Thorney Island Emsworth

[Tim McLelland]

That sounds like a pretty reasonable explanation - Jessica Fletcher would be proud!

[QuePee]

I have no idea who Jessica Fletcher is, I am just glad that we seem to found a logical reason for the unusual colour scheme.

Thank to all

QuePee

[Shackman]

And I'm still looking for the photos - not least those of the Swedish HKP-1 (Piasecki H-21) on its only visit to the UK.

[Dick Whittingham]

Some time in 1958

Dick

[Amos Keeto]

I almost hasten to say this Tim, but I have slides of this camo JP, but taken at Odiham in 1970. When I saw it at Thorney Island in June 1969, it was still in the early '60s dayglo and silver scheme.I was there for the International SAR Helicopter Meet. A yellow Whirlwind did a SAR 'rescue' of a pilot from it and here is a photo I took on the day.

It never had an 'M' serial, as simply it was never used for 'maintenance' but for SAR training considering the RAF's SAR school was at Thorney Island during the '50s and '60s.
Keiron mentions my report on the SAR meet in his Post #62 above.

I also have slides of all the helicopters at that meet, including the rare Swedish Navy HKP-1(Vertol 44) and here is my photo of this gorgeous 'banana'


Cheers

Adrian

[Cornish Jack]

considering the RAF's SAR school was at Thorney Island during the '50s and '60s.

Hunh??? Only too well aware that my brain is getting addled, but I could have sworn that I did my training at Valley!! In fact, I know I did - bl%%dy freezing it was. Went back to Thorney later, on 22, with 'Punch-up' Panter et al and very nice it was too but the only training was our usual 'wets and drys' while we were on shift. Probably the best of the SAR flights although Chivenor devotees would disagree, no doubt!!

[D120A]

Here is a picture taken at Thorney Island on 10 July 1964 (thank you, logbook!) of Whirlwind 10 XP351 of No. 22 Sqn carrying out an initial dry winching exercise with some University of London Air Squadron cadets:



Any ex-22 Sqn people out there with that date and sortie in their log-books? If so, PM me and I can send you the picture with higher definition.

Some sorties in one's flying life are indelibly printed in the memory; this was one, largely because of the surprise dose of static electricity we received on catching hold of the strop in our bare feet...

Some of the old buildings at RAF Thorney Island can be seen, as well as a parked Hastings of 242 OCU.

Graham P.

[Cornish Jack]

Missed you by a day!! Did some 'wets' with Herbie Marshall on the 9th and similar with Sandy Sanders on the 16th. With that number of days between shifts, I must have been on leave.
Going through that logbook, I see that I had been posted to Thorney on 8th June to replace a winchman killed in a crash there a couple of days before. First flight there was in 351, to the crash site, to recover bits and pieces - not the nicest introduction.
Re. the crash, we (that is the Thorney Flight) were called in for a talk, by the then Squadron CO, about the responsibilities of monitoring (and, if necessary, reporting,) colleague's operating behaviour. Stuck with me ever since - collecting your predecessor's blood-stained clothing does concentrate the mind in that area!

[pbk]

Had a conversation with a client about 15 yrs ago, he was ex aircrew, I was ex linie on hercs at Thorney and Lyneham. discussing life and times in the mob, turned out he was the Flight engineer on XV 181s unfortunate mishap. apparently, the aircraft was doing circuits and coming in with No4 shut down. After touchdown the aircraft started rolling to stbd. Fortunately for all concerned, the lower propellor blade of the feathered engine dug into the runway, client said that he believes that was the only thing that saved them.

[andover132]

XV181

Accident happened in 75, not 76. Aircraft from 242 OCU was carrying out an assymetric thrust landing when the aircraft bounced onto the runway.

Wingtip struck the ground and fuel ignited, airframe twisted behind cockpit area. Nosewheel forced up into the radio bay. Aircraft eventually recovered back to ASF hangar, a right mess.

I spoke to the pilot 3 hours after the accident he said the Herc bounced on landing and that was that. I remember we were just off to the pub in my car with a few others and watched the Herc go behind 46 squadron's hangar, it did not come out the other side, just a fireball.

Went back to see what had happened to see most of Thorney Island running towards the aircraft, and the 5 crew running away from it!

Assymetric landings banned after that.

[Steve Bond]

Amos Keeto,

Fabulous shot of the Vertol 44 - please let's see the rest!

[jammydonut]

All I remember were the nights out to Southsea clubs in '57/'58 and negotiating "no guts corner" on the way to the main gate

[JW411]

Ah Southsea! We used to head for the Pomme D'Or when I was at Thorney in 1962.

[Foul-Sudan]

I fondly recall one expedition to a Pompey cinema after much lubrication in the company of many villains squeezed into an old Austin 16. We lurched out of Thorney with much hilarity, side swiping many an obstacle en route.
Our presence at the cinema was swiftly terminated by local constabulary when one member failed to hold his liquor from the balcony! With great forethought,our 'Leader' announced that naturally we would return said culprit " to his ship immediately ". No further complications arose and we repaired, again rejoicing, to a favourite hostelry
Imagine our chagrin when finally we staggered back into Thorney Island to discover the whole Master Diversion Station in complete darkness and heard the news that some idiot had severed the main telephone and electrical supplies by knocking over a small concrete pillar adjacent to the main camp road!!
With heads down a final, final was taken by candlelight in the Mess Bar.
Mum has been the word for many a year!

[Arclite01]

so why did Thorney close ??

[Exnomad]

Thorney Island

No idea why it closed, too many runways nationwide, too few aircraft I suspect, it was handed over to the brown jobs.
It was No 2ANS equipped with Varsity in the middle 50s. My brother was a staff pilot there, Staff Pilot on a Nav school was about the last option in a flying career as you got nearer to failing the medical.
My only visit was in 1952, as a midway stop on a training flight from Bishops Court. We were allowed a weekend stop, I caught a Bus on the Perimeter track to Emsworth Station, and was home in Brighton 3 hours from leaving base. A flight via BEA in those days was to expensive to consider, and including travel to Aldegrove and back from Heathrow would have taken all day.

[avm123]

thorney island

Thorney closed due to labour defence cuts,i remember we listened to the announcement on the tannoy and started thinking about our next postings there and then.

[Rainboe]

It's funny- you know a punch-up is due after Defence cuts. They seem to have an adverse effect. The 30s was an example. Then the loss of the carriers and many regiments led to the Falklands. A bunch of socialists do it again just as our military commitment increases and more and more bodies are brought home. When they cancel the carriers, we know a big bop is due!

[WHBM]

I can recall as a kid in 1966 visiting family who lived on the seafront at Selsey. Used to see aircraft doing circuits offshore, coming along the coast climbing out of somewhere towards Portsmouth, then right-hand out over the sea as they came abeam Selsey. Heavy military types, can't really recall if they were 2 or 4 engined, but I would guess 4. Would they have been from Thorney ? What types would be doing circuits there at this time ?

[Rainboe]

In 1966, I would think they were Hastings, Argosies, and that miracle of aviation, the er......thingy. Maybe Hercules just, around that time. I don't recall seeing any Belfasts then, but i was busy working for my O levels then.