mabmac
11th Dec 2013, 23:04
There have been several reminiscences of initial training on the "Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW11" thread. What hasn't been mentioned is how quickly one made friends because of the teamwork that was required to survive.
In December 1973 the BRNC Dartmouth September entry had been together for 3 months. Every midshipman looked forward to the experience of being underslung by a rescue strop from the Wasp helicopter that was resident up the road at Norton and then to be given an actual flight - bliss! However the weather had not been kind and the programme was running behind schedule, so a second helicopter and pilot was "borrowed" from HMS Eskimo to double the capacity and enable every midshipman to get his turn.
Forty years ago today, 12 December 1973, Wasp XT442, HMS Eskimo Flight, crashed with three of my newly-made friends on board; the pilot and all 3 midshipmen were killed.
I wonder if you could take a moment to spare a thought for Lieutenant Keith Taylor, Midshipmen Jonathan Barlow, Michael Bond, Oliver Gudgeon and their families. We will remember them.
In December 1973 the BRNC Dartmouth September entry had been together for 3 months. Every midshipman looked forward to the experience of being underslung by a rescue strop from the Wasp helicopter that was resident up the road at Norton and then to be given an actual flight - bliss! However the weather had not been kind and the programme was running behind schedule, so a second helicopter and pilot was "borrowed" from HMS Eskimo to double the capacity and enable every midshipman to get his turn.
Forty years ago today, 12 December 1973, Wasp XT442, HMS Eskimo Flight, crashed with three of my newly-made friends on board; the pilot and all 3 midshipmen were killed.
I wonder if you could take a moment to spare a thought for Lieutenant Keith Taylor, Midshipmen Jonathan Barlow, Michael Bond, Oliver Gudgeon and their families. We will remember them.