Originally Posted by
SLXOwft
The RAeS website has published a piece by Rowland White
21 things I discovered while writing Harrier 809.
Obviously a list of teasers prior to the imminent publication. I would, however, be interested to hear the comments of those involved if they are on here - particularly the deprivations suffered by the Fat Albert crew 'detained' in Tahiti
I am sure some here will know about some of these but few if any about all of them.
Disclaimer: I have no interest in this other than a wish to read the book.
No posts regarding N MacC-W please.
One of the 'discovered' items regards use of a USN carrier:
"14. Worried about the ‘thin blue line’ of Sea Harriers, United States Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger suggested letting the British use the 100,000t supercarrier, USS
Dwight D. Eisenhower, as a ‘mobile runway’. Unfamiliar with the complexities of naval aviation, an enthusiastic British Ambassador suggested that the RAF might fly Buccaneers from Ike’s deck." But it's far from new - we've known about it for a number of years. And while naval aviaiton is complex (as is all military aviation) there were enough of us ex-FAA Bucc crews (many like me were RAF on loan, coincidentally to 809 NAS) both in the Air Staffs and current on RAF Bucc Sqns to want to make it happen. It was a regular occurrence for Buccs and F4s from HMS Ark Royal to 'cross-deck' onto US carriers and vice versa. So the enthusiastic British Ambo was right, and was only reflecting what many of us in the RAF were saying and wishing.