA at both Oxford and Cambridge, called to the Bar, MP, Cabinet Minister etc etc served as a conscientious MP for a Sheffield Constituency.
Unfortunately he fell asleep next to Her Maj and that's all he's really remembered for.
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I was there. Probably one of the more junior officers there; another being my oppo. Two of us EngO students from M&S UAS had been sent on a 4-week summer detactment to RAF Binbrook - where it turned out that OC Eng Wg and OC EES, both of whom had a pair of tickets and each of whom had a young adult daughter, could not go - so us two lads agreed to to escort the two daughters. Happy days.
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I too was there as a member of the Air Cadet contingent manning the stand in the hangar. Rumour has it that if you lift the carpet on the dais there is a small brass plaque recessed into the floor stating "Fred Mulley slept here"
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I remember the Queens Silver Jubilee for totally the wrong reason. I was on duty in Lossie ops on this occasion with, unusually, a television in the ops room for the staff to watch the "do" at FY. It was switched off in a hurry when we started to get information that a Jag had crashed and was it possibly one of ours? Lots of phoning round, information gathered and passed upward. Unfortunately it was one of our aircraft and, sadly, the pilot didn't get out. I often wonder if HM was ever told that one of her military subjects had died whilst she was celebrating her jubilee.
I took four Pumas up to Lindeholme on the 25th Of July for the rehearsals and the review. We were there to do the standard assault followed by lifting in Howitzers as part of the firepower demonstration. Nothing in the videos, of course, because everybody knows the BBC always referred to them as ARMY helicopters so they would not have been part of the ROYAL AIR FORCE review.
An interest sideshow was acting as the overhead camera for the BBC. Hover at 4,000ft or so and watch the Red Arrows show from above.
An interest sideshow was acting as the overhead camera for the BBC. Hover at 4,000ft or so and watch the Red Arrows show from above.
ACW342
I would think that HM would have been told in a timely manner, this is based on the info. from FZjnr regarding all such occurrences in the sandpit ... HM 'insisted' to be first on the 'distribution list' of any such info.
I would think that HM would have been told in a timely manner, this is based on the info. from FZjnr regarding all such occurrences in the sandpit ... HM 'insisted' to be first on the 'distribution list' of any such info.
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I wish I could remember his name, but when I was instructing at Leeming there was a Group Captain who became Station Commander at Honington. We met several years later and he related the tale that, on a Royal visit, on a very hot day, HM said "Oh! The poor chap!"
Our Group Captain, thinking that one of the parade had fainted in the heat, asked HM what she was referring to and she pointed to the dias and right next to the steps was a plaque saying "Fred Mulley slept here".
CB
Our Group Captain, thinking that one of the parade had fainted in the heat, asked HM what she was referring to and she pointed to the dias and right next to the steps was a plaque saying "Fred Mulley slept here".
CB
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I was there as a flag bearer. Sent from Germany as I was the only Flt Lt with a reasonably presentable uniform. The highlight for me was that after a week of criticism of our drill expertise, we were told to observe the QCS on their first practice. Unfortunately they arrived late afternoon and hit the bar. Their drill was laughable the following day and we all enjoyed it immensely.
However ,I must say that on the day of the big parade they were superb.
Of my group, only the WO got a gong. The way they were dished out was one of the reasons I became a bit disallusioned with how things were going and I left after 16 years . Never regretted it but I did miss the way it way it used to be in the 60's and 70's.
However ,I must say that on the day of the big parade they were superb.
Of my group, only the WO got a gong. The way they were dished out was one of the reasons I became a bit disallusioned with how things were going and I left after 16 years . Never regretted it but I did miss the way it way it used to be in the 60's and 70's.
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Originally Posted by RHKAAF
... I did miss the way it way it used to be in the 60's and 70's.
We had so many places to go [Home and Overseas] and there was a certain joie de vivre about the whole thing.
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I was there, I was a mere Corporal on the VC-10 Sim at Brize, but I missed getting picked to go on parade, I also missed getting a Medal, I cant recall anyone on the Sim who got one. But I was able to get a couple of tickets for my mum to go the full dress rehearsal on the day before the main event (I think) I know she thoroughly enjoyed it, I still have the special Silver Air Clues and Review Brochure somewhere in my loft.
I went as visitor with a couple of pals from Brize and remember being in a queue to get in starting at Bawtry and it taking forever to get out.
Highlight of the event was the Ozzie F-111 flaming in his display and the brand spanking new MRCA in the static.
What an Airforce we had in those days.
I went as visitor with a couple of pals from Brize and remember being in a queue to get in starting at Bawtry and it taking forever to get out.
Highlight of the event was the Ozzie F-111 flaming in his display and the brand spanking new MRCA in the static.
What an Airforce we had in those days.
On the day of the public airshow I walked from Doncaster Station all the way, with my packed lunch and cans of Colt Beer. I still managed to arrive before the start of the flying display and had a good walk around the static.
FB
FB
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I was there. One of the two graduate entry officers from Cranwell (Commandant's escorts) uncasing the new Queen's colour. Mentioned by name by Raymond Baxter! I'm the one not in the often seen painting. Great day out with my fiancee and in-laws to be (father-in-law with a Devon in the ground display).
I was not there but nearly was!
Posted out of Met. on an unexpected [avowedly undeserved] promotion to the hell-hole called Bracknell.
Big Fish, small pond >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Small fish, big pond.
Escaped Bracknell after 19 weeks.
Finningley in those days was a great place to be if one had to be in UK.
There are a substantial number of retired Met. men in and around Doncaster.
Posted out of Met. on an unexpected [avowedly undeserved] promotion to the hell-hole called Bracknell.
Big Fish, small pond >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Small fish, big pond.
Escaped Bracknell after 19 weeks.
Finningley in those days was a great place to be if one had to be in UK.
There are a substantial number of retired Met. men in and around Doncaster.
