Jerry Grayson
I see he is also sharing his story of how he became the youngest helicopter pilot ever to serve in the in the Royal Navy at the age of 17 when he speaks to us FAAOA members in London on 23 March.
I joined the RN at age 17 as well but as that was the youngest age you could start basic Officer training at Dartmouth I couldn't have claimed to have been a helicopter pilot until I got my wings. And I thought I was doing well to join a front line Squadron a month after my 20th birthday!
I joined the RN at age 17 as well but as that was the youngest age you could start basic Officer training at Dartmouth I couldn't have claimed to have been a helicopter pilot until I got my wings. And I thought I was doing well to join a front line Squadron a month after my 20th birthday!
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Ha! Thanks for the support guys; the potential reaction of pruners has kept me awake a nights since publication was first mooted so I receive Sir Nialls complements with humble thanks.
Whilst I doubt I will ever be able to give up the day job I'd love to be able to finish the sequel "Film Pilot" so all critiques of "Rescue Pilot" are gradually received (negative harangues by PM only please!!!).
I'm fully expecting to have to wear a tin helmet for the labels "youngest" and "most decorated" ... both applied by an enthusiastic PR department against my better judgement. On the positive side if the book raises general public awareness of this being the last year of military SAR and celebrates all those who have given so much over 60 odd years then it will have been worth taking the flack.
Love to see any pruners at the Helicopter Museum on the 29th and also at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum on the 21st and 22nd. I'm having fun visiting old airframes, although the one I flew on ten SAR shouts that's now a target at a paintball site may be a sad one.
There is a BBC recording taking place this week of "The Reunion" about the '79 Fastnet rescues. I'll try to post the broadcast date here when I know it.
Thanks and Cheers
JerryG
Whilst I doubt I will ever be able to give up the day job I'd love to be able to finish the sequel "Film Pilot" so all critiques of "Rescue Pilot" are gradually received (negative harangues by PM only please!!!).
I'm fully expecting to have to wear a tin helmet for the labels "youngest" and "most decorated" ... both applied by an enthusiastic PR department against my better judgement. On the positive side if the book raises general public awareness of this being the last year of military SAR and celebrates all those who have given so much over 60 odd years then it will have been worth taking the flack.
Love to see any pruners at the Helicopter Museum on the 29th and also at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum on the 21st and 22nd. I'm having fun visiting old airframes, although the one I flew on ten SAR shouts that's now a target at a paintball site may be a sad one.
There is a BBC recording taking place this week of "The Reunion" about the '79 Fastnet rescues. I'll try to post the broadcast date here when I know it.
Thanks and Cheers
JerryG
There I was minding my own business, riding Battlestar Galactica into Melbourne CBD and my mate Jon Faine on 3LO starts chatting to another mate Jerry on the wireless.
Nice interview
Nice interview
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Thanks John! (You're not the reason that Jon Faine says he's terrified of helicopters are you ??!).
Starts about 12:50 into here Tales of rescue on the high sea - ABC Melbourne - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
What a sad day in Cornwall today with the farewell flight of 771 NAS around the coast, but great to see the local populous turning out in force to wave their thanks. Nice one boys.
Starts about 12:50 into here Tales of rescue on the high sea - ABC Melbourne - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
What a sad day in Cornwall today with the farewell flight of 771 NAS around the coast, but great to see the local populous turning out in force to wave their thanks. Nice one boys.
It wasn't a farewell flight - they keep going until Jan 16 at Culdrose - it was a celebration of 771's 76th anniversary (an odd one to celebrate).
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If I have understood the local news correctly 771 are in the process of 'down-sizing' and this was the last chance for them to have a photo-shoot of the whole squadron at full strength.
I believe they went one down when the duty SAR was called out just to add to the misery of saying goodbye.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Squadron is looking after one of the Mk1's that I had the pleasure of flying a little while back, having been reincarnated as a Mk5.
As Crab says, the time to say goodbye is yet to come at the end of the year.
G.
I believe they went one down when the duty SAR was called out just to add to the misery of saying goodbye.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Squadron is looking after one of the Mk1's that I had the pleasure of flying a little while back, having been reincarnated as a Mk5.
As Crab says, the time to say goodbye is yet to come at the end of the year.
G.
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Hey Geoffers. Yes that's how I understood it.
The cynic in me wonders if it's another one of those ploys to avoid a party like the crabs suffered in Scotland ... "No party, we already said farewell six months ago".
However, this is the Navy. There is therefore an Aussie contingent keen to schlep 11,000 miles for the final P.U. It would be good to catch up.
The cynic in me wonders if it's another one of those ploys to avoid a party like the crabs suffered in Scotland ... "No party, we already said farewell six months ago".
However, this is the Navy. There is therefore an Aussie contingent keen to schlep 11,000 miles for the final P.U. It would be good to catch up.
