WE992,
Of course, the hammock in its "classic" position. Now, picture the scene. I'm the AGE on an ASI LOX trip. A rather large LOX container is in the cargo bay, accompanied by a LOX safety man, whose sole purpose is to monitor vessel pressures and advise of any faults, mounted on a platform, on roller conveyor. Our Captain, C**** O'*****, briefs us on the plan. Basically, if the safety man tells me its about to blow, I will open the ramp and door and dump it in the oggin. So off we go.first leg Lyneham to Banjul, no probs, and I had a good trip operating my hammock, tied between the yellow poles. Putting Albert to bed was standard and the refuel was accomplished without incident (this matters).
Next day we completed the trip to ASI, and landed just after the weekly Timmy. Taxied in and the VASF lads were very helpful. We were informed that we had to wait around an hour and a half to remove our LOX pot, because the Tristar had priority on the movers. Not a problem I thought, and duly refuelled Albert for our northerly departure the next day. And, by the time we had it put to bed, the local movers turned up, unloaded the LOX pot and myself and the safety man headed toward the accommodation and a welcome beer.
Imagine my surprise at breakfast in the mess the following morning when the Flt Sgt Muppet in residence introduced himself with "you're in the crap now matey boy", with respect to his rank I replied that he could call me Smudge if he liked, and asked what I had done wrong. Well, he said, I've had OC muppetry ASI send a signal off to FATCOCK reporting you for refuelling your aircraft with a LOX container on board. I doubt you will even be allowed to be the GE for the return trip today. Well, I thanked him for his astute recognition that I had indeed refuelled my Albert, whilst the LOX container was aboard, but pointed out that I had done the same thing at Banjul, en route to ASI, and that it was authorised by signal from the said FATCOCK. Halfway through his full English, spitting sausage he went apoplectic, and continued to insist that C130s were not allowed to be refuelled whilst LOX was aboard. I further explained that in normal operation Albert carried its own LOX pot, that was never routinely drained to allow fuel to be loaded on board. He left half of his breakfast and stormed out. I never heard a word about it again. And now for the hammock. On the way back north, I enjoyed a 30 minute chat down the back with our skipper, who made the point to me that strung up where I had it, had he needed to jettison the southbound load, I would have gone with it. Now there was something worth listening to. As a result, and whenever possible after that I rigged a stretcher, aft of the MLG and enjoyed luxury travel. Far be it from me to come between a pilot and his jettison. Anyway, despite the fact that I absolutely admit total inferiority in knowledge of Albert, what did the two yellow stanchions mean, no doubt a question for the Loadies among us.
Smudge
PS, Chickenlover. In 30 years of service as groundcrew, I only really loved two aircraft. Your photograph of Albert and the Lightning (surely an F6) has just encapsulated my whole service career. Thanks very much.