Interesting photo but frustratingly hiding an area I wanted to examine - the DV window. The interest? When were in Aden, a Hastings operated a 'fill-in' delivery for us to Ataq, an up-country dirt strip with a small fort. On take-off for the return, it hit a goat with one main gear and ended up off the 'runway', in flames. The co-pilot, so the story goes, was a chap of ample girth but, with the aircraft burning merrily and Avgas fuel, he generated the impetus to escape via the DV window - a feat subsequently proved to be impossible. Anyone with details?
Re unconventional Bev uses. one of our AQMs - 'Mannie' Mercer' dedide to marry ( at age 60!!). His wedding reception was held in one of 47Sqdn's Bevs at Abingdon - tables and chairs laid out for the guests in the freight bay and (of course) a small band playing on the nose platform ... otherwise referred to as 'the bandstand'.
As to characters, both Hastings and Beverley , two immediately spring to mind - Hastings, 'Capt' Jack Huntingdon, once met never forgotten, 'A' Cat Master Pilot, with a turn of phrase which left no doubts as to intention and couched in words of minimum length!. On Bevs, also a M. Plt ,- Johnny Loveridge, 'A' Cat on Bevs and Hastings and the two of them were 'politically' embarrassing at a time when such aircraft Captains had to be commissioned. Thus, both were sent on the 'Rupert' course at Jurby. I believe that Capt Jack had two goes!
Jack was still in the Sgts' Mess at Dishforth when the first WRAF Loadies arrived for training - a certain amount of chaos ensued - especially around the ante-room card 'school'!