Green Endorsements ?

[Fonsini]

Does the service still give “Greens” for notable acts of flying skill, and has anyone been on the receiving end of one ?

[Danny42C]

Fonsini (#1),

Never got one myself, but in 1945 got one for a Captain van den Poel (SAAF), loaned to me with his Thunderbolt II, in which, on take-off, he clipped a ****ehawk with a wheel, ripping off a patch of rubber outer casing and exposing the inner tube.

He landed on this with infinite care, the tube did not blow out. I sent his log book up to my (225) Group: they put in the Green Endorsement. Forgotten the wording now - it's been a long time.

Never heard of one since.

Danny.

[spekesoftly]

Another extract from my late father's memoirs. He was awarded a Green Endorsement following an engine flame-out and forced landing at Gatwick in 1950:-

November started with a bit of excitement. On the 2nd I was airborne in the Gloster E1/44 having been detailed to observe the experimental high speed trailing static being towed by a Meteor. The idea of a trailing static source was to obtain true static pressure away from the influence of the disturbed air around an aircraft. This had been done successfully at low speeds for years by attaching a streamlined shape (rather like a small bomb) to a strong flexible tube which could be winched out of the aircraft when desired, and the readings obtained used to calibrate the aircraft’s own static source readings. However, at the higher speeds, the “bomb” became unstable and frequently broke away. Thus the Farnborough “boffins” were trying to develop a modified system which could be used a higher speeds and Mach Nos. On this occasion we had climbed through several layers of cloud in formation and were passing 26,000ft. when I experienced the symptoms of mild engine surge which was not uncommon with the Nene engine at that time. I took the usual remedial action of reducing the throttle setting and watched the jet pipe temperature which could rise alarmingly following a surge, but it was falling quite rapidly as also was the rpm. I then tentatively advanced the throttle and getting no response realised I had a “flame-out” and tried an immediate re-light to no avail. By this time the Meteor I had been in formation with was well ahead and above me and I radioed to both it and Farnborough radar to let them know my plight. Two problems were bothering me. The first was that with no engine running, there would be little or no output from the generator and thus I would have to rely on the batteries to provide electric power for further attempts to re-light the engine and secondly, this aircraft had electrically powered flight instruments (in those days most were suction driven) and I would have to rely on these instruments to descend safely through cloud. I therefore decided not to attempt any further relights until below cloud and in any case a re-light was much more likely to succeed at lower altitude. Farnborough Radar were quietly reassuring and were vectoring me to break cloud over the top of Gatwick which was then a relief airfield. I remembered the cloud base had been about 4,000ft when we took off and as I broke cloud with Gatwick in sight under the nose I mentally thanked the radar operator as I made one more attempt to start the engine. This also failed so I decided to concentrate on positioning for a forced landing. Everything worked out well and I was able to drop the landing gear on the emergency system and also lower partial flap. I made a rather fast touch-down on the mesh covered grass runway and had to brake quite heavily which resulted in a burst tyre as we came to a standstill. Feeling distinctly shaky, I climbed down and waited for some sign of life from the airfield but nothing happened. I walked some several hundred yards to a small building where I found a somewhat bored chap sitting at a rudimentary control desk who told me I had landed without permission but he’d had a call from Farnboro’ asking if I was down OK!
He also suggested that he’d have to close the airfield as my a/c was blocking the runway! I telephoned Aero Flight to report in although they already knew the score and was told that I would be picked up shortly and sure enough, Bob Smythe brought the Balliol two seat trainer in and flew me back to base.

Two subsequent events are worth noting. Because the E1/44 was not really needed any more and had been only used as a “hack” aircraft for some time, and it was not practical to fly it out of the relatively short runway at Gatwick, it was dismantled and taken away to be scrapped. I felt rather miffed at having pulled off a successful forced landing, the a/c should then suffer such an ignominious fate! However, my feathers were smoothed when a month later I was awarded a Green Endorsement in my log book for “displaying resource and exceptional flying skill” in the successful forced landing though I felt that this should have been shared with the radar controller who positioned me so well.

[Fareastdriver]

[QUOTE]has anyone been on the receiving end of one ?[QUOTE]

Hand Up. (polishing fingernails on waistcoat)

[bunta130]

[QUOTE]has anyone been on the receiving end of one ?[QUOTE]

Hand Up. (polishing fingernails on waistcoat)

Me too...crew effort. Not recent though....1990

[NutLoose]

Do they still do good shows and well done's etc

I got one and was recommended for two more

[binbrook]

Sorry for the thread drift, but does anyone know when the last Red Endorsement was awarded?

[Bob Viking]

AFAIK they are still awarded. It seems like they are heading the way of the VC though. I think you’d need to singlehandedly save half the country to spur anyone into actually recommending anyone for one.

That was uncharacteristicly pessimistic for me. Let’s hope someone can prove me wrong.

BV

[Pontius Navigator]

BV, you just need a wordsmith who is prepared to put in the hard work of writing you up. Not just endorsements but other things that require 'work' too.

[Bob Viking]

I agree.

If I try to get to the bottom of why I sound so negative it goes back to a personal experience.

As a very junior QFI I once had a bird make a hole in my canopy (right above the students head). A diversion followed and (based on my current level of experience I can say objectively) I handled it very well.

Now I know lots of people who’ve had similar and, in some cases, far more exciting incidents than that. I also know people who have been written up for far less. I had a particularly weak Flt Cdr at the time and I guarantee the thought of writing anything up would not have crossed his mind.

I guess my point is where do we make the distinction between gallantry awards (which are rightly awarded sparingly) and a written pat on the back. Why must GEs be given sparingly?

Surely a well handled incident (slightly more than just any minor caption) that resulted in a safe outcome should be sufficient?

Just my thoughts.

BV

[Lima Juliet]

BV

I agree - I’ve seen various write ups be rejected that previously would have got an AFC. I don’t know why we are so miserly with Green Endorsements - it costs nothing and if handed out to a few (but more than is at present!) with suitable gravitas, pomp and ceremony it is more retention positive than a 1% pay rise!

IMHO of course!

[It's only Me]

Yup. Got one, but a long time ago signed by some AVM: AOC Training Units RAF Support Command!

Now suitably displayed, in log book No 1, on a shelf, covered in dust some 15000 hours later. Happy though; it could have been my last flight......

Me

[pontifex]

Yup, Multiple bird strike on take off in a Victor. (Roosting Gulls at dawn). Fairly gripping.

[sharpend]

A duck hit me at 500 mph, smashing though the windscreen and blinded me and stopped the single engine. I still landed the aeroplane, but did not get a Green Endorsement. My Nav in the back got a well deserved one :)

[BEagle]

sharpend wroteA duck hit me at 500 mph, smashing though the windscreen and blinded me and stopped the single engine. I still landed the aeroplane, but did not get a Green Endorsement.

I thought you were awarded a well-deserved AFC for that, Bluntie?

Lester certainly did deserve his Green Endorsement though.

[Lima Juliet]

Indeed he did if this is the same gentleman - taken from the 151 Sqn website:

15 February 1982

S/Ldr Derek Sharpe and his navigator F/Lt Lea Pearce, a former Vulcan Bomber navigator, were flying at low level when they hit a duck as the Hawk was flying at around 500 mph. The duck shattered the cockpit canopy. The Daily Telegraph reported the event in detail as described by S/Ldr Sharpe:

"Suddenly there was a great big thud in the face and I couldn't see any more. The wind was making an infernal noise. I pulled back the stick and closed the throttle. I felt no pain. I wiped what I could away from my eyes and I could just see a little out of my right eye. There was muck and blood and feathers everywhere. I couldn't open my left eye. I could just about make out the cockpit, but couldn't see out. I latched on to the instruments and crouched down under the dashboard because of the gale. As we slowed down to 150 mph I was able to talk to the navigator in the rear seat."

F/Lt Pearce helped to keep the dual-controlled trainer jet in the air, reading out the speed and height and they headed for Wittering, Cambridgeshire, about six minutes' flying time away.

Then the aircraft's speed reduced as it came into land, and the fierce air flow into the cockpit eased.

"I said we would probably be ejecting because I couldn't see, but in the end I just had sufficient vision to put her down in the middle of the runway. The fire crew couldn't believe it. They just stood and stared when this gory, blood covered character got out. It was a bit like driving up the M1 at 150 mph with a shattered windscreen while only being able to see out of one eye."

S/Ldr Sharpe had three operations, including, he says, "chromo-therapy and welding the eye back with a very cold gas." He explained, "My nose is better than before I broke it as a kid and the surgeons have finally straightened it out."

S/Ldr Sharpe was awarded the Air Force Cross ( AFC) for this action.


Did the Nav get a green endorsement? If not then I would suggest he should have?

[Just re-read Sharpend’s post and it seems the Nav did :D]

[Brain Potter]

Why not award an AFC for this?

Is it is easier to cofer the characteristic of ‘gallantry’ in cases where the crew had the option to abandon the aircraft but chose not to?

Flight Lieutenant K Green Endorsement​

On 12 November 2015, Flight Lieutenant K was the ​Captain of a Hercules C-130J operating from RAF Brize ​Norton. On recovery to the airfield, at approximately 5000ft ​the aircraft encountered a near simultaneous failure of its 2 ​Inertial Navigation Units above a solid layer of cloud.
Shortly afterwards the crew became aware that their ​Standby Attitude Indicator was also unserviceable. ​Flight Lieutenant K took control from the recently ​qualified and very inexperienced co-pilot.
Using a very faint visual horizon he levelled the aircraft ​and attempted to remain in visual conditions in the Brize ​Norton vicinity above the solid layer of cloud. A PAN was ​declared to ATC and the crew immediately began running a ​set of complex emergency drills in an attempt to regain an ​attitude source. ​
Unsuccessful, Flight Lieutenant K was left with only ​his air speed indicator, altimeter and E2 compass - insufficient ​instrumentation even for limited panel instrument flying. ​
In an attempt to navigate, the crew adopted a ‘no-​compass-no-gyro’​ procedure with ATC; however at night ​and in poor visibility, flight into cloud was unavoidable. ​Flight Lieutenant K now had neither a real nor artificial ​reference horizon available and the aircraft rapidly diverged ​from its intended flight path, accelerating by 30kts and ​descending by 500ft.
Pulling back on the control column increased the speed ​and rate of descent. Demonstrating exceptional awareness ​Flight Lieutenant K quickly diagnosed that the aircraft ​was entering a spiral dive. However, due to the absence of ​any reference horizon, he was unable to effect an immediate ​unusual position recovery. Crucially, by unloading the control ​column, he avoided tightening the spiral and drifting into an ​unrecoverable position.
Following a quick scan outside, lights on the ground ​illuminated a faint horizon against the cloud and, using this as ​a reference he was able to very skilfully recover to straight and ​level flight with very limited references.
The crew then declared a MAYDAY and, under the ​control of Distress and Diversion, Flight Lieutenant K, maintaining reference to the faint horizon, initiated a climb ​and transit north to an area where he knew of better weather. ​He then identified a sufficiently clear area that enabled a visual ​let down and safe recovery to RAF​ Coningsby.​
The Flight Reference Cards do not cater for a double inertial ​failure, let alone accompanied by a failed standby horizon. ​Flight Lieutenant K’s innate flying ability was all that ​stood between the crew and an unrecoverable position.
He showed exceptional presence of mind and calmness to ​instantly assimilate the situation and make a snap decision to ​slacken his pull on the control column, even whilst the ac was ​descending. Flight Lieutenant K went on to demonstrate ​outstanding leadership and flawless captaincy whilst effecting ​the safe recovery of the ac.
He was quick to reassure his crew members, whilst also ​corralling the assistance of Brize Norton ATC, Distress & ​Diversion, as well as a nearby Typhoon aircraft. Using all of the ​assets at his disposal, Flight Lieutenant K commanded ​the situation impeccably, drawing the whole episode to a ​close with a night landing at an unfamiliar airfield just inside ​the crosswind limits of the aircraft. ​

His exceptional awareness, captaincy and raw handling ​of the aircraft undoubtedly prevented a total loss over a ​densely populated area

[Bob Viking]

Brain.

I think that illustrates my point quite nicely. If that is the extremes you need to go to just to get a Green Endorsement nowadays then I guess we won't be seeing many more. AFCs will obviously become like the proverbial rocking horse poop.

BV

[Fareastdriver]

I nearly got an AFC.

Some years after I had left the RAF I was in conversation with my old flight commander about something that I had done in Belize.

There was a medevac call out for a snake bite case at Punta Gorda in the south of the country. There was also the information that it was socked in with fog but I decided to have a look see. We flew single pilot then so my flight commander asked to fly with me as shotgun. Most of the country south of Belize City was covered in fog and without any navaids it was DR and the only track check was the red light on a tall radio mast about half way. Punta Gorda was, as promised, covered in fog.

I was familiar with the town so I identified where the airfield was from the glow and they had placed two landrovers so that their headlights crossed in front of them in the passenger pickup area. This required a long vertical descent through the fog with only the lights as a reference.

On the ground there was a long delay getting the patient because they didn't really think I would get in. Once loaded a vertical instrument take off and back to Belize and the patient only just survived.

When my flight commander got back to Odiham he was going to write me up for an AFC. The Squadron didn't have any history for this so he borrowed the Honours File from our sister squadron who handed out honours like movie tickets. He read the write ups and he thought that they were so nauseous and condescending that he couldn't bring himself to write anything similar so he let it go.

That is what he confessed to me all those years later.

Worried. Not really. It would have been nice for another reason.

My father got an AFC in 1949 when he brought a Halifax back from the mid Atlantic on two engines and landed it at Shannon. KG VI was indisposed at the time so he was given it by the station commander.

I thought that if I was to go to Buck House maybe I could get them to ask Queen Mum to present my father with his AFC properly but that was never to happen.

[jindabyne]

1 GS, 2 GE, 1 QC, 1 AFC

Never said that before:O

[Bob Viking]

Is that it?! 😉

You’re going to have to spill the beans now. You can’t leave us hanging.

BV

[jindabyne]

Hunters and the Buccaneer; 1965- 1979

[Lima Juliet]

Surely the wrong way around - Air Force Cross, Queen’s Comm, Green Endorsement and Good Show.

Whilst I appreciate it is neither British or RAF to boast about such matters, why is there such a general reluctance to:

1. Award such things?
2. Publically recognise such things (such as on uniforms, etc...)?
3. Publically talk about such things (eg. i have to search and find Sharpend’s AFC on a 3rd Party amateur website)?

I know we don’t want to go down the route of some nation’s medalic recognition, but surely there is a compromise? I always thought it odd that we don’t have a ribbon/badge for CAS/DCOM/AOC Commendations and Green Endorsements.

But obviously we need to avoid this happening!
https://us-east-1.tchyn.io/snopes-production/uploads/2016/05/north-korea.jpg

[Donkey497]

What goes around comes around - Think Lorica Segmentata (if my spelling is up to scratch)

[Fareastdriver]

The stars are for the years when they haven't been shot.

[jindabyne]

Lima

In date order. :ok:

[BEagle]

2nd from right is General Gong on Dong...

When a chum found out which (ex-Vulcan) co-pilot with whom I'd had to fly in 1991 during the Gulf War, he commented "Did they give you an AFC for having to go to war with that idiot?".

Harsh..........but fair! And the answer was no.

[Brian 48nav]

Pretty sure the 'Off-spring' got a GE for his handling of an engine failure in his Jag whilst tanking from a VC10 on the Iraq/Turkey border in '92. He's on his travels somewhere so will confirm later - but he does not like PPRuNe so may not like me posting about him!

[Brain Potter]

When it comes to medals and awards the parsimonious British have an innate moral superiority over those ridiculous foreigners...

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTMftFXNPsaepDMRZ-CZnab6tjgl2CqzULI5GpmcriW9OfJuYKe

https://secure.i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03232/edward_3232015b.jpg

[just another jocky]

AFAIK they are still awarded. It seems like they are heading the way of the VC though. I think you’d need to singlehandedly save half the country to spur anyone into actually recommending anyone for one.

That was uncharacteristicly pessimistic for me. Let’s hope someone can prove me wrong.

BV

BV, they are still awarded.


I wrote up a student a few years ago and he got a Good Show. :ok:

[charliegolf]

1 GS, 2 GE, 1 QC, 1 AFC

Never said that before:O

I can match that. Well, apart from the GS, GEs, the QC and AFC.:ok:

CG

(Impress-ed, not -ive)

[Treble one]

A chap I knew at Duxford got a GE in his logbook-he was flying a Meteor 8 in a pair with a JP who panicked whilst climbing through cloud and gave him a bump which jammed his rudder.


He made a wheels up recovery back at base using asymmetric power to control the aircraft IIRC.


Another chap at Duxford (a former TP and CO at Boscombe) managed a bar to his AFC (I don't know why he was awarded either).

[Bengo]

I think Fred Robertson RN eventually got his well deserved AFC on the totting up principle. He was awarded GE's for v hairy SAR work, SK SEWTO and a string of other things. He was also a bloody good Beefer.
N

[EESDL]

I’ve received a couple of Brown Endorsements.......

Concur with the comments re attitude and quality of command chain to whether or not an incident is determined if it merits uncapping the pen - mixed in with Sqn politics, naturally.

[Shackman]

A long time ago I wrote up a winchman for an 'honour or award' for going above and beyond to rescue a casualty at the base of a cliff in very heavy seas.
I then got a short missive to tell me that: a. As I hadn't been written up (as Capt of the aircraft) he couldn't have one, b. I hadn't been on the flight long enough to know bravery!! (this was my seventh flying tour) and c. It wasn't the done thing anyway.

Needless to say I was a bit miffed (actually very p...... off) and spoke at length to the sender, pointing out that I had done little more than sit in the hover whilst my crewman had been at the end of 300ft of cable wedged in rocks and being battered by very large seas, and I had enough experience to recognise when someone deserved an award. Nothing was done until just before he retired - he received an AOC's commendation (for services rendered!). I believe he went on to a successful career as a commercial pilot.

I should add: A few years later I was awarded a GE, but I never thought I deserved it. All I did was use prior experience/knowledge and self preservation and we all walked away.

[5aday]

I refer to the two photographs sent in by Brain Potter.
In fact I've changed my mind. I don't want to refer to them at all.
Have they no shame. They are just so despicable.

[BEagle]

To the Tower with you and your prejudice...:=

[Easy Street]

Green endorsements are definitely still awarded. The recipient gets two rather corporate-looking certificates with a brief citation, one A4 and one logbook-sized, and also a RAF Safety Centre coin...

It’s not about the ‘tat’ though, it’s about the recognition, and as with honours and awards the following are required:

- An event which offers some potential of being written up (the least important thing on this list);
- Someone in the chain of command finding out about it;
- That someone caring enough about their people to devote time (often hours) to crafting a recommendation instead of fretting about whatever irrelevances their own Boss is interested in that week;
- That someone actually being able to write: note the demise of ISS a decade ago;
- That someone knowing how to structure and (truthfully) embellish a recommendation to maximise the chance of success.

The last is common corporate knowledge in the Army but not in the other services, meaning that effort has to be made to learn it, preferably from someone with a track record of successful recommendations. I would go so far as to say that honours and awards tell you as much about the recommender as the recipient.

[Fareastdriver]

I got two GEs on the same squadron. Everybody else thought that two partials should make a pass. However, not to be.

[sharpend]

sharpend wrote

I thought you were awarded a well-deserved AFC for that, Bluntie?

Lester certainly did deserve his Green Endorsement though.

Well I always did make the 'Air Force cross' :)

[teeteringhead]

Best - sort of - I ever managed was my "I Learnt About Flying from That" being published in Air Clues - and subsequently in the collected book!

Got £20 or £25 for that too - which was a lot of money in those days.... (I of FS at the time said the money was designed "as about the price of a barrel" which tells you how long ago it was! Wouldn't buy a round for that these days......:()

Oh - and an MiD when I was young and foolish!:O

[Background Noise]

But are they still actually written in green ink?

[H Peacock]

Yep, printed in green ink!

[Background Noise]

That's good - my Dad got one after a gear failure as a solo student on the first ever JP course - an actual endorsement, on a slip of paper in his logbook, and quaintly typed on a typewriter with a green ribbon, complete with classic typewritten uneven letters.

[wizdimic]

Yep, printed in green ink!

I was awarded a GE back in 1968 for staying with a Lightning F3 that had a major control restriction. I had only recently graduated from Coltishall and probably knew no better. I couldn’t take the easy option at 10,000ft and just dump the ac in the North Sea. My approach was a straight-in from 50 miles. Thankfully all worked out in the end, but I did wonder as decended through 1500ft whether I had made the right decision. A few loose washers were found restricting elevator movement. The GE was hand written in green ink and was smudged, but still remains readable in my 1st log book.

[Fareastdriver]

I didn't get a green endorsement when I had a control restriction on my Chipmunk. :{:{

[H Peacock]

I was awarded a GE back in 1968 for staying with a Lightning F3 that had a major control restriction........A few loose washers were found restricting elevator movement.

Ha, fraud! Gotcha wizdimic. The Lightning had an all-moving tailplane, not an elevator!!

Okay, I believe you really; I guess it was a long time ago!

[4Greens]

Got two Greens many moons ago.

One for staying on the flight deck when the wire parted. It had a Gannet setting and my Scimitar broke it.

Two was for managing to control a Scimitar when the elevator jammed and then landing at high speed at a US airbase.

Those were the days.

[Mogwi]

My last trip on my last day at work for Her Majesty; engine air test at 40k. Finished the data points and rolled on my back to descend back to sanity. Passing 250, stabilised c 70 degrees nose down, Mach 0.9ish and then discovered that the pitch controls had seized - absolutely solid! Cue expletive!

Luckily the Jumping Bean had a secondary pitch control in the form of the nozzle lever and I was able to arrest my descent by 100. Spent quite a while experimenting with nozzle/power combinations and managed to get configured and RTB from veeerry long straight-in for an "interesting" touch-down. Many hours being bored on CAP, trying to fly racetracks without touching the stick paid off eventually!

Green Endorsement? Na, traditional hose-down by the crash crew instead.

Swing the lamp.

Mog

[Fonsini]

Just so I’m clear - there is also a Red Endorsement which ranks above the GE ?

Does anyone actually have one ??

[Fareastdriver]

Does anyone actually have one ??

Is that the same as a red line entry in a Form 700?

[ACW418]

FED,

What you can't fly until the fault has been found?

ACW

ps I actually did a Red Line Entry on a Vampire. Took them 10 days to find the fault.

[teeteringhead]

Just so I’m clear - there is also a Red Endorsement which ranks above the GE ? Fonsini

My understanding is a Red Endorsement was for permanent removal from flying for disciplinary reasons.

Not quite sure why, 'cos I believe in those circs - in those days - they also took your logboks off you!

I hasten to add this is from crew room chatter/banter, not personal experience!

[Fareastdriver]

I have heard about log books being confiscated on the basis that they are the property of the Royal Air Force. The cases I have heard about were where flying hours were falsified by the hundreds.

[Crromwellman]

Just so I’m clear - there is also a Red Endorsement which ranks above the GE ?

Does anyone actually have one ??

A Red endorsement is/was awarded for making a horlicks of it. I have my father's logbook which has a red endorsement of "Carelessness - Mishandling Controls" when he forced landed a Tiger Moth (T6688) on 20 April 1942. The endorsement was signed off by a Sqn Ldr and quoted an Air Ministry letter of February 1942 as the authority for the "award"

[son of brommers]

My dad and his driver got a GE in 1973 on 809 Sqn whilst "enjoying the delights of the Atlantic Fleet Weaponary Ranges off Puerto Rico" in XT 284 when the port engine ingested the radome.
They jettisoned the wing stores and diverted to Roosevelt Roads and "typically RN we were back on Ark within the hour,courtesy of the COD helicopter which just happened to be picking up the mail and the Admiral's fresh milk! Arriving 5 mins late for the next briefing we were sent out for another sortie; 2" RP on the ships splash target. Great fun! In due course,after fretting about the 50,000 pounds worth of refuelling pod resting on the bottom of the range,their Lordships relented and instead of docking our meagre pay gave us a 'Green Endorsement' for Airmanship." (Thanks to the driver for this info)

[wizdimic]

Ha, fraud! Gotcha wizdimic. The Lightning had an all-moving tailplane, not an elevator!!

Okay, I believe you really; I guess it was a long time ago!

Yep you’re correct ...an all-moving tailplane. Twas a long time ago....!

[Jetset 88]

I was a Britannia sqn copilot in May 1973 with the rest of the crew being OCU instructors doing performance trials. We were doing a net flt path second segment climb out of shortly to be opened Seeb, Muscat, Oman.
With No 4 shutdown and feathered we applied full power to the other 3 engines, planning to climb like that for the max of 5 mins. After 4 mins we got alternator overheat warnings for the live 3 engines. Since this meant the alternators were probably throwing solder into the engines the drill was to shutdown an engine with such a warning. We idled two and the lights went out, relit the shutdown engine and then shut down one whose light didn’t go out........all in 1minute. Diverted to Masirah as Seeb had closed after we had left....and the first beer didn’t touch the sides.
Flight Engineer Paddy Tranter awarded Green Endorsement, Captain Dave de Berry awarded Queens Commendation.......me?.....another sugar lump in my tea.
Dave later checked me into Gib on my first Route Check as a captain. Landed at 1600 hrs on a sunny afternoon. Shutdown and within 30 secs the flight deck was empty apart from slowcoach me. Leaving the aircraft I found the crew lined up outside like a sword party at a wedding. Dave called crew to Attention, saluted me and then presented me with my Brit Capt’s Cat Card.
That moment meant more to me than when I got my Wings. I will never forget what a gent he was. Bless him.

[ExAscoteer]

Dave Berry was CGI when I went through the Herc OCU. I still have a signed copy of 'Tales From The Crewroom'.

I later found a copy of his book 'Specialist Aircrew'.

The man was an absolute gent

[mopardave]

I have signed copies of both of Dave's books....and a letter from the man himself. We also spoke on the phone a couple of times. Great books and a thoroughly, thoroughly nice man! May I ask.....is he no longer with us? Apologies if that's a little off colour.
MD

[Jetset 88]

Gents,
If you have Tales From the Crewroom by Dave de B, I would refer you to Chapter 12 for his version of my recent post.
.......I too have wondered if he’s still around......I’ll have to ask the 10 Sqn Assoc Sec as she is also or at least was, the Brit Assoc one too.

[mopardave]

I can only imagine it was a pleasure to fly with DB. Shame I can't re-read his books....they're all in storage! Didn't he write motor home books too? Apologies for thread drift.

[Duchess_Driver]

Dave used to do tours around '496 at Kemble. Must have been 2008/2009 (possibly earlier) last time I saw him around there...but that's because I haven't been around for a while.