SHFNI Stories!

[EESDL]

best banoffee pie in the Prov...just round the corner from Omagh apron. Buzzard could often be seen calling the cafe to scramble crews...
never tasted anything close.......and I've tried every banoffee I've come across.....if you get my drift?

[obnoxio f*ckwit]

Ah yes, that banoffee pie, in the little caff round the corner. Remember being stood down at nights, wasn't me at the going away party but there were several that ended up round in the married patch that got a bit 'interesting'! Anyone else remember J***s C***e, PWRR Capt who always finished behind the Col in the CO's runs (which was utterly forbidden) and then went on to win the DSO in Al-Amarah? And Nosher, and Sumo?

Also doing 2 night shifts in a row at Omagh and being stood down during the day in between, Royal Irish MT were very happy for us to take out a car for the day, we made it to Portrush once, and if you were quick you could get a couple of pints in the pub on the High St in Omagh before the 10 hours B-T-T started.

I seem to remember happy days, but I'm sure there was plenty of crap too!

[Dundiggin']

Back in the early '70s we used to hold a night standby with Walter Wessex. One night the duty crew was called out to Rathlin Island. Apparently there was a pregnant woman who was having complications and needed to be casevaced urgently to hospital. The Wessex duly transported the pregnant woman to hospital, where she had a successful birth. :)
The islanders were so grateful to 72 Sqn they said that we could always go up there for free seafood (crabs and lobsters) whenever we wanted. For the next few detachments we always visited the island to pick up a tray of the crustaceans prior to going back to the mainland. We were very grateful for the kindness of the islanders - thank you.:D
I presume the child is in her/his 40s by now? It would be nice to hear.:)

[PhamousPhotographer]

The islanders were so grateful to 72 SqnMany of Northern Ireland’s fishermen, ferry passengers, sailing enthusiasts, mountaineers/hill walkers and the occasional r.t.a. casualty also had cause to be grateful for 72’s life-saving efforts. The photo records a SAREX display at Annalong on the Co Down coast involving Newcastle Lifeboat and XV726’J’ with P**** B***, (OC ’A’ Flt), S**** C******, G*** D***** (winchop) and winchman M***** M****, standing on the lifeboat’s deck. 19th August 2000.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0119-08-2000Phamphotog.jpg

I’ve always thought that 72 Squadron’s SAR duties in the province were never sufficiently recognised and appreciated, other than by those rescued and their families, while 230 Squadron and 5 Rgt AAC had their share of emergency medevac cases as well. As ever, the locally-based public service was only missed when it was withdrawn in 2002. No matter how much assurance is given, response times from Sligo, Dublin, Prestwick or Anglesey can never match those achieved from Aldergrove. Thanks to all of you who served here.:ok:

[lsh]

"Antrim Princess"!!
lsh

[RUCAWO]

The Antrim Princess incident is covered in this Donaghadee Lifeboat, RNLI (http://www.cottage-publications.com/store/shop.cgi/page=pgbhb590.html/SID=1263205411.16212)
There are a few other mentions of 72 in it as well as a couple of pics.

[Dundiggin']

.....and lobsters.....:p

[mole man]

Has anyone got any Pic's from 72 Sqn in the late 70's 77-80

From a gratefull ALM

Mole Man:ok:

[Mushroom_2]

These are 230 1979

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/BessbrookSmall.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/Crossmaglen1Small.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/ForkhillSmall.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/PumawithstairrailcopySmall.jpg

[Tiger_mate]

This will be me thinking; "Where do I know that white church from?", closely followed by an appreciation of how much we wrongly take for granted on a daily basis when you can enjoy viewing such things through newly issued rose tinted specs. Top thread, and excellent photos, thankyou for posting.

[PhamousPhotographer]

These are 230 1979Good ones M_2. Any more?? 5th April 2006 and a slightly different angle on the first view, taken from XW198 going off up the tube. Isn't that third one with the sarrycans 753? Looks very different today.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0105-04-2006Phamphotog.jpg

[Mushroom_2]

Couple of XMG

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/Crossmaglen2Small.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/CrossmaglenSmall.jpg

[Mushroom_2]

Forkhill

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/Forkhill5Small.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/Forkhill4Small.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy99/Mushroom_3/Forkhill3Small.jpg

[miles offtarget]

Further to Tiger Mate's comment, does anyone know of a link to the famous XMG heli shoot vid taken by a French (?) TV crew lured to the village for an interview and treated to an 'exclusive' by PIRA. It's rather a long time since I last saw it, however believe that some of that was taken from the church or the parochial house next door.

And while I think of it, does anyone have access to a copy of the vid of the Lynx being brought down near the three lakes ? I noticed that a couple of seconds of it are included in D****'s vid; but recall that there was a PIRA director's cut, which was much longer and showed the locals ape-ing a foot patrol etc.

As I mentioned before, superb thread, hope it keeps growing.

MoT

[miles offtarget]

Answered my own question.

YouTube - IRA shoot down British Helicopter - 1988 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlCWqJDQI0)

Does anyone remember Capt ******* ***** (practising for his ATPLH/IR) providing hugely valuable top cover in Lx5 whilst VMC on top !

[PhamousPhotographer]

Couple of XMGViews from diagonally opposite corners of the HLS in very contrasting weather conditions, looking south-east as XW211 lands on.......

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0107-07-2005Phamphotog-1.jpg

while in the second shot ZA940 arrives over the north fence.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0228-03-2006Phamphotog.jpg

7th July 2005 and 28th March 2006 respectively. Much changed from those 1979 views. Today, little remains of these structures and the HLS is gone.

[Grys Dweizelschidt]

miles offtarget, I do feel you're being a little unfair on H-S, afterall, he was precisely where he'd been told to be. The downing of the Lynx was entirely predictable given the inclination of the victim.

[antisthenes]

The 1988 shootdown was long before the days of topcover.

Frankly, the further H-S was from any action, the safer everybody felt!

[miles offtarget]

Sorry, just a misleading stream of consciousness on my part, I certainly wasn't suggesting that the downed Lx was a result of that previously mentioned pilot.

The comment was precipitated by once carrying out an entire block of tasking, returning to BBK and landing on, only to find that he was topping up his suntan by flying a perfect (three times the drift on the outbound leg) hold on top of the usual claggy 8/8ths .... above the first serial's pick up grid !

Happy times indeed.

MoT

[engoal]

This reminds me of ambling back from JK's to the Mess..... http://www.wagenschenke.ch/HomeRun.swf:ok:

[WASALOADIE]

LOL! great bit of fun. For some reason I did better after having a couple of beers. 59metres

[Fat Chris]

Just tried to post a picture of the 'sniper at work' sign, but technically too difficult. But you know what I mean, didn't we have one in the 230 crewroom.

http://www.irishhistorylinks.net/pages/Troubles_Images/SniperAtWork.jpeg

At the Silverbridge junction, I think.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

That'd be the sniper from Silverbridge who was covered in his own ordure when lifted in a beaut set-up. Didn't stay long in chokey after peace broke out, ISTR.

[garv]

Has anyone got any stories or photos of when 845 NAS had there Wessex's in Bessbrook in late seventies or early Eighties?

[Shackman]

No photos but there was the one about the 845 cab lifting from BBK (in the middle of a major troop move) with the refueller still attached and pouring fuel in! Game lad - he clung on for grim death whilst all the other cabs shouted 'stop' on the RT. As we were sitting running right behind we didn't actually hear the refueller's words when the crewman finally opened the door to look out, but the actions were fairly explicit.

[helidoris]

thats a compliment. I taught R**k*e B***er to make them

[helidoris]

known by all then well documented on 72 page on facebook

[helidoris]

845 CO leading the 4 cabs in to helidet, gets reception committe of shining airmen, OC helidet, Station commander, photographers and lots more. landed on to be put in a rowing boat and pulled up the pan to awaiting dignitaries. appearing from stage left, 2 airmen on a pushbike, one on the handle bars wearing a blue and white polka dot dress with a tape recorder belting out "Raindrops keep falling on my head" Rode through the middle of reception and dissapeared into the distance. Wingco carried on as if nothing happened. very puzzled looking navy people. Welcome carried on into the night untill all navy bods rendered useless by cheese and wine party. Navy personell complaining next day of pooping raw undigested gorganzola, Easily explained as it wasn't administered by themselves through the orifice that chews. Possibly some other method whilst they were comatose. Welcome to Helidet. (first hand gen, i was there)

[lsh]

first hand
Bearing in mind the end to the story...........!!!!!!!!!!
lsh
:E

[helidoris]

try facebook, 72 sqn

[helidoris]

Who came up with that and when ?

[garv]

Sum great stories there, will check out the 72sqd site. Grew up in Bessbrook as a kid and watched the helicopters everyday. Loved watching the Wessex, Puma and Scout. Does anyone know were you would get any video's or links of the Scout flying or doing any displays?

[Dunhovrin]

Does anyone remember Capt ******* ***** (practising for his ATPLH/IR) providing hugely valuable top cover in Lx5 whilst VMC on top !

Flying for BA now. And still a knob according to the ex-AAC mafia.

The VMC on top call was from 1994 (12th July to be precise). He made the call to Puma4 and Lynx7 asking them to call dropping and lifting as he had no visual through the clouds. Half an hour later came the Mortownhamilton newtering.

[diginagain]

the Mortownhamilton newtering.

Haven't heard that one for a while, not since sharing an office with Mick Drol.

[antisthenes]

Mate, if it hadn't been for his inattentiveness, you'd never have got your name on the board in the Sqn!

Hope all is well. I thought given your previous dashing performance in front of the media that they'd have chosen you to be the suave captain on that rather hip company advert of yours.

[jayteeto]

That would be class, you could put the hosties underwear over your head to remain anonymous (but aroused) :ok:

[PhamousPhotographer]

That would be class, you could put the hosties underwear over your head to remain anonymous (but aroused) But surely he’d been newtered?

FKH – or what’s left of it. Taken from ZA940, 28:03:2006. Wonder where the Saracens are?

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0128-03-2006Phamphotog.jpg

[Dundiggin']

Back in the old days.......and before all the fencing was built, ISTR we used to land in the field and in front of us was a line of 'council' houses one of which always seemed to have an upstairs bedroom light on and a 'lady' who was in a state of various levels of undress!! Known as the 'Forkhill flasher' and regarded as a 'cum on'!! To her I would like to say 'Thank you for cheering up our detachments'!! :E

[teeteringhead]

Aaaahh Dundiggin' .... in the words of the song:

"D'ye ken Forkhill with the flasher in the night ....." :E

[PlasticCabDriver]

Are the 2 houses in the bottom left (between the instrument panel and the sliding window) new-ish? Used to have to flop old Walter over the fence that way after a right-pedal take-off when she was a bit heavy and cushion creep over the field until enough speed was on to climb away/dodge round Slieve Gullion, and I don't remember them being there, as they look like they would be right in the way.

[PhamousPhotographer]

No. None of her, but didn’t every SF base have its own urban legend glamour girl to distract the sentries?

PS
a line of 'council' houses Dundiggin. What did you say the house number was?

[RUCAWO]

No. None of her, but didn’t every SF base have its own urban legend glamour girl to distract the sentries?


Woodbourne certainly did, as one unfortunate Para found out whilst in the super sanger.Watching the young lady/slapper through the binos he got a little excited and leant forwards causing a part of his person which was exposed at the time to come into contact with the heater placed a waist level:} The scream could be heard over most of West Belfast:eek:

[PhamousPhotographer]

Eight years ago, 12th March 2002, and 72 Squadron had less than two weeks left before departure from the Province as Faz F*****l lifts the night-line Wx10, XR525‘G’, from spot 5 to return to Aldergrove. M****n E****l and S****y T******n complete the crew. On 25th March a ten-ship Wessex formation left Aldergrove for the ‘mainland’ and the Squadron formally disbanded on the 31st.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0112-03-2002Phamphotog-1.jpg

[garv]

http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/ac98/tiberious_2010/?action=view&current=190320102357.jpg

[helidoris]

green box easy but did you find the dayglo orange bog seat

[Jazzyg]

Oh how I remember the numerous sites I had the "pleasure to serve at" LOL. Bessbrook, Dungannon, St Angelo, Omagh, G40 etc. Being kicked out of bed at all hours to start the pump and juice your birds up !:eek: Maybe the wrong term of phrase there! I for one actually miss our regular tours over to the emerald Isle and working hand in glove with the aircrew. Still get to see some of the old faces now and again when I pop over to Shawbury!

Not too sure where to put this request in.... but any 230 guys around that has a copy of the TROP STORM video shot in Belize in Feb-May 2007? I was in the lead air frame and missed out on the showing and getting a copy due to a roulemont change and being out on a FRP with 25 Flt. Any info much appreciated!!

*TSW DO IT TILL THEIR NOZZLES RUN DRY*:ok:

[Rucsack]

Posting duplicated

[Rucsack]

Known as the 'Forkhill flasher' and regarded as a 'cum on'!! To her I would like to say 'Thank you for cheering up our detachments'!!

Dundiggin, the "lady" you mention was known to us as Sadie. She would put on regular shows for the squaddies in the sangars which often involved various vegetables and other phalic items.

It was rumored it all got too much for some of the boys and the base lights would mysteriously go out whilst a sudden sprint was made from base to nearby housing estate.

I'm surprised she wasn't tarred and feathered as she had the only black son in South Armagh. :D

[Dundiggin']

.....'It was rumored it all got too much for some of the boys and the base lights would mysteriously go out whilst a sudden sprint was made from base to nearby housing estate.'

Had the camp run out of vegetables? :} :rolleyes:

[Rucsack]

..'It was rumored it all got too much for some of the boys and the base lights would mysteriously go out whilst a sudden sprint was made from base to nearby housing estate.'

Had the camp run out of vegetables?

I never thought of that - and I wondered why the food always tasted salty! :eek:

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/ForkhillAerial2e2.jpg

[Rucsack]

I suppose I should have done this part first before submitting the above post. I served in the RUC @ FKL 753 (84 - 86)

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the aircrew who would pick us up, soaking wet and freezing cold after an extended foot patrol (although I always seemed to be on the second lift. Doh!)

From the RUC perspective it was always appreciated and often entertaining, particularly when getting our regular lift in from Bessbrook when going to work.

I will attach some shots that might be of interest to some of you. Unfortunately I don't remember any aircrew names but a few of you came on a cultural tour (P*ss up) to Bushmills distillery with us.

Flying around in the back of a Lynx or Wessex and by mistake in a Puma once, was excellent, something I look back on with a big grin:}

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Wessexlandsatop.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Wessexmarinepatrol.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/ForkhillAerial1e.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/xmaslynx.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Lynxfklsnow.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Patrolwessex2FKL.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Lynxsunfkle.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/WessexLandingatOP.jpg

[mal2597]

Hi i served in the UDR/Royal irish and the RUC many a good cabby i had in helis throughout tyrone and fermanagh, RUC Carrickmore.

I remember on one occassion 94 i think i was waiting for a PUMA pickup outside Kesh village and in it came to the west of the village across the main belleck road bounced on the fiels over the river and bounced again the heli went into a spin the load master was thrown from the aircraft and it hit the ground quite heavily.

I remember walking the pilot back to Kesh station and all he said was they will be pissed at me tonight at tea.

i believe the pilot was due to return to the mainland to become an instructor

anyone remember this place i think it was Y251 Rockwood castlederg

sorry wont let me attach picture

anyway thanks for all you guys did for us grunts on the ground it was the greatest sound to hear after a long day on the ground

cheers

[DummyRun]

"I remember on one occassion 94 i think i was waiting for a PUMA pickup outside Kesh village and in it came to the west of the village across the main belleck road bounced on the fiels over the river and bounced again the heli went into a spin the load master was thrown from the aircraft and it hit the ground quite heavily."

I believe it lost a wheel!!! and became yet another underslung load for "akmed the goat herder" or "the double whopper"!!!!:ouch:

[Rucsack]

Someone out there might remember this. It would have been around 1985 when PIRA blew up the cross border train. Unfortunately or otherwise the cargo on the train was full beer barrels. This presented a major headache for ATO so there was a fairly large clearance op.

I think there were 12 insertion flights. But at the end of the op there were 13 extractions. This was at first puzzling as I was rescheduled to be on the last one. Then I saw a wessex heading off into the horizon with an underslung of beer kegs, presumably full of Harp lager - Obviously for evidentiary purposes;) I guess you gotta get your priorities right.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/TrainbombBlkFace.jpg

[7SFK]

RUCSAC, it was Guinness actually. I was there when the evidence was displayed, it didn't stay around long though. Your mates in the Greens passed me a lemonade bottle up the front of the Wx on a Saturday morning once. How nice I thought, until I tried it - strongest lemonade ever!! Enjoyed many great times with the RUC and have the highest respect for you guys.

[Rucsack]

7SFK - Thanks for your comments. Its a long time ago now but this forum brings back a lot of memories. What a hoot when some of you guys gave it some gas, diving nose down, spiraling into FKL, stall turns etc.

It also amazed me how the military train pilots to spot the wettest, boggiest field in the vicinity of designated LZ and manage to hold it in a perfect hover, just a few feet in the air, thereby ensuring said RUC officer has to jump from the aircraft and is guaranteed at least 50% immersion in South Armagh's finest therapeutic stinking bog water. I swear I could hear laughing from the cockpit as the chopper takes off.:hmm:

All said & done mate, without you guys it was a bloody long walk and joking aside I've been dropped off/ picked up in some tight situations where the pilots skill was amazing, although the resident of the house who had some windows blown in from downdraft as we landed in their front garden while doing follow ups after the Newry mortar attack might disagree.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Peter-Swampblk-face.jpg

[RUCAWO]

Now that looks familiar, samething happend to me at Carrickmore, looked like a nice,flat,very green field, dissapeared up to my thighs when I jumped out of the Wessex :O

[jayteeto]

The pilot who lost the wheel a few posts ago did become an instructor, then a Harrier pilot!!!

[PhamousPhotographer]

Free Beer - so they left me behind. On Monday 3rd December 1984 the 16.55 liner (goods) from Dundalk to Adelaide depot in Belfast was hijacked at O'Rourkes bridge, about a mile north of the Border and the more notorious Kilnasaggart bridge. Bombs were placed under the train and in the leading cab of the locomotive, GM No 145. At least two devices exploded, including the one in the cab and, as Rucsack’s photo shows, 145 was severely damaged, to the extent that had the ‘incident’ occurred south of the border she’d have been scrapped. However, as it happened in UK territory, guess who was responsible for the loss?

Only withdrawn from service within the past two or three years, 145 was recovered and hauled back to CIE’s workshops at Inchicore, Dublin, where she kept squads of engineering staff gainfully employed on lengthy and expensive repairs and was forever afterwards referred to as The Queen’s or Her Majesty’s Engine, as Elizabeth’s taxpayers footed the bill. That was only one of many attacks on the line’s cross-border traffic, and the odd beer keg or ten was never going to be missed. Small reward for the dangers experienced by the EOD teams and cordons. It took three days to clear that one.

[Rucsack]

On Monday 3rd December 1984 the 16.55 liner (goods) from Dundalk to Adelaide depot in Belfast was hijacked at O'Rourkes bridge, about a mile north of the Border and the more notorious Kilnasaggart bridge. Bombs were placed under the train and in the leading cab of the locomotive, GM No 145. At least two devices exploded, including the one in the cab and, as Rucsack’s photo shows, 145 was severely damaged, to the extent that had the ‘incident’ occurred south of the border she’d have been scrapped. However, as it happened in UK territory, guess who was responsible for the loss?

Only withdrawn from service within the past two or three years, 145 was recovered and hauled back to CIE’s workshops at Inchicore, Dublin, where she kept squads of engineering staff gainfully employed on lengthy and expensive repairs and was forever afterwards referred to as The Queen’s or Her Majesty’s Engine, as Elizabeth’s taxpayers footed the bill. That was only one of many attacks on the line’s cross-border traffic, and the odd beer keg or ten was never going to be missed. Small reward for the dangers experienced by the EOD teams and cordons. It took three days to clear that one.

Great research PP. My memory of the event had faded a bit but I do recall we were all standing around on an unusually sunny day for South Armagh. Felix was all suited up and standing on top of 5000 beer barrels trying to pick which one might be an IED, when the train started to slowly roll :eek: as the line was on a slight incline. Luckily only about 20 yards, but enough to have everyone in a bit of a flap. Fortunately nothing went bang!! Felix earned his money that day. I agree about the salvage of a few kegs being well deserved.

Here's a thought: I wonder if, like the roads, the railway line turned to crap when you crossed the border :confused:

[PhamousPhotographer]

Great research PP.
Thanks Rucsack. Can’t claim credit though. A Co Armagh friend / Irish railway photographer knew railwaymen from both CIE and NIR and used to travel out to Meigh, Adavoyle and Kilnasaggart with the PW repair gangs after ‘incidents’ such as that 1984 one. He got these two Wessex views from a south-bound Enterprise on 8th June 1988, five months before my own first encounter with 72 Squadron. The cab serial isn’t visible, but the tail code appears to be O or Q and the location looks like the 'boggiest' piece of ground the crew could find between Adavoyle and the border, to the east of the line below Romeo 21. Tally with anyone’s log book?

This particular express passenger service was regularly used by former International Olympic Committee President Lord Killanin up to his death in 1999 and I’ve seen it on a few occasions with what seemed to be a Wessex ‘escort’ from the border to just north of Bessbrook. I believe he was a passenger on 12th October 1978 (as was I) when the 08.00 ex Dublin was burned out at the Ormeau Road bridge in Belfast by three ieds hidden in the carriage partitions. One fatality, several injured and the narrowest of too many close escapes for Phamous during my time working in Belfast. Finally, "The Queen’s Engine" was withdrawn on 26th August 2006 and cut up the following week (more Seagoe info). Better quit before this becomes a railforum. Anyway, here’s the ‘photies’.


http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0108-06-1988MMcMSeagoeCabin-1.jpg

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0208-06-1988MMcMSeagoeCabin-1.jpg

PS You referred to the state of the roads and railways in the Republic. Generally, the permanent way on CIE was always better maintained than what remains of Northern Ireland's 'network' and, courtesy of the EU, the roads south of the border are incomparably improved from twenty years ago. Our's now resemble what the south's motorists used to endure. Progress?

[Rucsack]

Some great shots there PP. No disrespect was intended about the state of the South but at the time, you could see a visible difference to the roads literally as you crossed the border, which was always handy if we weren't quite sure where we were. (This happened more often than you would think:\). I haven't been back to south or north in more than twenty years, I'm sure is has changed.

By the looks of that bottom shot that pilot is definitely gravitating towards a boggy field. There must be RUC on board.

I sent a message to your email on your profile, check it out, if you didn't receive it send me a PM or email with your contact details.

Someone should compile a book on Choppers used in "The Troubles". I'd be willing to submit any snaps I've got.

[ILLUC IVI ILLUD FECI]

Ah, those evenings on the bar patio (well stood outside the window) watching the airliners. The first Jumbo, the Egyptair 707 getting airborne merely because of the slope down to Lough Neagh, even Concorde once on the Heathrow Shuttle. Though often, the only aircraft to watch were the returning Wessex!

http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad263/IllucIviIlludFeci/wessexegaa.jpg?t=1272822873

[garv]

Wow some amazing photo's there of the old Wessex. Has anyone got any of the 72 sqdn Wessex's in the olive drab colour scheme of the mid 80's, or any of the FAA Wessex's of 845.

[Rucsack]

If you recognise yourself or a friend, give me a shout & I can forward them to you without the blackout


Loadmaster with a sense of humour
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Load-Master-Glasses.jpg

Loadmaster
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Load-Master.jpg

Lynx Forkhill
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Lynx-Aircrew-1.jpg

Xmas Day 84
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Xmas-Day--Lynx.jpg

Lynx Aircrew Preflight
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Lynx-Aircrew.jpg

BBK in the snow approx 1984 / 5
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Lynx-Wsx-BBK-Snow.jpg

Wessex BB
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Wessex-BBK.jpg

Wsx Underslung @ BBK
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Wessex-Underslung.jpg

Gazelle @ BBK
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Gzle-BBK.jpg

Patrol Pick up FKL 1985
http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac43/Rucsack/Patrol-pickup-forkhill.jpg

[Dundiggin']

Top photo's matey - but on a technical point you refer to the bloke in the back being a 'Loadmaster' - he never was, he was ALWAYS called a 'Crewman' owing to the different brevet types eg. Air Eng, AEO, AQM, ALM and indeed NAV, who managed to pass the Wessex, Puma or Chinook courses to become 'Crewmen' in the back of the beasties.

If you've got any other phots I may even spot myself....as I also was a Crewman.

Cheers..

[mole man]

I was an Air Loadmaster on Wessi

Mole Man

All Clear above and behind:ok:

[Rucsack]

Hi Dundiggin

Sorry about the incorrect terminology. We (RUC @ FKL) just got to know them as loadmasters. I stand corrected - Crewman it will be from now on.

Unfortunately I don't have many more photos of choppers and their crews but if I do find some, I'll post them.

[Motleycallsign]

Rucsack and Dundiggin - Unfortunately they're all 'Crewman' these days either Fixed or Rotary Wing WSOp's. Personally I retain the right to be called 'Loadie' even tho' I was breveted with a 'QM' brevet.

[mal2597]

Here are some pictures of a Puma crash on approach to Golf tower in South Armagh not sure of the dates but the local SF were all over it taking pictures

Alright how do i get them on here asks me for a http://

Help

[Lyneham Lad]

Pretty much anything and everything on posting images to PPRuNe can be found here. (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/203154-image-posting-pprune-some-tips-you.html) Image sizes can now be max of 850px (width or height). Hope that helps - look forward to seeing your pics.

[garv]

Has anyone got any pic's of the scout in Bessbrook?

[mal2597]

Right lads this is not working if you got facebook look me up malcolm Stanford and request me as friend and then i will invite you to join the Rockwood group

sorry lads

mal

[professor moriarty]

Any pics of the Sea Kings out there (846 NAS) from the early 90s?

Great memories here.

[mal2597]

try these links any problems let me know

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs520.ash1/30607_405944623770_549383770_4175366_3151827_n.jpg (http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs520.ash1/30607_405944623770_549383770_4175366_3151827_n.jpg)



http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655728770_549383770_3969877_4261969_s.jpg (http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655728770_549383770_3969877_4261969_s.jpg)


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs293.snc3/28307_397655718770_549383770_3969875_3352546_s.jpg (http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs293.snc3/28307_397655718770_549383770_3969875_3352546_s.jpg)

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655723770_549383770_3969876_7981417_s.jpg (http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655723770_549383770_3969876_7981417_s.jpg)

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655118770_549383770_3969867_8329810_s.jpg (http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs323.ash1/28307_397655118770_549383770_3969867_8329810_s.jpg)

[PhamousPhotographer]

A couple of links. The first

YouTube - Explosion on the loco (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUxOybEvCNQ)

dates from 15th August 1973 and records an ‘incident’ at Meigh Crossing, nw of what eventually became R21, while

Brigadiers Visit Bessbrook (http://www.rgjphotos.org.uk./graphics/1rgj/brigvisitbb75/index.htm)

is a 1975 1 Bn Royal Green Jackets Henshaw Collection set of a Brigadier’s Scout at Bessbrook.

[Tiger_mate]

On mals links; replace the final "s" with an "n" to get photos rather then tiny thumbnails.

[Rucsack]

Thanks for posting the images Mal and thanks for the enlargement tip, Tiger Mate. Great shots mate. We had a similar crash at the OP above FKL, in 85 I think, where a Wessex caught a radio mast guywire and went over on it's side. The loadie perished unfortunately and several others on board seriously injured. - Very sad indeed

[Hydraulic Palm Tree]

The Shinners were whinging as usual I recall:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1877462.stm

HPT

[PhamousPhotographer]

Having covered both Crabair and TWA, just to re-light the thread here’s an 846 Jungly on a quarry lift from Drumadd. ZF121’VJ’ with Lt K******, Lt C********, PO N***, PO G** and RIR Dispatcher Cpl G***** C******. 4th June 1997.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0104-06-1997PhamousPhotographe.jpg

[72forever]

Some absolutely marvellous reminiscences on here, lots of which I remember and some of which I took part in, for example I know exactly what was written on the hangar roof! Anyhow there are a few more (300 +) photos on the 72 Sqn Facebook page plus more stories. Mainly from an engineering standpoint and from the early 80's. Worth a look.

[PhamousPhotographer]

Couldn’t let the snow depart without one last try at re-lighting the thread – and have just discovered it’s been re-lit; thank you 72forever. Any chance of you posting a story or two please? TWA at R850 again, with a 72 Sqn cab to keep the Crabs happy! Almost ten years between the two shots as ZA774 departs spot 10 on 30th December 2000 with XR506’V’ on spot 5.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0130-12-2000Phamousphotographer.jpg
The thaw arrived on Sunday, but up til then this was the view from the same position on 5th December past.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0205-12-2010PhamousPhotographer.jpg

In any other part of the world it would just be an anonymous, snow-covered field. Note the Phamous shadow on right!

[icom102]

What happened to the Wessex's after they where retired ?

[The Helpful Stacker]

Many were sold to Uruguay and I believe are still being operated.

[Walrus75]

Well I'm pleased to see that some of the old ladies are (were) still around... even if a bit disfigured. My fingerprints (from 26+ years ago!!) may well still be on the yellow bits :bored: (Twas a good cab was 518!) - I've got no idea when she picked up the camouflage scheme cos as far as I'm aware she was a SAR cab, therefor yellow, from at least 80 onwards...
Westland Wessex HC2, XR518, Royal Navy (http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1186922/)

http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1186922M.jpg

[teeteringhead]

Royal Navy!!! how dare they!!:=

[Mzee]

Ah memories!

RUCAWO - Those brown boots were mine, in fact they were Rhodesian Bush Boots, very comfortable and yes somewhat distinctive viewed from the back.

Dundiggin - Harry Secombe; Paul and I set it all up and the bloke left in the mountains was me, I had a beard then and was able to wear a pussers mac and beret to look completely different and out of context. Certainly caused a stir on landing at Aldergrove as the SB came rushing out to 'apprehend' stranger, Staish was less than impressed but eventually conceded after Harry retold the story with humour and relish and apparently signed the the Sqn book.

Never flew the Pope where did that come from!?! I went fixed wing and am still committing aviation.

[Dundiggin']

Good of you to acknowledge my version of the Harry Secombe event. It has been so long ago that I cannot remember your name. Perhaps you could pm me some details.....
Cheers

[icom102]

Walrus75 (http://www.pprune.org/members/274614-walrus75) whats happening with the wessex in your picture? are any of them still able to fly i always liked the look of them

[Mzee]

There are some other stories on NI, one in particular of VCP's one early morning after a mess dinner in 'Fly Navy - a view from a Jungly Cockpit', a great collection of stories from 1958 to 2008. Every penny to the RN Historic Flt - plug over!

Dundiggin - PM sent

[Oldsarbouy]

XR518 was indeed a yellow SAR cab and the one which picked up myself and P**L R******N up from Creag Meagaidh,near Fort Bill,after we parked our Sea King there on it's side and minus most of the sticky out bits! Don't know where it got the cam finish from, maybe it ended it's flying days at Shawbury.

[Tiger_mate]

2FTS (Shawbury) aircraft were never painted two-tone green. Therefore the aircraft must have been re-roled SH either with Sixty at Benson or 72 at Aldergrove. A guess would be Aldergrove as I am sure a yellow cab was seen there for a short time and they had a need of SAR cabs for their SAR cover.

[Bertie Thruster]

I think this is the Creag Meagaidh pickup (from a convenient 'step') that Oldsarbouy mentioned.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i97/nmhsu/geoscampixjune07084-1.jpg

[PhamousPhotographer]

A guess would be Aldergrove as I am sure a yellow cab was seen there for a short time and they had a need of SAR cabs for their SAR cover.Not yellow, but -

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image01XR518RAFAldergrove-1997PhamousPhotographer.jpg

Never saw her in yellow livery, but I think this is what you’re looking for. S*** H****d makes a point to P*** M***s as they walk in from RAF Aldergrove dispersal after a SAR practice flight. I think 518 was the first dedicated SAR cab that 72 operated – note additional aerials, etc – but will defer to those who know. The 72 SAR line long pre-dated her arrival, and is still badly missed here as I’ve noted on other posts.

[Oldsarbouy]

BT, yes that indeed was the incident.
I was on 72 1991 to 1992 and can't find 518 in my log book. Also the photo taken at Aldergrove has a bubble window in the cabin door which wasn't fitted during my time there. As I recall the SAR standby aircraft was called the 813 cab as that was the spot it was always parked on. Ahh, happy days!
:ok:

[Pink Panther]

A loose connection with SHFNI, but the above yellow Wessex gets a look in in the last episode "sting in the tail". Watched these over the last few nights, hadn't seen them for a while. Good stuff.


YouTube - Rescue (http://www.youtube.com/show/rescue)

[lsd]

Aaah!! August 5 1967 Jim Clark and I were target practice for the locals near Habilayn in the Radfan. At 90 kts. and 1000'agl they put at least 3 bullets in us (so we were lucky compared to to time they got 3 hits out of about 4/5 shots at guys moving around the camp one day). One went up thro' the cabin, missing the stick leaders spine by inches (pre metric days then!) and out thro' the gearbox deck with no significant damage; the other two went into the tail pylon and all but severed the tail rotor control cables, but hitting the turnbuckle and removing about 90% of it left enough to retain control to stagger on from Al Ma'amir to the strip.
Flew up spares and engineers and fixed that day. Can't recall much of an airtest or paperwork, just get on with it and a couple of beers that evening.
So fond memories of this particular Wessex, glad to hear she continued to look after crews for years.
A toast to the Queen of the Skies that never let me down despite my use and abuse in 3000hrs.
cheers, lsd

[PhamousPhotographer]

I was on 72 1991 to 1992 and can't find 518 in my log book.Going through my notes again and have the date of that last one as 21st August 1995. From memory, 518 arrived re-painted, but retained all the former 22 Sqn kit - note the additional lamps under the tailboom, on the winch and u/c leg (both sides?) - as well as the radio fit and that bubble window as noted by Oldsarbuoy. Flotation boots, hidden by the trolley, were fitted to the mainwheels, along with the inflated one in the tail bay. Unlike the squadron's other line cabs which rotated on SAR turns, I believe 518 was kept on 'A' Flt specifically for SAR duties rather than everyday SH tasking. I think the squadron only retained her for a matter of months before transfer to Sixty. She was certainly gone by 1996. Corrections welcome if I'm wrong with any of this.

Another one of the same cab / same day to follow, but a couple of things to check first.

[The Helpful Stacker]

Wasn't '518' the Wessex kept by 60 Sqn after the types retirement from Shawbury for ground instructional duties?

[Yozzer]

Dons anorak:

XR516/V Sixty Sqn colours. Almost certain that this was in fact a 2FTS machine that was repainted (vice a crate of beer) for Sixty Sqn at Shawbury. The previous 2FTS Wsx (dressed up as 'Aires') gate guard was on loan from a private source at Hixon, Staffordshire and thus returned.

Doffs anorak: ...and relax.........

[RUCAWO]

Anyone know the background to this one, photographed in the Isle of Man ,July 93 on its way to Aldergrove, 60 Sqn markings and Rescue removed.

http://i44.tinypic.com/210k07c.jpg

[941]

Slightly off the SHNFI track but I have a picture of XR518, 72 Sqn "D" Flt Manston 1974 with white bone domes and cold running nose door! How do I post a picture?

[Motleycallsign]

XR 518 appears in my logbook between Apr and Jun '74 as an 18 Sqn a/c at Guetersloh.

[Fareastdriver]

Seems like lots of XR518s. Reminds me of when 66 Sqn was disbanded at Seleter. They dragged out the war reserve Belvedere from the MU to break up and found it had the same serial number as one of the squadron's aircraft.

[Yozzer]

same serial number as one of the squadron's aircraft.

One member of the present Puma fleet has three serials to its heritage even if only one is painted on the tailboom. The top half (or rather 2/3) of the cabin having been to the seabed (English Channel), joined to the bottom of another that rolled and caught fire in Belize; all married up to the tailboom of a third one.

I knew that one SAR cab was flown by an SH Sqn when the Sea King fleet assumed all SAR inc training. Thought it was 72 but looking at the photo above, it was Sixty.

[941]

XR 518 did indeed come to us from Germany when we formed "D" flight of 72 Sqn at Manston in September 74. We also had the dreaded XR 501 which had an engine failure at least once a month and XT 602, I think it was, that always limped around the sky until someone discovered that one the big metal bolts holding the main gearbox on was broken!
Pictures by 103sqn - Photobucket (http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/103sqn/)
http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/103sqn/

[Paul Chocks]

XR518 appears to have been on 72 until Jun 96 at least (that's when I last flew it). PP is correct in that it was a standard SAR cab painted green. If I recall, it had no defensive equipment at all. Can't remember if this was the reason it was withdrawn (ceasefire ended in Feb '96) - great machine though, they all were - Queen of the Skies! Happy Days.

[tomdocherty72]

Flew sorties in 518 many times at Aldergrove and other bases in the Province in '95 and '96. It was not there in '94.

[Tiger Tales]

I have been reading this thread with some interest since the beginning and finally decided to join in. It has brought back some fantastic memories, some great, some not so great.
A big thank you to PhamousPhotographer, who I remember very well from back in the day, for posting some of his fantastic records and photographs.
To see what has become of the FOBs, HLSs and Golf Towers is a real eye opener. It had to happen, but it still seems bizarre to see what became of them!
Anyway, in no particular order, some of the things that come to mind and might help jog other peoples memories of days gone by:

Aldergrove
The 'Happy Bus' going Northside
The 'Sad Bus' coming Southside
The Tiger's Lair
The Swift Retreat
The Rose Bowl on a Friday night!!
J.K's- I remember A.U being a regular patron of the Scooby Doo Burger (which had to be seen to be believed-it could harden arteries just by looking at it!)
The Top Corridor in the Mess- doors open, linked up chatrooms on certain websites (long before FaceSpace had been invented)
Helping organise the 2001 Mini Tiger Meet- NATO invades Belfast! (more to come later)

Down Town
Sponsored visits to RUC HQ! (never seem to remember the journey home!)
Shopping in Belfast at the weekend- turning right out of Queen's Castle car park! Only did it the once, after admiring the lovely murals on the blocks of flats!
The Fly!
'Mauds' for a Pooh Bear on the way home.
Temple P curry house where a certain Crewman would only order Omelette and chips!
Knutts Corner market to pick up the latest Cds and DVDs (allegedly!)

Armagh/South Armagh
MBP checks (in the Summer-you now what I mean!)
Calling Buzzard to put the kettle on when 2 minutes out
Under wires transits!!
"Red 850 Up the Tube, Red 850"
Confined Area landing in the Garden!
Hearing a GPMG open up on the pad!! (Outgoing-ish!)
Dropping a bollock (right outside the fence when a donk when bang!)
IMC road moves (How mad was that looking back on it?!)

The Greens
Rab and his 'special' deals!
Pizza deliveries at the gate for 10
Watching a Puma on the CCTV trying to imitate a Lynx landing on the HLS (ie no gear)
The Crewmans "stash" in the upstairs cell (often liberated back from the pilot's rooms)
Hiding the Sky card from TWA because you could
The 'lough run' from the South
The 'lough run' out to the North
Ambushing the romantics (don't think 'dogging' had been invented then?) at the car park lookout from below.
Border lottery at Belleek and Belcoo
Quarry visits with some interesting Underslung Loads and Paddy the Quarryman (same old boy appeared everywhere!)


Anyway, hopefully that has raised a few smiles! There must be hundreds more that haven't been mentioned (some probably shouldn't be!!) so would love to see them.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger

Tweet,Tweet,Tweet:ok:

*Apologies for all the exclamation marks but they seem appropriate

[Rude C'man]

jerome the Dome
greeny RIP
Wally RIP
The Dingannon NVG simulator , the U/S fridge
The Dungannon Water heater U/s best banter I ever saw
Dungannon bullet holes , thanks TSW
POD snoring
Mr Blobby biscuit barrel
and the Famous nav qoute " Ive never been lost with a crewman on board ! "
Ah what a place work hard play hard especially after a Swift session driving down the O 's mess playing dodgems, then trying to explain the bar bills at the subsequent Courts marshall !!
Cresta Run Armagh , fishing at Armagh
Suzie the copper and Trina the stewardess !!

[eastern wiseguy]

Ambushing the romantics (don't think 'dogging' had been invented then?) at the car park lookout from below.

Not 72 or 230 just a Belfast ATCO .....we had one of our guys who spent a lot of time under route 2 "entertaining" in his Astra . His favourite evening was when Klingon went over the top low level at the vinegar stroke....sad fecker:ok::ok::ok:

[Winchweight]

On the pad at BBK 0200, three bacon sarnies from TSW
Grobbling up R13 in foul weather to collect a video with crucial int..... and returning it to the NAAFI!
Sitting on the pad at XMG watching house bricks landing all around
Drumcree! Watching the Chinny bring in 2 Eager Beavers cos the prods had arrived with a JCB their side of the battlements
Driving past Daisy Hill and threatening the RAFP driver that if he didn't turn around I'd shoot him myself.
Seeing OC72s face when his clothes for the road move were delivered!
The Army poster in the Buzzard tower "ARMY! Be the bestest!" - laughed till I wept. Love subtle banter.
Grosvenor on toast morning after 2 hrs of EVCP
Grosvenor fire drills - Jeff Young "F*k off RSM, do I look like I´m on fire!"
Grosvenor - aerobics Oz style (on telly, not me obviously)
All STANO crew arriving to tell us to sharpen up on our NF procedures then landing on a fence post
The night they re-legalised fireworks! Eat your heart out Apocalypse Now!
Delivering a truely unhappy cat to G40!
Bringing the honey box back! Literally hauling Sh1t back and forth.
Warning a certain pilot (HV) that our approach to Stormont was a bit quick then looking at his face as he surveyed the furrows in the nice lawn!
16 hrs in the dog section at Stormont while Bertie Ahearn & Tony Bliar argued with the locals inside

Pooh Bear at Templepatrick
Taking the wife's shortcut into Belfast through the nice area with the paintings...!!
Blackbush Distillery tours
Mini Tiger Meet with the Chech Hind and the Luftwaffe Tonka boys.

O dark o'clock - "Any happy bunnies out there?"

Orange Whip!

[EESDL]

My wife and I have searched high n low (and we're good at finding food!) but have yet to find an icecream to compare to Maud's Pooh Bear!!!!

Talking in code with visiting relatives whilst trying to have discussions in local restaurants without giving the game away - because we didn't look like Forces!!!!

The look on Buzzards face when delivered one of the wife's pizza's by helicopter down to R850 !
PS. A "Playboy Special" if my memory servs me correctly

[NURSE]

Nice seeing some pics of "Home" was particularly interested to see the Wessex at Glenlola school in Bangor I also remember being given a guided tour of a scout there many years ago.

As to Courting in carparks remember it well!!!!! we all lived with our parents so was only place could be embarassing if footprint appeared on windscreen when it misted up ;)

[perpetual student]

It was one of the SAR cabs on 72 late 1995 and 1996. Only appears in V813 cab/SAR entries in my log book. I seem to remember a dedicated SAR cab was repainted green around that time. Each time it was involved in a call out, a bit of green paint was chipped off by the crew!

[PhamousPhotographer]

Thanks for that acknowledgement Tiger Tales, and Paul Chocks / tomdocherty72 for confirming XR518’s time at Aldergrove. More to follow if the thread continues.

Also taken on 21st August 1995, this one shows the flotation boots referred to in my previous post, as well as XV723’Q’ in the background. Who's that walking from the cab?

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0121-08-1995PhamousPhotographer.jpg

All I know of XR518's subsequent history with Sixty Squadron is its decommissioning flight from RAF Benson to Fleetlands on 27th January 1997. A two ship, with D*** W******s, P*** A*****y and myself in 518, by then coded ‘O’, recording XR523'M', also being laid-up, crewed by Sixty Sqn CO D*** F*****, E*** C*****n and S** B**d. Never having seen 523 in-Province, my interest in that ex-72 cab (M) was a set of photos published in Col Mike Dewar's The British Army In Northern Ireland. I'd brought a copy to Benson and got the crew to sign the relevant pages on arrival at Fleetlands. First coincidence relevant to the above shot - the crew-cab that took us all back to Benson? XV723'Q', by then also with Sixty.

Now for the second one. With the source not attributed in the book, the images were captioned as an Eagle VCP near Newry on 19th March 1975, XR523 being ‘AM’ at that time, and in 1997 I wasn't internet connected. Only came across their origin last year on the Royal Green Jackets official website where I discovered -

A Coy Bessbrook (http://www.rgjphotos.org.uk/graphics/1rgj/acoybessbrook75/index.htm)

The relevant set from the late Cpl Bert Henshaw's archive. Nos (5).jpg and (6).jpg were published along with another aerial shot (4) apparently missing from the site. Though credited ‘A Coy, Bessbrook’, I reckoned it wasn’t, so went with the book description to check the main routes round Newry, and found it some two miles east of that ‘city’ – as it’s now officially designated – on the road to Hilltown.

Apart from the absence of the Wessex and search team, the scene is virtually unchanged today, with the original posts and rusty barbed wire still topping the stone-faced bank and the distinctive stone arch culvert under the highway. Does that 19th March 1975 date match anyone’s log book?

Yes. I know. Anorak! but it's history now and that's why this thread has so much potential if it continues in a sensible manner. I'm not an aircraft - or rotary - enthusiast per-se; the individuals and surroundings form an important part of the picture, which is why I record personnel names and locations where possible. Whilst sensitive at the time, they're archive material thirty or forty years on, so long as the threat has disappeared.

I hope the photos bring back good memories for those of you who served ‘over here’.

[NURSE]

one story i remember reading in county down spectator was one of the wessexes exercising with the Bangor life boat lost control and had to make a forced landing in the grounds of crawfordsburn hospital or in grounds of the country park!

[ian176]

Not NI related, but I'm assuming the metal cylinders on each side of the fuselage are exhausts? Did that make entering the cabin a bit interesting? (There doesnt seem to be much between them and the door)

[Winchweight]

They are exhausts and because they are angled upwards and outwards it is not too big a deal. However flight deck crew changes were a bigger deal, especially at Shawbury were crews changed all the time, so procedures were introduced to close one engine down during rotors running crew changes. Can't remember the term, but someone will.

[PlasticCabDriver]

The Dungannon Water heater U/s best banter I ever saw "Things you never hear:..."

and the Famous nav qoute " Ive never been lost with a crewman on board ! " and "What do all the crewmen on 72 have in common?" "They've all been flying with DB when he said "It's the first time I've ever been lost"

jerome the DomeAnd the horrors of his leaving doo.

16 hrs in the dog section at Stormont while Bertie Ahearn & Tony Bliar argued with the locals inside I did that too! Watching Ian Paisley and the rest of his gang getting a bit agitated outside the gates, (never been called an "English scab" before, or indeed since!) and being asked by the RUC to "stop winding them up, they're this close to storming the place already". Only a little bit sleepy when we took TB and BA back to Hillsborough, and only slightly missed the HLS, but when we turned round the lights had been turned on and we were into wind so I think we got away with it (in our defence we had been on duty for many many hours and by then it was about 3 in the morning?)

[Hydraulic Palm Tree]

EESDL

There is a Mauds in Windsor but the name of the best ice cream has been changed to Poor Bear'd Delight....still tasted awesome even in December when it was firking freezing outside!

[Oldsarbouy]

ian176
The proximity of the Stbd exhaust to the refuelling point made rotors running refuels interesting, hot and noisy!

[teeteringhead]

And you could always PERRRF (port-engine-& rotor-running-refuel) and shut the stbd down, leaving port donk and rotor going. Minimal time to fire it up again afterwards. But rarely needed - throttling back the stbd normally helped.

[Agaricus bisporus]

close one engine down during rotors running crew changes. Can't remember the term, but someone will.

Even on the JOAC (Junior Officers Air Course) at Yeovilton in 81 or thereabouts I and all the other schoolkids were briefed on the importance of keeping close to the fuselage when climbing in or out of the beast, and were showed a horribly melted waterprooof jacket to reinforce the lesson. No one shut any engines down for us! Then or since.

You bet I can think of a term for that...

[The Helpful Stacker]

The proximity of the Stbd exhaust to the refuelling point made rotors running refuels interesting, hot and noisy!

If there was a Night Sun dangling off the side too it got even more 'interesting'.

Still, it kept us Tiswas lads warm on cold nights. Every cloud and all that....:ok:

By the way, does anyone know why the PSP at G40 was fitted the wrong way up (plank connecting hooks uppermost)? It could be a bugger trying to find the earthing lead in the dark after it had been pulled out of your hand by a random hook, with the loadie tapping their foot waiting.

Oh and whoever mentioned the 'honey pot' tanks earlier, thanks for bringing back a very bad memory I was trying to forget. I won't divulge full details now as some of you chaps may have only just finished lunch but it involves Puma downwash, a certain hollow at G40 and an insecure lid........

[Oldsarbouy]

Just found these pics of Wessex trial colour schemes before the 2 tone green scheme was adopted.


Wessex in NI pictures by oldsarbouy - Photobucket (http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/oldsarbouy/Wessex%20in%20NI/)

[garvin72]

Great pic's ave never seen Hc2 in them colours, had seen the hc2 in all olive drab " X" XR498. But none of the above colours, has anyone got any pic's of hc2's in the olive drab. Also need some help with any pic's of FAA's Wessex Hu5 from 1977-1982 in Northern Ireland espically in BBK or South Armagh.

[lsh]

one story i remember reading in county down spectator was one of the wessexes exercising with the Bangor life boat lost control and had to make a forced landing in the grounds of crawfordsburn hospital or in grounds of the country park!

Thats probably the one where they were training with cliff winching and had a VERY interesting electrical failure, resulting in a run-on through a fence?

lsh

[teeteringhead]

Ish, wasn't that Shackman that happened to? he frequents this site so maybe could tell the tale with "warts an' all"........

[lsh]

Ish, wasn't that Shackman that happened to? he frequents this site so maybe could tell the tale with "warts an' all"........

Not sure of the crew, pretty dramatic though.

Incredible that despite being accused of "over maintaining" the aircraft at times, the generators had no service scheme at all (if working OK) and could be 25+ years old, in theory !!

lsh
:E

[Shackman]

Sorry - no, twasn't me. I vaguely remember the story but I think it was just after I left the province.

[c130jbloke]

Yup, its a pukka gen reply and a really great company You should go for it :E:E

[NutLoose]

So how is your Arabic? c130??


Ibi, you are in the wrong forum, I have posted your question in the correct one, see


http://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/448447-scam.html#post6363640

Hope that helps you.

BUT PLEASE READ THIS AND DO NOT PART WITH ANY MONEY

Unauthorised Advertisements Offering Employment Opportunities With Qatar Airways | Qatar Airways (http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/unauthorised-employment-adverts.html)


Applicants having any concerns about the validity of a Qatar Airways recruitment offer are advised to confirm its authenticity by contacting the nearest Qatar Airways office and or the human resources department in Doha, Qatar. The contact details of all Qatar Airways offices are freely available on the airline’s global website and are published in the airline’s timetables.


Now back on topic :)

anyone remember the dopey Raf Police dog at Aldergrove that only didn't like RAF Policemen, everyone else he got on with like a house on fire.

[c130jbloke]

Considering some of the characters discribed in this thread, I though it was a wind up !

لغتي العربية هو حماقة

:eek:

[Ibi Alshehi]

Hi mr. SHFNI

I am not a scammer as u said.. am just new on this site. so still makinging my way around. Thank u and happy Landings.

[c130jbloke]

Talks like a Wessex pilot :uhoh:

Got to be a scammer.........:eek:

[[email protected]]

Ish - if it is the generator malfunction I remember, it happened to a mate of mine J** C******* who also was the creator of the Auchnacloy Trench (40 plus degrees nose up to get the TR to hit first in a Wessex!

The generator problem highlighted the lack of a volt meter to monitor the busbar and a bad gen could undervolt sufficiently to drag the good one off as well - welcome to double computer freeze land!!

[lsh]

I think thats about it!

The balancing circuit between the generators was never built to detect a drag down, the "good" generator therefore put on the warning, so you switch it off and ....!!!
I got the impression that, rather than a double computer freeze, they got mega run-ups & downs with the associated yaw and RRPM problems??

lsh
:E

[oldbeefer]

Remember a certain Flt Lt at Aldergrove (the one who managed to bend the chassis of a landrover against a tree between to OM and the Airfield and went on to have numerous stars). Whenever asked for his 1250 by the RAF police, always showed it to the dog as it was 'far more intelligent'.

[wokkamate]

"16 hrs in the dog section at Stormont while Bertie Ahearn & Tony Bliar argued with the locals inside"

I was there too! Seems like there were a few of us (well 2 crews worth) on those illustrious days. Watched Ian Paisley incite a riot about 50m away from me, with only a 6' wire fence between us, then the press turned up and he 'calmed the crowd down' by appealling for reason and sensible behaviour. Hypocrite....

I remember the race track down by Upper Lough Earn, and the teepees, and the boat house by the Lower Lough that supposedly had naturists living in it (never saw ought though). Happy hours in the mess - any night of the week, with mess cannons bringing the RAFP running and motorbikes in the bar......managed to stack mine into the thorn hedge by the Lair, with a Flt Cdr on the back.

Seems like every time I went back, the threat had never been higher though!

Them wer't days.....good to have been involved though. :ok:

[Winchweight]

Chasing jet skiers at 50' up lower Loch Erne, and 'cos their jetskis made so much noise they didn't know we were there until we on topped!:ooh:

Sneaking along the cliff side towards Belleek, pulling up for wingovers over the car park at the view point, scaring the crap out of the sightseers (and occasional hangglider :oh:)

Lisnasty HLS at night..... :eek:

Nearly being killed by the new Sqn QHI when she tried to land between the wire and the wall at Clonnaty Bridge instead of in the adjacent field..... (it went - "WHERE ARE YOU GOING? OVERSHOOT!!! No, its ok crewman, I've been here before...... oh!") Squaddies openmouthed in amazement looking on from correct HLS.:mad:

Picking up septic tank from R20 and blowing the newly installed generators over. (Huge showers of sparks, followed by "Cool! Do it again" from overhead Gazelle). Ferrying up repair teams, then being tasked to do it again the next night. :confused:

[[email protected]]

Ish - it depended on the voltage making it through to the computers - if you had more than about 12V (or thereabouts) you had a latched freeze, if it was lower than that the throttle actuators could vibrate open and closed giving a much more interesting ride:{

I still remember the signal for the ana to FRCs coming out for the new 'modified' generator drills - pages and pages of it and it still didn't remove the problem which was eventually sorted (I believe as I had left the Wessex by then) with a voltmeter.

As for NI - best training ground in the world - I learned my trade there - 1000 hrs in 2 years was the norm and most of it at 50' - yeehaaa!

[PhamousPhotographer]

Apparently 0.25% of Photobucket accounts have crashed, including Phamous’s, so as soon as the facility’s restored I’ll post a couple of Angelo and the lower lough. Re Aughnacloy, does anyone recall the mad dog there that bit lumps out of visiting cabs and eventually had to be 'put to sleep'?

[exwessexrigger]

Yep, certainly do - I did the repairs! Had to replace both tail pylon handles and patch the skin. Looked like small arms fire damage at first, until Loadie explained what had happened. Made a change from repairing all the nose door scoops after pilots failed to spot ‘hidden’ tree stumps/rocks etc :}

Those were the days eh!

[PhamousPhotographer]

Mad Dog!
Photobucket still u.s. There was an urban legend that the mental mutt eventually got chewed up in a floppy fenestron rotor, but I’ve heard the more prosaic version whereby it had become so antisocial that the roulement unit had to sedate it with a 9mil? Maybe some of the ARRSE visitors to PPRuNe could enlighten?

[diginagain]

I'll make enquiries over on the other board, but my recollection is that it was a search-dog that escaped its handler prior to boarding that tried to stick it's snout through a fenestron.

[[email protected]]

I believe the dog incidents happened at Dungannon in the mid 80s and then became urban myths attributed to other areas at later dates.

[NWSRG]

Folks,

As someone who went through his teenage years in NI, I'm following this thread with nostalgia...for many young lads, the hardware that we got to see in action was a source of delight. Two memories spring to mind...firstly, a Lynx hovering over the OP on top of Divis Tower, dropping off personnel. Mighty impressive sight in the centre of Belfast.

We also caravanned at Castle Archdale...many mornings, low flying Lynxes acted as an alarm call. However my main memory is of a Loadmaster hanging out the door of a Wessex as it did a torque turn about 300ft above the old apron at Castle Archdale...right over my head.

Would love to see your pictures...keep 'em comin!

[Fareastdriver]

Loadmaster hanging out the door of a Wessex as it did a torque turn

I always made sure my Loadmaster was strapped in.

[Dundiggin']

What are you on about? Your so called 'Loadmaster' is a 'Crewman' on helicopters not a freeking 'Loadmaster' - get a bloody grip and get some time in....ffs! :\
And by the way htf would you know whether your 'Crewman' was strapped in? Pompous arse! :\

[diginagain]

Or 'Slider', or 'the bloke with the spare link'.

[Dundiggin']

naughty, naughty...........:=

[ILLUC IVI ILLUD FECI]

Feb 84 Aughnacloy.

After the int folks crawled over the aircraft for a couple of hours looking at the damage, and realising there were 'entry holes' on both sides of the tail pylon (adjacent to the handhold), Jengo accused the pilot of backing into a hedge. Two days later said dog tried the same trick on a gazelle in the same location.

Amusing bit was the RN exchange officer who penned a quite amusing incident signal (for him) about the attack on the aircraft by an IRA-te dog!

[PhamousPhotographer]

This has featured in local and national media reports over the past few days.

]Abingdon grieves over death of soldier hero killed in motorcycle crash (From The Oxford Times) (http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/8969032.Tribute_to_a_hero/# [SIZE=2]

Don’t know his rank/unit on 19th March 1994, but he was the soldier who saved the life of an RUC officer that day when 655 Lynx ZD275 was destroyed on XMG hls after a Mk 15 came over the fence. A brave man. RIP.

[Cows getting bigger]

What are you on about? Your so called 'Loadmaster' is a 'Crewman' on helicopters not a freeking 'Loadmaster' - get a bloody grip and get some time in....ffs!

ISTR they were called 'Doormen' at a certain German RAF base mid 80s. At least that is the term the Stn Cdr used during a Monday morning mass brief. :eek: Oh, how I laughed. :}

PS. I float around the province quite a lot now. If anyone wants a recent picture of past haunts, drop me a line.

[Fareastdriver]

What are you on about? Your so called 'Loadmaster' is a 'Crewman' on helicopters not a freeking 'Loadmaster' - get a bloody grip and get some time in....ffs!

When I started support helicopter flying the crew in the back were called crewmen because it was obvious that they were not Air Signallers any more. At the end of the sixties a new batch came along with 'LM' on their chest instead of 'S'. We still called them crewmen though there formal address was Loadmaster.

And by the way htf would you know whether your 'Crewman' was strapped in? Pompous arse!

In over forty-six years of flying with a crew if ensuring the safety and security of my crew at all stages of flight made me a Pompous arse then so be it.

[Dundiggin']

Fair enough.........:ok:

[oldbeefer]

'Course, to start with the 'crewman/loadmaster' was a cpl engineer who was, at least, some use if the a/c broke away from base - and cost a lot less!

[Tiger Tales]

A bit like Cpl/Sgt pilots then!:E

[Dundiggin']

Dead right...but not only did I also mend it away from base (I didn't do engine changes of course!) but I did the AF, BF and T/R plus minor rectifications, as I am sure you did too but I also used to navigate it, keep control of what was happening in the back, abseiling, fast roping, ordinary roping, check and supervise the rigging of USLs, brief the troops, do Decca let downs and generally remain a good egg with good banter to make it an enjoyable experience...........oh! and order the in-flight rations! I could transmit a passable radio message, fly the helicopter if the single pilot had a heart attack (!) (Wessex, Puma and the (Chinook - with Auto pilot engaged), give performance figs for all, monitor the emergency drills, pre-take-offs, pre-landing checks, refuel using kelston, zenith or zwicky (?) pumps from barrels, tankers or out the back of a Herc all on NVG if necessary, I could be winch operator or winchman to rescue people and I could kill people if I wanted with the GPMG or the Mini Gun.
So all in all the crewman world has come on apace from your day - but I'm sure you did your best but how committed to the aircrew life were you really?
Most technicians/crewmen have told me they preferred the groundcrew option and eventually reverted back to their basic trade.

[PlasticCabDriver]

Dead right...but not only did I also mend it away from base (I didn't do engine changes of course!) but I did the AF, BF and T/R plus minor rectifications, as I am sure you did too but I also used to navigate it, keep control of what was happening in the back, abseiling, fast roping, ordinary roping, check and supervise the rigging of USLs, brief the troops, do Decca let downs and generally remain a good egg with good banter to make it an enjoyable experience...........oh! and order the in-flight rations! I could transmit a passable radio message, fly the helicopter if the single pilot had a heart attack (!) (Wessex, Puma and the (Chinook - with Auto pilot engaged), give performance figs for all, monitor the emergency drills, pre-take-offs, pre-landing checks, refuel using kelston, zenith or zwicky (?) pumps from barrels, tankers or out the back of a Herc all on NVG if necessary, I could be winch operator or winchman to rescue people and I could kill people if I wanted with the GPMG or the Mini Gun.

And open and close the doors.

[diginagain]

.....and pass around the butty-boxes and squash.

[TheWizard]

....and rim the pilots flask and gob in his sandwich :p

[Airborne Aircrew]

gob in his sandwich

You need to get an imagination... :E

[TheWizard]

....and you need to use yours!! :E

[Airborne Aircrew]

I did... Often... Depending on the person at the front... :}

[Fareastdriver]

Dead right...but not only did I also mend it away from base (I didn't do engine changes of course!) but I did the AF, BF and T/R plus minor rectifications, as I am sure you did too but I also used to navigate it, keep control of what was happening in the back, abseiling, fast roping, ordinary roping, check and supervise the rigging of USLs, brief the troops, do Decca let downs and generally remain a good egg with good banter to make it an enjoyable experience...........oh! and order the in-flight rations! I could transmit a passable radio message, fly the helicopter if the single pilot had a heart attack (!) (Wessex, Puma and the (Chinook - with Auto pilot engaged), give performance figs for all, monitor the emergency drills, pre-take-offs, pre-landing checks, refuel using kelston, zenith or zwicky (?) pumps from barrels, tankers or out the back of a Herc all on NVG if necessary, I could be winch operator or winchman to rescue people and I could kill people if I wanted with the GPMG or the Mini Gun.


and I was legally responsible for making sure that you did it correctly.

[xenolith]

Far East Drivler

But I bet you never did, coffee in Buzzards hut at 'hands dirty time' was it.

As for the pi$$ing contest:

Highest mark on the wall goes to Dundiggin - cos he's the tallest.

Lowest mark on the wall goes to Plasic Cab Driver - as he is too portly to reach the tap so he just lets it run on to the floor.

[Fareastdriver]

But I bet you never did, coffee in Buzzards hut at 'hands dirty time' was it.



A HUT???????and COFFEE??????

By God, you had it easy.

[PlasticCabDriver]

Xenolith, you clearly know me! Never been called portly before. Large, stout, and my favourite - "of non-athletic build", but never portly!

[xenolith]

Far East, Bloody kids....:)

Plastic, Bumped into you in ALD, though the last time I saw you across a crowded room, Nov 09, you had your head on upside down.

[PlasticCabDriver]

Still is! And even more hair appears to have slipped off it and onto my back/into my ears etc etc!

[lsh]

As for the pi$$ing contest:

Highest mark on the wall goes to Dundiggin - cos he's the tallest.

Lowest mark on the wall goes to Plasic Cab Driver - as he is too portly to reach the tap so he just lets it run on to the floor

Hey! I absolutely INSIST on Pi**ing the lowest, after all I could stand up in the Puma cabin, helmet on !!

lsh
:{

[diginagain]

Your name is "Spanky" T****r, and I claim my £5.

[PhamousPhotographer]

Two shots, the first taken shortly before the Wessex / Puma line moved from Angelo to Grosvenor.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0127-08-1995Phphotog.jpg

XV728 ‘A’ on 27:08:1995 with JJ C****, Si C*********** and J****n W****y. XT607‘P’ is just visible on the helipad below and slightly ahead of ‘Alpha’s’ nose, with the rest of the camp extending to the right of the frame and Ballycassidy sawmills beyond. The newly-surfaced RWY 33 of the civil airport points towards the wartime seaplane base at Castle Archdale some six miles to the north-west amongst the inlets and islands of Lower Lough Erne. Not the best Fermanagh weather for what could have been a much more scenic view. Within ten minutes the sun was shining.

Just as it was for this view of XW223 over a closed and deserted Grosvenor Barracks at Coles Hill, Enniskillen fourteen years later.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0105-10-2009Phphotog.jpg

Landmarks are Rossorry Church, Drummee limestone quarry, now a landfill site, Coles Hill / Lough Shore Road housing developments, Navar Viewpoint, Lower Lough Erne and the hills of Donegal, beyond on the distant horizon. Might post a couple more from that area.

[Tiger Tales]

Ah, the Navar viewpoint. Now that brings back some memories!! I wonder how many courting couples were 'surprised' over the years?! :E

[Pontius]

I suppose the great thing about taking pictures of the RAF cabs is you can guarantee the good weather. Must have to crack the aperture down a bit to counter all that sunshine though :}

[Occasional Aviator]

Cor - 223 with a 230 door on... that ties it to a particular time.

[Shackman]

If the dates above are to be believed it will be taken next year!

[PhamousPhotographer]

Re the Angelo / Grosvenor dates; just testing, Shackman! 10/10 for observation. As for apertures/shutter speeds, nope; have flown in shabby weather with both RAF & TWA, but the photo results are rarely worth showing. Another one from that 2009 set for the navs – where’s this location?

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0205-10-2009PhPhotog.jpg

PS 1:200 @ f8 here with 1:200 / f11 for the Grosvenor one.

[Shackman]

Far too easy - long finals for Belleek!

[PhamousPhotographer]

More specific than that - you're not looking closely. Dundiggin?

[Tiger Tales]

Don't tell anyone but I think PP is referring to that little bitty HLS in the cab's 7 o'clock (not easy to see on gogs!)

[Dundiggin']

PP - sorry mate - NAFC!! :confused:

[ChristopherRobin]

it's here on G-maps (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=6.881357,14.941406&ll=54.463544,-8.013751&spn=0.00082,0.002411&t=k&z=19). Flew just past Belleek only yesterday afternoon, but must check if the HLS is still there the next time out.

[PhamousPhotographer]

The site is / was G205, the PVCP at Rosscor Viaduct. That’s Slavin Parish Church on the main EKN - Belleek road. Just west of it a roadside PVCP compound controlled the T junction leading to the viaduct and, apart from the helipad, the sole remaining reminder of the military presence is a single Bailey span at the north end of Rosscor.

Still in use and a tribute to the Royal Engineers who erected it to re-open the route in the early 1980s, I think they’d explosively demolished the pre-cast concrete original a few years earlier as it was regarded as a PIRA rat-run, but others can possibly confirm that? I did see a pair of 72 Sqn Wessex on the Angelo – Rosscor resupply tasking in July 1986. That's why I'd wondered if Dundiggin knew it?

[Tiger Tales]

Had a nice 4 hour wait on that little spot around 1999 with a sickly Puma that had a bit of blade missing. RUC/troops provided cordon and we had a visit from the occupants of the house by the church. They bought tea and biscuits which was very friendly!!
I think it was J***A D******Y and crew who arrived with the 'rescue party' unannounced at low level causing a few expletives and sarcastic comments from the troops!

Memories......:)

[Dundiggin']

Nah PP - I was in Hong Kong then - whooping it up in Red Lips!:E

[ShyTorque]

Cor - 223 with a 230 door on... that ties it to a particular time.

Or times. The airframes were moved about a bit.

I flew XW223 in Belize in January 1980 and Jan 1981.

I also flew it in Germany in May 1981, now a 230 Sqn aircraft.

On 14th August 1981 I flew it on task with "lsh", again on the strength of 230. Lsh, where did we go? I only recorded the task number in my log book.

On 21st August I did my IRT in it with the late George Blackie as my IRE.

Nov 22nd 1983 I flew her again, still in Germany.

Next and last time for me was 22 Feb 1991, back at Odiham during a refresher course check ride. IIRC, back then 240 OCU were sharing airframes with 33 Sqn due to a severe shortage (GW1).

[PhamousPhotographer]

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0124-07-2007PhPhotog.jpg

To my knowledge this was the last Op Banner visitor to land on that helipad.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0224-07-2007PhPhotog.jpg

The lough is just visible with the Donegal Hills beyond as I'm told to board.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0324-07-2007PhPhotog.jpg

As in Now, or you can walk. Door Gunner Al D******* losing patience with Phamous. The green area on the ridge line marks the former site of the compound and OP tower. Could this ever beat time spent in Red Lips? Next stop?

[Dundiggin']

You know ....I heard a story that the Bismark was spotted by a Castle Archard (St Angelo?) Catalina about this time of year........ anyone know any more?

[TheWizard]

Yep, I remember hearing a similar story some years ago. In fact I believe there was a 50th anniversary air show back in '91 at St Angelo.
I am sure PhamousPhotographer will be along at some point to clarify the detail.

[Tiger_mate]

On 18 May 1941 the Bismarck had left its berth in Gotenhafen (now Gdynia) along with a fleet including the heavy cruiser Prince Eugen and three destroyers. Their mission was known as Operation Rheinübung and they aimed to prevent essential supplies getting to Britian by sinking the merchant ship convoys coming in from North America. The Bismarck and Prince Eugen hoped to reach the Atlantic without being spotted by the British. They headed north through the Kattegat between Sweden and Denmark.

Their hopes to pass undetected were frustrated: they were spotted both by members of the Norwegian resistence and the Swedish cruiser Gotland. The German warships stopped briefly in the Korsfjord on 23 May to wait for darkness, but a British Spitfire sent out to look for the fleet discovered and photographed them here. That evening they headed north along the coast, the Bismarck and Prince Eugen splitting from the three destoryers to set a northwest course in worsening weather to continue their mission.


There was heavy fog which allowed the German ships to travel undetected as far as the ice-edged Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland. It was here that the British battlecruiser Hood and the battleship Prince of Wales caught up with them. The guns were out and the Battle of the Denmark Strait began. It was short and sharp, lasting just over fifteen mintues, but resulted in the sinking of Hood with the loss of all but three of its crew of 1,418 men. The Prince of Wales was damaged, as was Bismark. Only the Prince Eugen remained unscathed. The German ships headed for port and repair while the Prince of Wales retreated into the fog, but the British were hugely indignant at the sinking of Hood, one of their finest battleships, and wanted revenge. The chase was on to find and sink Bismark.

At first shadowed by British ships and attacked by aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Victorious, Bismark changed course to allow Prince Eugens to escape, then changed course again under darkness to lose its stalkers. On 26 May Bismark was well on the way to port in France and receiving congratulations for sinking Hood when two Catalina flying boats took off from Castle Archdale to continue the search. One of them was successful. At the controls as co-pilot was Leonard ‘Tuck’ Smith from Higginsville, Missouri who was not supposed to be there at all: it would be six months before the USA would officially enter the war. Smith was on loan to the British to oversee the pilots who would be flying the US-made Catalinas, given to the British as part of a Lease-Lend programme.

The weather was atrocious with gale force winds, Bismarck was closing on the French shore, there were no British ships within range of the German battleship and it was getting dark. The only chance was to disable Bismarck with aircraft fire to reduce her speed. An aerial attack was launched from the Ark Royal. Torpedo strikes hit and damaged both rudders: Bismarck was unable to manoeuvre and British destroyers closed in. Bismarck kept them off all through the night until the arrival next morning of British battleships Rodney and King George V. They were joined by heavy cruiser Devonshire and more fighter aircraft. At 10.30 am Bismarck capsized and sank.

[PhamousPhotographer]

Twenty years ago today (24th May), I was drifting around St Angelo in an Enniskillen Flying School Cessna 172 accompanied by an impressive twin-engined warbird. As Tiger Mate records, 27th May marks the 70th anniversary of the Bismarck sinking and after HMS Hood's destruction, Germany's finest would almost certainly have escaped to dry-dock in St Nazaire had it not been for the efforts of those Castle Archdale based RAF Coastal Command Lend-Lease Catalinas of 209 and 240 Squadrons. It was 209's AH545'Z', piloted by FO Dennis Briggs, with USN Ensign Leonard 'Tuck' Smith in the rh seat that spotted the battleship through a gap in the almost solid cloud cover. The crew were

RAF P/O Dennis Briggs (Capt)
USN Ensign Leonard 'Tuck' Smith (Co-pilot)
RAF P/O Otter
RAF F/O Lowe
RAF Sgt Edmonds
RAF Sgt Burton
RAF Sgt Leigh
RAF Sgt Dunning
RAF Sgt Stenning
RAF LAC Martin

Don't worry Mods, there is a SHFNI link to all this - eventually. On the weekend of 25/26th May 1991 Fermanagh District Council marked the 50th Anniversary with a Battle Of The Atlantic Airshow at St Angelo and I've never seen a better 'warbird' display in NI before or since. The late Mark Hanna arrived with his Old Flying Machine Company's full complement, including MH434, but the star appearance was veteran 'Tuck' Smith. Dennis Briggs was deceased by then, but his son, Robin, was there too and I managed to get these shots of them over Enniskillen in ex-RAF Harrier pilot Paul Warren Wilson's first Catalina. Also present was the Duxford-based Fortress, 'Sally B'. Yes, I know – Anorak!!

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0124-05-1991Phamousphotog.jpg

Taken on 24th May 91, the first shows G-BLSC over Lisgoole Abbey, south of Enniskillen, with that county town in the background and Castle Archdale some ten miles beyond to the north. 'Killer Cat' carries the JV928'Y' markings of the 210 Sqn aircraft with which John Cruickshank earned his Victoria Cross in July 1944.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0224-05-1991Phamousphotog.jpg

Continuing south towards Lisnaskea the Cessna's strut confirms that I'm not in a rotary cab. Here, we're looking east across Tamlaght Bay with Robin Briggs filming from the cupola and I think the late Ensign Smith (d.16th May 2006) was in the rh seat of the Cat – he was definitely on board.

Fast-forward to 2009 and two recent views combined with a wartime one of the former flying-boat base.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0305-10-2009PhamousPhotog.jpg

The "broad lough" stretches west towards Belleek as XW223 crosses the caravan park on what was once the main dispersal / hangars / maintenance area; the slipway is hidden by the trees on the right. Compare it with this wartime scene – not one of mine, taken just a few years before Phamous's time.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image04c1943Unknown.jpg

The Sunderlands are probably 422 or 423 Squadron RCAF which would date it to 1943 / '44. No room for caravans there. In the early hours of Sunday 26th May 1941 PO Briggs and his crew would have set course westwards, past Belleek, heading over the border for Bundoran, Donegal Bay and the Atlantic via the air corridor across the neutral Irish Republic. Whilst difficult to keep secret, the permission granted by the Dublin government for Allied military aircraft to overfly their territory wasn't publicised at the time.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0505-10-2009PhamousPhotog.jpg

In this one, the courtyard and buildings of the former Manor House are centre frame. Demolished in 1970, the house was the Officer's Mess and photos can be seen at

Castle Archdale Manor-House (http://www.poblish.org/article.jsp?id=499797)

The enlarged top-storey window at front left was the ATC office. Today the outbuildings serve as a museum, restaurant and admin centre for the Castle Archdale Country Park (not advertising!) Another couple of links that might be of interest are

http://www.kbismarck.com/archives/smithreport.html (http://www.kbismarck.com/archives/smithreport.html)

and

http://www.castlearchdale.net/id14.html (http://www.castlearchdale.net/id14.html)

This has drifted well off-thread, but, as promised, there is a SHFNI connection via 230 Squadron. Post-war, RAF Castle Archdale was retained on a care-and-maintenance basis and occasionally used for flying-boat training purposes. With the RAF Sunderlands being withdrawn from service, the base closed in 1957. Sunderland equipped from June 1938 til disbandment in February 1957, 230 had spent October 1956 in Co Fermanagh, their final departure from Lough Erne being recorded as SZ560'R' on 18th December.

At that time no one could ever have envisaged the circumstances of 230 Squadron's return to the Province, albeit in detachment rather than squadron strength, less than 20 years later.

[lsh]

Quote:
Cor - 223 with a 230 door on... that ties it to a particular time.

Or times. The airframes were moved about a bit.

I flew XW223 in Belize in January 1980 and Jan 1981.

I also flew it in Germany in May 1981, now a 230 Sqn aircraft.

On 14th August 1981 I flew it on task with "lsh", again on the strength of 230. Lsh, where did we go? I only recorded the task number in my log book.

On 21st August I did my IRT in it with the late George Blackie as my IRE.

Nov 22nd 1983 I flew her again, still in Germany.

Next and last time for me was 22 Feb 1991, back at Odiham during a refresher course check ride. IIRC, back then 240 OCU were sharing airframes with 33 Sqn due to a severe shortage (GW1).


Task 0813 Trooping Dorbaum 1hr 25min
Will there be anything else Sir ?

lsh
:E

[ShyTorque]

Very well done and thank you that man. Task 0813 it was indeed.
Do carry on :D
Now all I have to do is try to remember where Dorbaum was! :O

Was that when you needed the eye patch? :cool:

[Dundiggin']

Fantastic stuff pp!!
But is not the Puma XW210? I understood we only had one pair of overload sponsons and AFAIK they were and ARE still on XW210?

[R 21]

XW223 the only cab to have sponson tanks for previous use on the flight

[Wizzard]

Now all I have to do is try to remember where the Dorbaum was!


52°1.350'N 007°42.862'E according to Google Earth, spent many a happy hour screaming along the river in my trusty Scout in the late '70s; a little slower along the "mucky canal" :E

[ShyTorque]

Wizzard,

Thankyou and yes, I'm sure that's correct, in view of the short sortie length, flown from EDUO. But it's very nearly thirty years since I flew that sortie. Scary thought. :(

[PhamousPhotographer]

Now all I have to do is try to remember where Dorbaum was! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/embarass.gifCo Tyrone?

Oh well, I suppose I did start the German drift. Thanks for the acknowledgement Dundiggin. BTW, It was 223 with the big tanks on that final round-the-Province trip. Don't know if they were fitted to any other airframes but I think there was only ever one set?

[PhamousPhotographer]

Haven't seen any other reference to the day, so a Happy 90th to a former Wessex pilot and many he enjoy many more birthdays. An excuse to post these two as well.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/CopyofImage0108-03-1995PhamousPhotog.jpg

9th March 1995 and Sqn Ldr K*** landed XV733 in the grounds of Armagh's Bishop's Palace while Sqn Ldr G*******s and a 72 Squadron Wessex provided ARF cover.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/CopyofImage0208-03-1995PhamousPhotog.jpg

There's a story behind that cheerful acknowledgement to the Phamous camera, and the less-happy reaction of those following – but I'm not a journo, so not telling it.

[Yozzer]

I dont think that DofE flew Wessex; though Charles did. Phil flew RAF Harvard.

[PhamousPhotographer]

Prince Philip has logged almost 6000 hours on forty-something types, including rotary, and is recorded as having flown Wessex HCC4 XV732 on both 11th & 14th May 1970. Presumably examples of many PIC flights on those two Queen's Flight cabs? A Star.

[NutLoose]

Handy that field having a freshly laid path in it for HRH and co..... :}

[Senior Pilot]

I dont think that DofE flew Wessex; though Charles did. Phil flew RAF Harvard.

An old chum was Wessex driver for DoE for many years, having been seconded to the Royal Flight from the RN and liked it so much that he swapped uniforms to stay there! Ron also had AFC*, the first was a 'real' one for derring-do with a Sea Fury, the second just for being Phil's driver ;)

And yes, DoE was/is endorsed on the Wessex :ok:

[topflat26]

Hi

Hope I'm in the right area. I did my first tour in Crossmaglen, July '72 - Nov'72. Our last day was when they put 2 RPG7 rounds through the roof.
would there be anyone on here with memories of that time.
Next year will be the 40th anniverary and a website is being set up to commerarate that and the fact that we had 3 Argylls not come home with us.

Thanks, Jim

[72forever]

That was what we always called them. Wonder what Chox Barton is doing now?

[Union Jack]

With apologies for continuing Tiger Mate and Phamous Photographer's phabulous phread drift, the following link contains what may be regarded as an interesting prelude to the BISMARCK chase and the Castle Archdale Catalina story:

Lieutenant-Commander Willie Armstrong - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/6190053/Lieutenant-Commander-Willie-Armstrong.html)

RIP Willie!:ok:

Jack

[Thud_and_Blunder]

72forever,

That was a name from the past! First met him (Chocks) on the same OCTU course in 1976; next encounter was on 72 a couple of years later when he arrived a few months after my coursemates and me (2 Plt Offs plus an ex-Vulc Flt Lt). Those same 2 Plt Offs were trogging off along the deployment route ("Kleine Brogel - Lima - Bottrop(sp?) - DOM" rings a bell) as the crew of no. 4 in a stream when it occurred to us that we hadn't heard anything from Chocks (below/behind our feet) for a while. Shouting through those lovely comfy throat-mikes didn't raise him, and neither did a gentle bunt, so the Kiwi in the LHS went through the contortions necessary to move from the cockpit to the cabin (thank Foch we didn't have armoured seats) to check and make sure Chocks hadn't choked to death on his butty-box. No such luck - fast asleep in the back, participating as much as he ever did in the safe conduct of the flight.

What added insult to injury was that having conveyed him there, as Flight sub-imprest holder I had to hand over more LOA to our failed-OCTU-coursemate than we Plt Offs could possibly dream of getting (well, a Few Pfennigs More, but you get the point).

After the move to Benson then NI (I left the Sqn just before they left Odiham), I gather he may've been the fella who tried pointing to the stripes on his shoulder when asked by a boarding Close Obs Pn soldier to help lift a bergan out of the way so the latter could board. I believe one-way fisticuffs may've ensued, but that might just be wishful thinking.

[Tiger_mate]

I believe that Flip-Flop had a rear-view mirror mounted on an extendable aerial for the purpose of monitoring his Crewman. He also had boot laces that you could tie together :E

[72forever]

Thud and Blunder

Many, many funny stories about Chox. He was normally the crewman of choice for Scotty and Jan when they were going off to Scotland to be naughty.
He also used to party with the Techies which endeared him to all. As I wrote it would be interesting to learn what became of him....

[PhamousPhotographer]

Another (any) excuse to resurrect the SHFNI thread.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0105-11-1988PhamousPhotog.jpg


http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0205-11-1988PhamousPhotog.jpg

Mid-afternoon, Saturday 5th November 1988 as Flt Lts N**l S******t, Paul S****e and Sgt B****r H****s bring XR517'N' in to a remote Co Tyrone field to extract a search patrol. Identical winter sunlight here today as I type this, 23 years and many memories later.

[antisthenes]

The same month that the afore mentioned P1 had his infamous cup of coffee over the centre console incident! This was just one incident in a litany that caused the boss to give us a stand up bollocking and warned the next crew who crossed the border due to navigational errors would be court marshalled - yes it was he who did it!

A fact that was pointed out by his later to be Harrier pilot crewman, once he was a good km into the RoI.

[Lingo Dan]

A great thread which brings back some good memories - of border violations, bollockings, the good fun of rattling around for 7 hours a day in S Armagh and the ever-present threat of being "windowed" by big Scottie.

I remember the cover of the Auth' Sheet book was appropriately entitled "Support Helicopter Force, Northern Ireland" and below these words some wag had written " - and may the Force be with you."

I saw that the day I arrived in 1982, and it was still there in 1984 when I left.

[Hummingfrog]

I was flying AEF cadets at Aldergrove this summer and XR 529 was outside the old SHQ ( I last flew it in 1979 on 18 Sqn).
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk68/squadron72/IMG_0004.jpg

After 30yrs the place had changed alot. There was only one part of the old SECO hut 72 Sqn Ops area left - the Officers' Mess had changed a great deal - no porta cabins round the back - bar extended - lots of new permanent rooms so the only bit I really recognised was the facade and front door.

The weather was still the same though!!

HF

[PhamousPhotographer]

And three shots of 'E' during her working life. All at Killymeal,

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0120-04-1994PhamousPhotog.jpg

the first one, taken on 20th April 1994, has XR529 on the centre spot with patrols from 1Bn Royal Anglian Regiment. Crew details anyone??

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0218-01-1995PhamousPhotog.jpg

Here, D**e G*******s, D****r B***h and K***y McL******n have just lit the fires and prepare to lift from the AM2 pad outside the Buzzard Cell; 18th January 1995.

And finally

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0314-10-1996PhamousPhotog.jpg

14th October 1996 was the last time I recorded 'E', again on the AM2, fresh from shops and a credit to 72's engineers and groundcrew. I believe it suffered a double flame-out in a snowstorm going into one of the Greens, possibly Newtownbutler, later that year, (anyone know the details?) Chinooked back to Aldergrove, found to be beyond economic repair – transmission/gearbox damage as well – and being hangared on 'C' Site ensured a 72 Wessex remained for eventual Gate Guardian service when the other ten departed in March 2002.

[Hueymeister]

14 Jan 1993 - E XR529 me and Sgt W*****-J***s, Post Blade Change Air Test....:}

[72forever]

As one of the artists , I just wonder how many people on this here thread remember seeing it? I do recall part of my rocket form the SENGO was that people on the Belfast shuttle could see it in certain wind conditions! I do remember when I flew back there on a wokka in 88 for the Gibraltar funerals that they had all gone....

[Just This Once...]

It may be the angle of the photo but the tail to fence clearance above looks a little squeaky!

[Floppy Link]

It's the angle, there was a sloping tarmac bit from the edge of the concrete down to the base of the fence. It makes it look a lot tighter than it was...although there was a tailwheel shaped dent in the top of the fence!

[The Helpful Stacker]

As Floppy Link says, its the angle.

When the TFC fuel tanks were removed and replaced by the metal tanks with hydrant piping it was all fitted along the back edge behind XR529's tail, with a line of Armco to prevent squaddies jumping out at night from falling down the (fairly substantial) slope, and there was still plenty of space.

Dungannon later became one of the least popular dets for TSW as, because of the catholic school right next door, restrictions on a/c movements were tightened up and thus it became a very slow, visitor free site.

[Floppy Link]

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/XV728Y453.jpg

Photo taken from the other direction showing the slope down to the fence on the left. Gus and TSW doing the refuelling. This was in the days before the individual concrete pads were changed into the mega-pad, around 1991 I think.

[Floppy Link]

A few more, apologies for the poor scan quality...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/yovanilla.jpg
Yo Vanilla! "Vanilla Ice" checking the head at Y453



http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/line813.jpg
The line at V813

Hueymeister's aircraft gets a lift back to the DA2...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/229089_1831905608648_1570623523_32054608_2254205_n.jpg


Normally if you let a crewman near your camera you'd get pictures of arses. This was a pleasant surprise from P**l C****e!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/ms.jpg


Northbound to Y453 from Newtonbutler, Gazelle sandwich!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/wxgaz.jpg

[Floppy Link]

A couple more taken on the way into Y453 after the Gazelle had peeled off for G100

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/wx1.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/wx2.jpg

[cokecan]

sad question, but does anyone know why the winner of the colour-scheme trials on the Wessex fleet (the two-tone green wiggly one) didn't get rolled out on to the rest of the RAF SH fleets?

seems rather bizaare to hold a trial, pick a winner and then confine the result to one a type, even though there were two other types doing the same job, in the same location, at the same time?

[ShyTorque]

The Wessex needed better camouflage because they were so slow.

But surely there were only "Army helicopters" in NI. I heard and read it many times, on the news and in the papers, so it must be true.

[PhamousPhotographer]

The Wessex needed better camouflage because they were so slow.Tough as old boots though – look at the hammering they could take, both in normal use and from unfriendly fire. Always thought the 1980s/early 90s scheme with prominent serials, letter codes, crest and 'Royal Air Force' marking (as ShyTorque noted, if for journos' benefit it didn't work) looked best -

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image01Oct1992PhamousPhotog.jpg

as in this October 1992 view of XR498'X' on the 'old' concrete south spot – taken from beyond where Floppy-Link's cab was parked in # 475. Replen facilities look fairly basic at that time, (were the fuel bladders Chinooked in?) but at least TSW were there.

[Piggies]

I know it did a good job for many years, but by God, that's an ugly machine...

What was the purpose of the lump on the nose?

[Dan Gerous]

sad question, but does anyone know why the winner of the colour-scheme trials on the Wessex fleet (the two-tone green wiggly one) didn't get rolled out on to the rest of the RAF SH fleets?

The Puma fleet was two tone green for a while, possibly due to the fact they were active in NI as well.

[jamesdevice]

Piggies
Air intakes / filters. The engines are in the nose
American ones with piston engines have a smooth nose

In real life they looked more "butch" than ugly. Especially the navy ones when armed up with rockets and AS-12

[PTT]

In real life they looked more "butch" than ugly.Spoken like a mother :D

[jamesdevice]

born one mile from Bunford lane, raised thee miles west of Bunford lane and directly under the Yeovilton flight path
I reckon I've seen more of them than most of you!
Santa even used to visit our school in one (thanks to Sharky I believe)

[wiggy]

Santa even used to visit our school in one (thanks to Sharky I believe)

Please tell me you still don't believe in Sharky...........:rolleyes:

[Dundiggin']

I remember the Argyles in Crossmaglen in 1972 and the unfortunate loss of the 3 soldiers. I believe I was the Puma tasked to recover the injured to the Belfast Hospital. One had already died before being put in the ac and the other two died in hospital. A very sad day. RIP chaps. :\

There is a long 'I learnt about flying from that' Puma story connected to that incident. :uhoh: I still think it is too early after the NI proceedings to expand on it within this forum.

I was also in Aden when 'Mad Mitch' (Col of the Argyles) did his thing! - fantastic stuff!! ;) :E

[Oldsarbouy]

I'm trying to find other pics of the trials which I'll post asap.



http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/oldsarbouy/Wessex%20in%20NI/SkyBlueWessex.jpg

[Oldsarbouy]

Still trying to post more than one image and not having much luck! Any ideas welcome.http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/oldsarbouy/Wessex%20in%20NI/DarkBlackWessex.jpg

[Oldsarbouy]

And another.
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/oldsarbouy/Wessex%20in%20NI/LightGreyWessesx.jpg

[Oldsarbouy]

If memory serves me right I think it was the pale blue one that shone like a beacon at night when overflying the sodium lights.
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/oldsarbouy/Wessex%20in%20NI/MattBlackWessex.jpg

[Monty77]

Point of Order on the relative speed of rotary types in NI.

Pumas certainly suited the Greens with relatively long transits. 130kts versus 100/110kts is not a huge difference, especially in S. Armagh. Had a go in a mate's Puma and was gobsmacked at how early you had to start deceleration. Wessex anticipators enabled you to flare like a good'un and shed speed far quicker than a Puma. Jungly Sea Kings were a bigger machine and only did 90kts, but you wouldn't take the piss coz they'd laughingly punch your lights out.

Did a Stanta work up once with a Puma flown by one of the rotary 'twins whose name implies good fortune'. Good example of two types complementing each other's strengths. A day long exercise was wrapped up in two hours when the DS ran out of scenarios.

[Fareastdriver]

Pumas certainly suited the Greens with relatively long transits. 130kts

?????????. When I flew them you mutiplied the pitch setting by ten and that was your speed. 14.5 degrees pitch was 145 knots. I didn't realise that they had hung so many headwinds on them.

[ShyTorque]

130 kts?

The Puma trick in NI was to get the landing gear up, pull 15 degrees of collective pitch and wait for the "mutual cover" Wessex to call "Buster, buster!" (= Slow down, we can't keep up).

(This was whilst carrying ATO's trailer underslung, then it would do only 130 kts. We always carried it because the Wessex couldn't even lift the USL).

For some reason, Wessex pilots never seemed to mention the subject once on the ground again. :E

Yes, I know, but it was the only fun we used to get...

[Floppy Link]

We always carried it because the Wessex couldn't even lift the USL

Once! We did lift it once...but we had so little fuel onboard and it was swinging so much that we had to refuel at Armagh on the way to Dungannon.

Got this pic on a similar task...anybody recognise the crewman?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/Boecopter/227265_1836886293162_1570623523_32061580_4320788_n.jpg

[SiClick]

I flew both aircraft in NI, loved them both, but for NI, the Wessex was the girl for me! She was just better suited to the role throughout.

[ShyTorque]

I flew both aircraft in NI, loved them both, but for NI, the Wessex was the girl for me! She was just better suited to the role throughout.

Except for underslinging work such as in the previous photo...

[charliegolf]

Don't be daft Shy, any Wessex coud lift a strop exactly like the one in the picture.:ok:

What was the location of the Wessex doing 110Kts? Fantasy Island?

CG

[ShyTorque]

Puma = Flying machine that can hover.

Wessex = Hovering machine that could fly.

[Tiger_mate]

This was whilst carrying ATO's trailer underslung, then it would do only 130 kts.

The said USL had a published limiting speed of 70kts!
It became unstable between 75-90 knots.
The instability could be 'flown through' and out the other side by Puma.
'Allegedley' :E

Overtaking an empty Wessex whilst carrying ATO with a vintage car horn 'bleep-bleep' on the RT; = SH banter.:ok:

Putting said USL direct on the primary hook without strop was a major error of judgement seconded only by not returning to EGAA to attach a strop (& look daft in front of Wsx mafia) but instead fly all the way to Dungannon at 40kts. Apparently that may have happened!;)

[PTT]

Overtaking an empty Wessex whilst carrying ATO with a vintage car horn 'bleep-bleep' on the RT; = SH banter. Yeah, that was always a spectacularly good idea given that the button producing the "beep" is also the same button which releases the load dependant on the position of the role selector :eek:

[Tiger_mate]

Now you are assuming that I meant the IFF ident button.
Never assume, because........

I meant the little hand held gadget that had many, many noises that was usually particulary annoying when laser noises abounded in crewrooms, but it also had a 'vintage car horn' noise which could be used on the RT at moments such as that described.