Handley Page Hastings

[brakedwell]

I spent two years as a Hastings 2nd pilot in 1957/9. I hated the job, but we had two Chipmunks and an Anson to play with. In fact we were meant to get at least 100 hours a year on them to qualify for flying pay, but most second pilots didn't bother with them. I did quite a lot of flying in them and also flew Meteor 7 and 8's at Nicosia to relieve the boredom. When I first joined the squadron I was sent to Lajes Field in the Azores to look after a Hasting which was damaged during landing in a gale when on the way back from Christmas Island. I have a few photos of the bent Hastings.