Where Are They Now?Please feel free to post contact information here if you are looking for long lost friends or trying to find out what has happened to colleagues. Obituaries and condolences can be posted here too.
I have seen several threads referring to spud Murphy. Does anyone know if this is the same Murphy who would have been stationed at RAF Thorney Island in 1948?
....my FiL was "a" Spud Murphy, I flew once with a MSignaller "Spud" Murphy (renowned as an associate of MEng. Charlie Lusty), there was another "Spud" Murphy on 210 sqn at Ballykelly.
They were all probably good mates of "Chalkie" White and "Dusty" Miller...
Although I never had the privilage of knowing him, Spud had an Air Anglia F27 named after him. GSPUD. I suspect that it's now retired, (or possibly dead at the hands of some neanderthol) as it went abroad after many years of duty in the UK.
G-SPUD went off to Manx and was re-registered. When it came back to AirUK the CAA would not allow the old registration so it was re-registered again as G-BLFJ. Being a 100 series, and first flown 21.5.1959, I suspect it's gone to the great maintenance base in the sky.
An inordinate amount of toss-pottery has been perpetrated over the years with aircraft registrations I seem to remember a G-POLO belonging to Rowntree Mac with a call sign of "Smarty One". I digress, Spud Murphy, top bloke.
Thank you for your replies Heathrow director,fantom and Quaqukgf. I think I may be on the right track. The reason for my question, and the vagueness of it, is that I am trying to create a 'memory book' for my dad (now in his 80th year) about his time at RAF Thorney Island, without telling him! He speaks of a pilot who was called simply 'Murphy' and who was an absolute maniac in the cockpit. Like many others after him, my dad (who was not a pilot) was taken up just once in his plane and in his words, had the bejeezers scared out of him! Murphy is also famed for successfully pulling off a really tricky manouevre, that killed a stunt pilot during an air show just before. Would he be about the right age? I can then at least confirm that he is alive and well - my dad would be delighted to hear that!
Spud Murphy is my father. He's been through a lot of health problems over the last few year stemming from his Victor crash in 1962.
He is currently in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, having been close to renal failure. He's very down in the dumps at the moment so I'm sure that he will be glad to hear that he is remembered, even if it's not always for the best reasons!! I'd be delighted to pass on any messages to him.
By the way I should have confirmed that my father is the same Spud Murphy who flew Meteors in the RAF and was a test pilot for Vickers,Handley Page (Victor and Jetstream) BAE (Jetstream). He was also Cheif Pilot for Air Anglia. He still has a large photo of the F27 with the GSPUD registration in his dining room.
Erica, I spoke to your mother just after Christmas and she told me the situation. My very best wishes to you all. If you can read a private message (look at the top right of the PPRuNe opening page) I will send you my ID.
Some of you may already be aware that my father died on Monday, 31st Jan after battling with various conditions. His final flight is scheduled to depart on Monday, 14th Feb at 11.30 hours from Cambridge Crematorium, East Chapel.
Any enquiries to 01480 212766.
Finally, many thanks to all who have sent their kind wishes to the family and me. Hope some of you can join us in sending him off.
My first proper flying job was with Air Anglia and Spud interviewed me and then trained me on the DC3. We also flew together on the F27 and F28; it was always great fun. He was a talented pilot and always made training interesting. I will be there for the last flight. Giles.
