Originally Posted by
middlesbrough
Nick, I was a young Pilot Officer going through navigation training at RAF Hullavington(Chippenham) in 1964/5. Your father was one of several Master Pilots who flew the Varsities and Valettas. I obviously didn't know him personally, they were like Gods to us junior students, but he was the pilot on several Varsity sorties I flew on. One night astro in December 1964 and a trip to Gibraltar out on the 5th Feb and back on the 8th 1965, and several navigation sorties after I had graduated and was waiting to go to RAF St Mawgan to convert to the Shackleton.
Your father and his fellow pilots were an essential and valuable part of the training of us ab initio navs.
So glad he went on to have a successful time at Waddington and that his service was recognised by the award of the MBE.
Best wishes
Mike Walker
I've checked the log books for that time and my Dad has recorded the flights but starts off listing +2 u/t Nav (i.e. no individuals) but later just records +2 or +3
The flight to Gib was +6 on the way out and +5 on the way back