British Air Attache DH Devons

[Lee Howard]

Can anyone enlighten me as to the normal operating bases for the following British Air Attache de Havilland Devon aircraft, cognisant of the fact they moved around a fair bit as part of their job:

Ankara
Baghdad
Bangkok
Belgrade
Buenos Aires
Djakarta
Malta
Manila
Mexico
Paris
Pretoria
Rangoon
Saigon (believed to be Tan Son Nhut)
Teheran

Grateful for any leads or reminiscences.

TIA

Lee

[India Four Two]

Saigon (believed to be Tan Son Nhut)

Definitely. VP978 and VP962 were based at Tan Son Nhut. See this link: 207 Squadron RAF Association - Devon DH Devon VP962 in Vietnam (http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/devons/VP962ms.htm)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/mswineyVP9781.jpg

The blast-proof shelters are still there, some with holes in the roof from the NVA attack on the airfield, which was 37 years ago this week! We have a four-day long-weekend here to mark the end of the war.

The article points out that one other Devon was shared between the Air Attaches in Bangkok (Don Muang) and Jakarta (Halim).

[Lee Howard]

Thanks, yes I was aware of the site and that particular page. If anyone has anything further to add on this, or other Devon-equipped units, then I'd be interested to hear from them.

[HZ123]

As a policeman in 1972 @ STN the CAA operated a number of these aircraft - in fact they kept the airfield going.

[Ron Cake]

The Devon assigned to the Air Attache at Jakarta was based at Kemayoran (Jakarta's domestic airport). I believe, but am not sure, that the aircraft was shared with the UK defence staff at the embassy in Singapore.

[Lee Howard]

Thanks guys, all good stuff.

Anyone else with recollections of the RAF Devons?

[Cornish Jack]

June1961- Jan64, VP977 based, initially, at Don Muang but (more or less monthly) visited Saigon, Pnomh Penh and Vientiane for Embassy purposes and occasional liaison visits in those countries. In late 63 we lost our Viet Nam accreditation and took over the Rangoon accreditation with the Djakarta aircraft taking over Saigon. Anything further required?

[India Four Two]

based at Kemayoran (Jakarta's domestic airport).

Ron, I have to say I was assuming Halim was used since it was the joint civil/military airport. I'm surprised that Kemayoran (now long gone) was the base. Do you know why?

[Lee Howard]

Cornish Jack

Many thanks for that. Can you confirm which particular Air Attache VP977 was with at that stage? The histories of VP977 and VP978 are very muddy around this stage with Djakarta, Rangoon, Saigon and Bangkok all being mentioned.

Interestingly a date of 17 October 1965 is also mentioned often. Could this be the date on which the Vietnam accreditation was lost instead of late 1963?

Anything else you could add would be great. What was your connection?


Regards

Lee

[Cornish Jack]

Hi Lee
Re. loss of accreditation in Saigon, no, quite definitely '63 followed by a period of hiatus before we were accredited (and took the aircraft to Rangoon for a month) in December '63. AA at the period of change was G/C J W E Holmes, returned to UK as Wg Cdr Admin at Benson. His successor was G/C 'Dickie' Squires - super bloke!
My predecessor AND successor were one and the same!! slightly unusual!
Saigon's new AA was G/C Helmore who spent some time with us in BKK en route to posting and insisted on sending his reports in 'French' since "that was the language of his new post":uhoh: Dear old Chas G.., our secretary, who had to type them, was fairly underwhelmed!
While I've been typing this I decided to check rather than relying on memory and ...of course. quite wrong - it was '62 NOT '63. Last trip to Tan Son Nhut was 4/3/62 so some time after that.
Rangoon AA was G/C Chater (another gent). We flew to Mingaladon on the 30/11/63 and came back to BKK on 27/12.
Not very long after G/C Helmore took up post in Saigon there was a considerable 'local difficulty' with the Presidential Palace being bombed by his own people. AA "impressed" his crew by calling them out into the action to "see what was going on"!:eek: This last was 2nd hand info from the guys themselves so may be slightly coloured!!;)
What was my connection? Sig/Nav/Pilot Assistant and general dogsbody - Lots of truly marvellous bits, some seriously bad bits but, overall, unmissable:ok:

[Wander00]

All in the faraway mists for me - but did AAs self-fly, or did they have an established pilot for each Devon. Never saw them abroad but as a youngster watched them in the Northolt circuit. Can hear the engine noise now - aah, nostalgia!!

[Lee Howard]

Hi Cornish Jack

Thanks for the additional information. I'm trying to nail down the precise movements of the various Devons used for a forthcoming publication. It's proving to be quite a headache, especially with the Far East aircraft.

Just to make it abundantly clear (and easier for me to see the wood for the trees), could you perhaps confirm from your logbook:

a) the aircraft serial number and the date on which you first and last flew it and with which AA (ie VP977 Saigon 21.6.61 - 4.3.62; VP978 Djakarta 1.5.62 - 17.10.65) etc?

b) who did the day to day line servicing of the aircraft? Was it a civilian company, such as Shorts, or a regional airline sub-contracted?

c) where was the major servicing done? Changi? If you flew the aircraft to/from such bases do you have the dates too?

d) how did the aircraft get to/from the UK? Self-ferried (and if so by what route), or shipped in a dismantled state to/from Singapore/Seletar?

And finally (for now!), I don't suppose you have any photographs of the aircraft taken at the time, do you?

Thanks in advance.

Lee

[Fareastdriver]

When I was on 110 Sqn (Whirlwinds) 1968-1971 we used to send the odd fitter up to Saigon for the Devon.

[Cornish Jack]

Wander00 - All three that I flew with were self-fly as was the Djarkarta, Manilla, Rangoon (VP978?)
Lee
a) VP 977 ; first flight (for me) -18/7/61 local flying Don Muang, G/C Holmes(at that time, AA for Thailand, Viet Nam(S), Cambodia and Laos.Last flight - 15/4/64 Chiang Mai - BKK
b) During the whole of my time, F/Sgt 'Roly' Marsh, one of the few remaining 'all singing, all dancing' engineers - he looked after 'his baby' engines, airframe, electrics, etc., the lot - he had previously been on a similar job with the Heron for the Washington AA.
c) Minors and Majors at Seletar. Bit of guesswork follows - BKK- Sel on 16/2/62 return on 23/2/62 (Minor??) BKK-Sel on 26/9/62- pretty sure that was a Major since the return was on 31/10/62. In the interim, we 'borrowed' a Twin Pin and crew - TedBurlow and Jim Garlick(sp?) and enjoyed a month of 'different flying', including a demo of the TP's short field performance at Vientiane for Air America.
d) Has to be an educated guess but self-ferry I would think - no dates , I'm afraid.
Finally - photo's - not a lot but I will have a hunt around and see what I can find.

[Lee Howard]

CornishJack - you have a PM! :ok:

Seeing as the ball has started rolling, is there anyone else out there who flew any of the other Air Attache Devons (or Herons, for that matter)? The fact that I'm having to ask the questions sort of highlights the lack of recorded information on these units, so would be worth documenting whilst it's still possible.

Anyone?

[Ron Cake]

INDIA FOUR TWO

I can't recall how I came to 'know' that the Jakarta Devon was based at Kemayoran. It just seems embedded in my fading memory. But there are a few clues

The Devon was used for domestic flights and domestic flights from Jakarta used Kemayoran The exceptions were those connecting with international tourists flights which used Halim (eg flights to Yogyakarta and Bali). So Kemayoran would seem to be the appropriate base.

In the early 1980's The Jakarta US Embassy (DIA) used a Beechcraft C 12 in a similar role to the Devon (ie for attaches to junket about the islands.) The C 12 was based at Kemayoran.

When the boss of 214 Sqn, Wg Cdr 'Tommy' Tucker, left in the mid 1970's to become AA in Jakarta, he had to do a Devon conversion before taking up the post (at Northern Comm Squadron?) So yes, the Jakarta Devon was self fly by the AA

Regards RC

[Cornish Jack]

Lee
Read your PM but clicking on your link crashed my 'pooter':ouch:
If I can get my limited brain cells aroung the method, I'm attaching 5 B&W shots from my time there. I've also found some colour shots but they are slides and it's going to be a major jhttp://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/AA5.jpgob to scan them in!
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/AA1.jpghttp://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/AA2.jpghttp://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/AA3.jpg

Hmm - got the piccies but nadgered the text! I'll add another reply with the ID info.http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/AA4.jpg

[Cornish Jack]

Lee
Photo 1. L-R
Roly Marsh Crew Chief and engineer, G/C Holmes (AA), Thai escort and some layabout gypsy on the earhole at the end - possibly at Korat or Ubon.

2. G/C Squires (AA) and Thai escort probably at Sattahip.

3. Tweeny Weeny Airways fleet parked in its individual spot at Don Muang.

4. Air Attache's staff and a/c at Don Muang - Roly Marsh, Chas Giles (secretary) and the hanger-on.

5. Attache's get-together at (I think) Sattahip Thai Air Force base - G/C Squires 2nd from left (as viewed)

[Warmtoast]

Pretoria is not on your list of requirements, but thought you may be interested in this.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Thornhill/Thornhill-AssistantChiefoftheAirStaffTrainingDevon.jpg


Air Vice Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training) visted 5 FTS (RAF Thornhill, S. Rhodesia) some time in 1952 - 1953 and arrived in this Devon that I photographed at the time.

ISTR he flew up from Pretoria in South Africa and I assume this is the Devon used by the AA in Pretoria at the time.

Serial is not clear, but possibly WD 533?

[Lee Howard]

Warmtoast - I did indeed miss it out and shall amend my list (was doing it from memory! I also missed Baghdad!).

The serial was WB533 with UK Service Liaison at Pretoria from December 1949 until October 1961. I'll send you a PM shortly....

[huntaluvva]

I visited Melun-Villaroche airfield outside Paris a few years ago. The Museum there had pictures on display , including an RAF detachment with a Devon based there in the fifties. I think I took copies, I'll try to find them.

HL

[Lee Howard]

huntaluvva

Depending on which date the photos were taken that would either be the Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight or (from 4.51) the Allied Air Forces Western Europe Comms Flight.

Would be interesting to see the photos.

[huntaluvva]

Lee

I've had a look today but so far can't find them. Will have another try next week.

HL

[Lee Howard]

Just a quick note to publically thank Cornish Jack and Warmtoast for their help with this one, and to re-iterate the plea for further information on the other Air Attache Devons (see my list on page 1) - or other RAF/RAE Devons for that matter.

All help v much appreciated.

Lee

[harbourm]

Lee, I was stationed at Fontainbleu 1966/67 with Allied Air Forces Central Europe. We had a communications Flight based at Lebourget Airport, which consisted of a Devon and a Pembroke aircraft. Unfortunatly no photos or reg no's. When De-Gaull threw every one out of France I moved to Brunsum and I assume the aircraft went to mastricht or possibly Gielenkirchen.

Bill

[ICM]

Lee: Not sure that this will help you too much, but the AA in Pretoria certainly had an ex-Queen's Flight Heron, still bright red, in November 1966. After our Argosy went seriously U/S in Matsapa, Swaziland, our co-pilot and myself hitched a lift to Joburg, got a train to Pretoria and presented ourselves at the AA's residence. Can't recall his name, but he and his wife gave us an excellent dinner and he flew us back to Matsapa in the Heron next day.

[Lee Howard]

harbourm: Interesting. I have AAFCE's aircraft as being based at Melun-Villaroche, near Fontainebleau, not Le Bourget? Can you recall whether it was in fact so? Prior to it being AAFCE it was AFWE at Toussus-le-Noble.

ICM: Herons also of interest! This particular aircraft would have been XM295 which was used by AA Pretoria from June 65 until December 67.

I might add that, whilst my main interest for this particular thread was the AA aircraft, I'm keen to hear from any RAF/RAE Devon personnel.

Any more for any more? :)

[harbourm]

Lee
It was Le Bourget when I was there in 1966/67 until the closure of AAFCE. I was MT and used to drive the aircrew up to Le bourget whenever required which was most days.
One interesting fact was that the blue cleat line on the Devon was red and not blue.

Bill

[India Four Two]

This particular aircraft would have been XM295 which was used by AA Pretoria from June 65 until December 67.

Lee,
Do you know where XM295 went after Pretoria? The reason I ask is that in 1968, I had a trip in an ex-Queen's Flight Heron. It was an IMC day at Shawbury and so I was in the UBAS crew-room, when 27 MU phoned and said they had an aircraft going to Aldergrove to pick up some parts and did anyone want to go for a ride.

So a group of us flew over Ulster in the Heron, which the MU was using as a hack. We caused much consternation at Aldergrove, when a bright-red Heron appeared out of the clouds on final. We were met by the Station Commander, who was not impressed by the scruffy students in flying suits who dis-embarked. ;)

Could this have been XM295?

Ironically, I made another trip to Aldergrove a week later, this time in a Devon, thus adding another DH type to my list. I realized not long ago that I've flown (or flown in) more de Havilland types than those of any other manufacturer. :)

[Lee Howard]

This is where this kind of research comes to the fore. Unfortunately it's often only with the passing of time that recording of such information is seen as important by many of those best placed to do so at the time - a fact I try and impress on as many as I can these days to try and make researching that little bit easier in the future. :ok:

It could have been one of two aircraft that you flew in: XM295 and XM296 were both at 27 MU Shawbury in mid 1968; both of them were ex-Queen's Flight, with for former being sold and eventually re-engined (ugh!) and the latter being transferred to 60 Sqn at Wildenrath. They then relinquished XM296 to the RN who operated it until the type was withdrawn from use and she currently resides in the USA - still airworthy, I'm glad to say.

[India Four Two]

Lee,

Thank you for your information. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me nor did I note the serial numbers. I do remember the interior of the Heron was quite impressive - sort of First Class on a miniature scale, but even the Queen had to step over the main spar! However, the spar was very nicely carpeted, to protect the Royal shins.

My most recent exposure to a Heron was three years ago, when I first visited the Classic Flyers museum at Tauranga and saw ZK-BBM:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/IMG_3611.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/IMG_3609.jpg

I had completely forgotten that the early Herons were fixed-gear. She is a little bit worse for wear, but I was told potentially airworthy.

However, in the hanger behind, was this immaculate, airworthy Devon:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/IMG_3620.jpg

and (excuse the slight thread drift) this Dominie:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/IMG_3619.jpg

I flew in the Dominie two years ago, on a nostalgia trip. My first ever flight was in a Dragon Rapide at Ramsgate Airport.

[India Four Two]

I have just found this Flight PDF from 1955, which has a description of the first Queen's Flight Heron and a photo of the interior:

heron | de havilland | 1955 | 0406 | Flight Archive (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200406.html)

[Lee Howard]

Thanks guys. Anyone else with any Devon/Heron reminiscences they'd care to share? :)

[JW411]

I recently re-read "Heavenly Days" by James Pelly-Fry. Towards the end of the book he tells stories of sharing a Devon with the Air Attache in Ankara when he was in Tehran in 1957-1958. There is a photograph of the front end of the Devon but no clues as to its identity.

[Lee Howard]

JW411

Many thanks. Wasn't aware of the book but have managed to track a copy down. Good stuff!

Anyone else with additional information?

Lee

[Postfade]

Lee,

I caught Devon VP978 on camera a few times at Changi in 61-62, then again at Seletar in November 1963.
You can track the 'minor and major' servicing done on both VP977 and VP978 at 390 MU Seletar by looking at the 390 MU ORB's at Kew. Some interesting references to where the Air Attaches were based in those records I note.

I've put a post with photos on my Singapore aircraft website:
FOCAL PLANES (http://www.focalplanes.co.uk)

David Taylor.

[Lee Howard]

David

A belated thanks for that. I hadn't realised 389's ORB was at Kew; it's on my list of documents to try and look through next week when I visit.

Thanks for the photos too. I'll drop you a direct line in due course.

All the best

Lee

[Skymac]

Hello

I don't know if you are still interested in this subject but my father, Thomas McNamara was the AA in Djakarta for two years in the early fifties. The aircraft (which he took delivery of) Devon, VP978 replaced a very dilapidated Avro Anson that was there when we arrived.

i can remember quite a few details of this period and if you are still interested, please contact me at this address. [email protected]

Sincerely

Rory McNamara

[sedmunds12]

I am searching for information (and hopefully some photos) about my grandfather who was Air Attache in Bangkok in the 1960s. While searching the internet this forum came up. My grandfather's name was Peter Dickson Squires, I think the same Dickie Squires you have mentioned above. If anyone has any information they are willing to share I would be hugely grateful.

[Cornish Jack]

'Dickie' Squires was, indeed the Air Attache in Bangkok in the early/mid 60s. I was lucky enough to have been his Nav/Sig/ RH seat man.
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/Devon1.jpg
This is the gentleman with self on right ... the Devon was a VERY cosy operating environment. He was a complete breath of fresh air in post and your grandmother was just as welcoming. I've just remembered that I have a few slides of that period which feature him and his lady and possibly even your Mum, as a child. They will take a little time to recover as we are still recovering from having our house destroyed in the 2013 'surge'. I'll repost if successful.

[sedmunds12]

Wow! Cornish Jack - I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am. My father is Michael, Dickie's son. Sadly I never met my grandfather and my father was only 17 years old when he died. My father has a big birthday coming up and I was keen to try and find some old photos I could frame for him. If you do find any more I would be so incredibly grateful. I would equally love to hear any stories you have about him. Please feel free to message me if so. A million thanks! Sophie

[Cornish Jack]

Hi Sophie - Glad that was useful.
If you look at posts #17(pics 2 and 5) and #18 there are more of G/C Squires. I suggest that it would be better to make private contact for any further but I don't know how the private message system works on this forum! To avoid 'spammers' try Whiskey Charlie Oscar2Two9Two7Four3atGolfmaildotcom - hope that makes sense!!
b rgds
Bill

[sedmunds12]

Many thanks Bill. I have sent you an email. If I've got it wrong (!!) you can click on my name sedmunds12 and it will give you an option to send me an email. Huge thanks again and apologies for clogging up this thread!

[Herod]

Jack and Sophie: I can't find it in the FAQs, but I believe you can't access private messages until you have been a member for a certain time. Perhaps a mod can clarify?

[Cornish Jack]

Thank you, Herod. I expect that's so. I'm slightly paranoid about putting my email address online, so hope Sophie can decode the version in my last.
Meanwhile, just found one more of a family outing to the River Kwai bridge ...
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu193/CornishJack/BillCoombe_105c_zpstnysp016.jpg
Dickie, in white shorts, Mrs S in red shorts and check top, Sophie's aunt(?) in orange shorts and striped top and (just maybe?) Sophie's Dad, hiding in the middle leaning to the right in fawn shorts???
Still looking for some others.

[sedmunds12]

Hi Bill and Herod, apologies - I did write a reply yesterday but it doesn't seem to have been posted. Bill - I have sent you an email but have a feeling I may not have succeeded in my decoding!! You may want to check your junk inbox as my email address won't be recognised. If you can't find anything I'll try again! I definitely recognise my granny in that photo above, and yes I think one of my aunts is in the orange shorts. Sadly one of my aunts has passed away, however, I have already forwarded on your photos to my other aunt who has loved seeing the last few photos. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see these all. Admin - is there any chance you can send my email address to Cornish Jack without it being placed on the thread? Sophie

[sedmunds12]

Cornish Jack - I have sent you an email. You may need to check your junk mail as it may not recognise my email address.

[Flap40]

Interesting reading all this. GC J E Holmes was my English master at school in the late 70's in Jersey.

His obituary makes interesting reading with respect to ww2. vcobit2 (http://members.societe-jersiaise.org/whitsco/vcobit2.htm)

[Cornish Jack]

Thank you Flap40, ... interesting.

[CharlieJuliet]

I was at RAE Farnborough from '83 to '85. From my logbook the Devons there were:
XG 496 VP 959 XM 223 and VP 975. When possible we used to assist Transport Flight with the coms flying - known in the trade as 'guest artists'. It was possible to do the early Bedford run and be back in the office by 0900 in time for whatever the day held. The Devons were replaced by Chieftains just as I completed my tour.

[Krystal n chips]

CJ,

I wonder if, by any chance, you ever encountered a C/T or more likely after his promotion, Flt. Sgt Bob Jones.....say late 60's / early 70's in S.E Asia at all ?

I ask for no other reason than I was fortunate enough to meet this gentleman, in the true sense of the term, many years ago at Valley and he had some "interesting stories" to tell of his times out there.

[Cornish Jack]

K'n C - Sorry, doesn't ring any instant memory bells - mind you very little doe ... ???;)
I left Bangkok in 'Jan 64 so I doubt that our paths crossed.

[Barrington]

Ankara - Essenboga
Baghdad - Main Airport
Teheran - Meherbad

I flew with the Air Attache from Teheran to Nicosia via Baghdad and Beirut in December 1964 as the aircraft shred by Air Attaches in Turkey, Jordan and Iran needed a servicing at RAF Nicosia.

[Cornish Jack]

Re-reading this thread triggered a forgotten previous Air Attache experience. While I was on my first ops tour in Aden, I was detached to RAF Mauripur to crew the Karachi AA's Anson. I was there for 6 weeks, living in the Mess and doing absolutely nothing. I vaguely remember turning up at an airfield office at some point, but I never saw the Anson, never mind flew in it! A fascinating introduction to that part of the world ,in particular, "Fish Corner", the post-partition refugee 'camp' on the mud flats outside Karachi and the comparison with the most luxurious cinema I have ever been to, in the city. A real eye-opener on a different world.

[POBJOY]

[QUOTE=JW411;7187324]I recently re-read "Heavenly Days" by James Pelly-Fry. Towards the end of the book he tells stories of sharing a Devon with the Air Attache in Ankara when he was in Tehran in 1957-1958. There is a photograph of the front end of the Devon but no clues as to its identity.[/QUOTE


I have a copy of that around so will dig out. Seem to recall a 'wheels up' incident (Devon) when 'new user' being checked out by former user !!!,and a 'day out' to Cornwall in a Bomber 'escorted' by many Spitfires to use the beach at Portreath.

[brakedwell]

Fighter Command Comm Squadron had a nice looking Devon at RAF Bovingdon when I was on the Coastal Command Comm Flight in 1961/2. It didn’t seem to fly very often and I never managed to get my hands on it, but I did fly a Dove for two weeks whilst on a TRE/IRE Course with the CAA at Stansted in the mid seventies and I have to admit I enjoyed to the Dove much.

[Barrington]

Reference the Devon shared by the Air Attaches of Turkey, Iran and Jordan in the mid 60's VP 966 I have found that it was destroyed as detailed below:
05/06/1967 VP966
Devon C1 Air Attache Tehran Burnt out on the ground during an Israeli air attack on Amman, Jordan at the start of the Six Day War.

[kenair]

Lee,
Do you know where XM295 went after Pretoria? The reason I ask is that in 1968, I had a trip in an ex-Queen's Flight Heron. It was an IMC day at Shawbury and so I was in the UBAS crew-room, when 27 MU phoned and said they had an aircraft going to Aldergrove to pick up some parts and did anyone want to go for a ride.

So a group of us flew over Ulster in the Heron, which the MU was using as a hack. We caused much consternation at Aldergrove, when a bright-red Heron appeared out of the clouds on final. We were met by the Station Commander, who was not impressed by the scruffy students in flying suits who dis-embarked. ;)

Could this have been XM295?

Ironically, I made another trip to Aldergrove a week later, this time in a Devon, thus adding another DH type to my list. I realized not long ago that I've flown (or flown in) more de Havilland types than those of any other manufacturer. :)

I do know that XM 295 Heron #14129 was acquired by Saunders Aircraft in May of 1969 was was converted to a Saunders Aircraft ST-27 #002/14129 Canadian registration CF-XOK . cheers - ken kalynuk, winnipeg, canada
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/596x518/heron_14129_air_britain_c9008900898654e7ab81eb5393ee81093897 fe0a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x428/1443567_9058bc10efe31ee613b58c1cd8e88d08a078d954.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/958x304/0712_01_2_3_660ae10fad0ec7f56e736dfe2612b6210f903b24.jpg

[Fawazgardens]

I was attached to the Air Attache in Tehran (Group Captain Owen) in January 1964 and flew with him through Iran, India, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, the Gulf and Lebanon in VP966. Later destroyed in Beirut by the Israelis.

[Fawazgardens]

Me too. I flew VP966 with the AA Iran in January 1964 and toured his territory except Afghanistan. I got dip clearance for the aircraft but not the crew! Great times and we delivered the plane back to Nocosia.

[chevvron]

I was at RAE Farnborough from '83 to '85. From my logbook the Devons there were:
XG 496 VP 959 XM 223 and VP 975. When possible we used to assist Transport Flight with the coms flying - known in the trade as 'guest artists'. It was possible to do the early Bedford run and be back in the office by 0900 in time for whatever the day held. The Devons were replaced by Chieftains just as I completed my tour.
I was there from '74 to when Transport Flight was disbanded ('94?)
Boss when I arrived was 'Tiff' O'connor but my mate, a hell of a mess guess guy, was Denny Dennison.
Even got a flight in the Dakota KG 661, which was hurriedly re numbered ZA947 after some confusion and still flies with BBMF.
When we got SSR on the Transport Flight Devons, it was 'interested' to see that whenever Denny flew the Bedford Ferry, the SSR would disappear from radar as it approached Chequers/Halton and re appear near about a mile north east; wonder why that was,
Actually I found out one day when one of my cadets, whose father was on a postng to Halton, told me he had been taxying a JP at Halton with his father when a Devon with gear and flaps down appeared on final for 02!!