Did You Fly The Vulcan?? (Merged)
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Can anyone assist?
Was going through the 9 squadron Operation Record book for 62-66 last week and noticed the following categories for crews appearing every few months or so.
Select
Select Star
Combat
Combat Star
can anyone explain what the ratings were for? or how they were achieved
Cheers
john
Select
Select Star
Combat
Combat Star
can anyone explain what the ratings were for? or how they were achieved
Cheers
john
Thread Starter
Later replaced by:
Operational
Combat
Senior
Command
Crew qualifications which had to be earned by achieving the required standards in all aspects of flying, bombing, EW etc.
Operational
Combat
Senior
Command
Crew qualifications which had to be earned by achieving the required standards in all aspects of flying, bombing, EW etc.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
the correct sequence was Combat, Combat Star, Select and select Star.
On arrival there was pressure on for a crew to become qualified for QRA and this was usually achieved after a sqn cdr's check ride, and before the crew was Combat. There was no category for limited combat ready.
Then, in a 6 month period, jul-dec or jan-jun, the crew had to undertake a number of stats, different approaches, different navigation exercises and most crucially drop a number of bombs with a specific accuracy. These were 'classification' attacks on some targets. The crew had to be fully constituted (except for the copilot).
If the requirements were met the crew would then be awarded the next grade.
There was another difference later dropped.
A Combat crew was allocated 320 hrs per year whereas a Select Star crew ony got 280. Also some rangers were supposed to ge given to Combat crews, such as Norway for 2-3 days. Longer rangers such as Goose Bay or Akrotiri was for Combat Star and a Western Ranger to Offutt to Select Star. That was the theory.
But I was on Ops before I was Combat and my crew went on a Western Ranger before we were Select.
On arrival there was pressure on for a crew to become qualified for QRA and this was usually achieved after a sqn cdr's check ride, and before the crew was Combat. There was no category for limited combat ready.
Then, in a 6 month period, jul-dec or jan-jun, the crew had to undertake a number of stats, different approaches, different navigation exercises and most crucially drop a number of bombs with a specific accuracy. These were 'classification' attacks on some targets. The crew had to be fully constituted (except for the copilot).
If the requirements were met the crew would then be awarded the next grade.
There was another difference later dropped.
A Combat crew was allocated 320 hrs per year whereas a Select Star crew ony got 280. Also some rangers were supposed to ge given to Combat crews, such as Norway for 2-3 days. Longer rangers such as Goose Bay or Akrotiri was for Combat Star and a Western Ranger to Offutt to Select Star. That was the theory.
But I was on Ops before I was Combat and my crew went on a Western Ranger before we were Select.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
What it did bring was significantly less hours. I would have to check my first log book but in our final training period we got just 88 hours compared with the original Combat target of 160. We had one overseas trip and that was Gardermoen with a single night stop.
Also, when we switched from the old system we reverted from Select Star to Combat and had to start again creeping up the ladder.
Also, when we switched from the old system we reverted from Select Star to Combat and had to start again creeping up the ladder.
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Crew Ratings
I think that the ratings (Combat, Select etc.) were a direct copy of the way Strategic Air Command assessed their crews. It has all the hallmarks of an American system. Sadly we didn't get more money for being Select Star. I'm not sure we really knew what it meant.
Yellow sun,
My sincere apologies. I did not mean to suggest that you did not earn yours. Re reading my post I can see how you would read that into what I said. My intention was to head off at the pass anyone sugesting that I did not earn mine.
As usual the (in my case ex) AEO was misunderstood!!
Regards
Shadwell
My sincere apologies. I did not mean to suggest that you did not earn yours. Re reading my post I can see how you would read that into what I said. My intention was to head off at the pass anyone sugesting that I did not earn mine.
As usual the (in my case ex) AEO was misunderstood!!
Regards
Shadwell
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Tombestone the 'welcher?'
BEages old chap.......
I asked a person (ginger bint - who doesn't log onto Pprune but judging from her manner was a person of huge self importance
) in attendance at the Vulcan tent at Farnborough about the 'welcher' Tombestone and was thoroughly put in my place when she said 'He's no welcher he did the deed at Marham.' Sounded as if she was Tombestone's mum - very protective! Has not the deed been done?
I asked a person (ginger bint - who doesn't log onto Pprune but judging from her manner was a person of huge self importance
) in attendance at the Vulcan tent at Farnborough about the 'welcher' Tombestone and was thoroughly put in my place when she said 'He's no welcher he did the deed at Marham.' Sounded as if she was Tombestone's mum - very protective! Has not the deed been done?
Thread Starter
That was probably the fearsome Drewett?
Tombstone claimed to have done the deed, but failed to provide the promised evidence. On 3 Dec 2007 he stated "Prank WILL be released in good time", but nothing has been heard since then.......
Tombstone claimed to have done the deed, but failed to provide the promised evidence. On 3 Dec 2007 he stated "Prank WILL be released in good time", but nothing has been heard since then.......
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NEIL McDOUGALL
558 lifting off at Farnborough last week was a wonderful sight,. The sound of four Olympii starting up also brought a lump to my throat after 25 years. Congratulations all round.
As an aside, Ospery is publishing my 'Vulcan Units of the Cold War' next February. The cover art work shows XM597 firing a Shrike on Black Buck 6. The publisher and I would like to make contact with Neil McDougall and his 50 Sqn crew to invite them along to the book launch. Does anybody know where Neil and the rest of the team are nowadays?
Many thanks. Andy Brookes
As an aside, Ospery is publishing my 'Vulcan Units of the Cold War' next February. The cover art work shows XM597 firing a Shrike on Black Buck 6. The publisher and I would like to make contact with Neil McDougall and his 50 Sqn crew to invite them along to the book launch. Does anybody know where Neil and the rest of the team are nowadays?
Many thanks. Andy Brookes
Thread Starter
Yes, that's the famous Rusty who works tirelessly for the '558 programme and doesn't suffer fools gladly - she'd sooner deal with people who can contribute something useful!
And I should really have written 'formidable', not 'fearsome' - as that could be considered insulting
.
You'd only have something to fear if you crossed her. And then be afraid....very afraid
!!
And I should really have written 'formidable', not 'fearsome' - as that could be considered insulting
.You'd only have something to fear if you crossed her. And then be afraid....very afraid
!!
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Farnborough
Was also there for the Wednesday display, lovely to hear 558 growl again. Had an Indian colleague with me who had never seen a Vulcan fly, he was impressed!
I was at Waddo for the last flight in '93, could not make the return to the sky flight but was delighted to be present for a very early display.. long may it continue!!
I was at Waddo for the last flight in '93, could not make the return to the sky flight but was delighted to be present for a very early display.. long may it continue!!
I'm told that a Vulcan performed a fly past of Barnes Wallis' house on the day of his funeral. Mrs Wallis warned a good friend to keep his head down if he heard a noise - but wouldn't elaborate. He was up a ladder on their neighbours' chimney, and impressed.
I don't suppose any of that crew are hereabouts?
I don't suppose any of that crew are hereabouts?
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I don't know about Barnes Wallis but Donald Campbell got an unofficial Vulcan fly-by after his accident. Very interesting story below. I was on the line at Cottesmore at the time and I seem to remember some 'OMG what have we done!' attached to the routine de-brief.
Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums - View Single Post - Campbell's Bluebird
Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums - View Single Post - Campbell's Bluebird