Handley Page Hastings
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Tail dragger
When I joined the Hastings fleet in 1965 I was told that it was a hangover from the last little European disturbance when towing gliders was in vogue. There were still a lot of ex- WW2 top brass around in '65. You could ask a similar question as to why the Hercs originally had an astrodome - in a pressurised aircraft. Many an AQM, sorry, loady, refused to sleep on the top bunk!
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Until my first visit to Duxford about 15 years ago I had never heard of the Hastings, and then saw their one parked outside. I must admit that I was underwhelmed by its look, but at the same time found it curiously interesting.
I read up a little on it and the Hermes, but this thread has been really fascinating, great to read people's experiences with these old beasts! Many thanks.
I read up a little on it and the Hermes, but this thread has been really fascinating, great to read people's experiences with these old beasts! Many thanks.
Hastings at Bermuda, one of the nicer places we used to visit.
joy ride,
we had two different marks of Hastings in service during my time. The Mk 1A, with the higher set tailplane and external tanks and the Mk 2 with the lower set tailplane and different internal fuel arrangement negating the need for external tanks.
we had two different marks of Hastings in service during my time. The Mk 1A, with the higher set tailplane and external tanks and the Mk 2 with the lower set tailplane and different internal fuel arrangement negating the need for external tanks.
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Hastings at Bermuda, one of the nicer places we used to visit.
Marham - Luqa - El Adem - Khartoum - Khormakser - Mauripur and back 3 weeks later.
My last Hastings trip was on December 21/22 1967 to Luqa and back via Abingdon. A/c was 343 and we were full of families coming home for Xmas.
We decorated the a/c with balloons etc which burst as we reached top of climb !
January 1968 I started the Hercules OCU but that is another story being told on the 'Hercules' thread.
Final Hastings Xmas card from Colerne.
We decorated the a/c with balloons etc which burst as we reached top of climb !
January 1968 I started the Hercules OCU but that is another story being told on the 'Hercules' thread.
Final Hastings Xmas card from Colerne.
I remember my first night trip, looking out of the Co’s window to see 5ft of flame coming out of each exhaust stub. Frightened me a bit until the following conversation;
‘eng – co pilot, amazing sight all the flame coming out of the exhaust stubs’
‘Yeah – a lot of new blokes think the thing is on fire first time they see it’
That’s all right then, back to eating the butties!
‘eng – co pilot, amazing sight all the flame coming out of the exhaust stubs’
‘Yeah – a lot of new blokes think the thing is on fire first time they see it’
That’s all right then, back to eating the butties!
Last edited by staircase; 16th Jan 2015 at 14:53.
It is my understanding that GAY was the last three of the radio callsign (in this case - MOGAY).
Sqn Markings 99_P
Last edited by brakedwell; 16th Jan 2015 at 14:08.
Well John, I don't think you can say that GAY was a 99 Sqn code for I have a photograph of WJ332 with the GAY code and the 53 Sqn diamond on the tail. (I am trying to post the photograph but I can't get into the URL for some obscure reason).
I also have a note in my book about 53 Sqn which states that "after the Berlin Airlift, Hastings aircraft carried the last three letters of the radio callsign in large letters behind the roundel".
So, I had always figured that GAY broke down as:
M = British Military Aircraft
O = Transport Command
G = Hastings Type
A = Unit (In this case, Lyneham Pool)
Y = Individual Aircraft (WJ332).
The other letter used by the Hastings was "J" (For example, JAZ was TG564). You may also remember that the letters used by the Argosy were "F" and "K".
I'll post the photograph of WJ332 when I can sort out my problems.
I also have a note in my book about 53 Sqn which states that "after the Berlin Airlift, Hastings aircraft carried the last three letters of the radio callsign in large letters behind the roundel".
So, I had always figured that GAY broke down as:
M = British Military Aircraft
O = Transport Command
G = Hastings Type
A = Unit (In this case, Lyneham Pool)
Y = Individual Aircraft (WJ332).
The other letter used by the Hastings was "J" (For example, JAZ was TG564). You may also remember that the letters used by the Argosy were "F" and "K".
I'll post the photograph of WJ332 when I can sort out my problems.
It certainly does; I don't recall ever seeing "O" on a Hastings photograph but perhaps it was in addition to "G" and "J"?
Air Britain gives the history of TG551 as:
Dishforth/Topcliffe/Lyneham (53/99)/242 OCU/70/Lyneham (24/36)/70 then SOC 15.11.67.
Incidentally, I have just had a look in one of our albums and I have found yet another photograph of WJ332/GAY with the 53 Sqn diamond on the tail.
Looking at my 53 Sqn book, I see that I quoted the following examples:
GAC/TG604, GAF/WD491, GAJ/TG574, GAM/TG605, GAU/TG536, GAY/WJ332
JAB/TG529, JAM/WD488, JAY/WJ329, JAZ/TG564
Air Britain gives the history of TG551 as:
Dishforth/Topcliffe/Lyneham (53/99)/242 OCU/70/Lyneham (24/36)/70 then SOC 15.11.67.
Incidentally, I have just had a look in one of our albums and I have found yet another photograph of WJ332/GAY with the 53 Sqn diamond on the tail.
Looking at my 53 Sqn book, I see that I quoted the following examples:
GAC/TG604, GAF/WD491, GAJ/TG574, GAM/TG605, GAU/TG536, GAY/WJ332
JAB/TG529, JAM/WD488, JAY/WJ329, JAZ/TG564
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Brakedwell and JW411: happy New Year (a bit late).
I can't comment on Hastings codes, as I only ever flew in one (Lyneham-Gibraltar, and that was a Met1).
But I have notes on some Beverleys: XL148 of 242OCU was "Y" and carried MOBCY, 53's XB268 was "D" MOBXD, and XB284 was "H" MOBXH. I flew from Abingdon to Odiham in "H" and then on to participate in the Farnborough show in 1961, thanks to pals at Abingdon.
I think I recall that the MOBxx code was painted quite small on the nose, and was also on the instrument panel. I had assumed that the B was type, the C or X was unit, and the last letter was the aircraft code.
Laurence
I can't comment on Hastings codes, as I only ever flew in one (Lyneham-Gibraltar, and that was a Met1).
But I have notes on some Beverleys: XL148 of 242OCU was "Y" and carried MOBCY, 53's XB268 was "D" MOBXD, and XB284 was "H" MOBXH. I flew from Abingdon to Odiham in "H" and then on to participate in the Farnborough show in 1961, thanks to pals at Abingdon.
I think I recall that the MOBxx code was painted quite small on the nose, and was also on the instrument panel. I had assumed that the B was type, the C or X was unit, and the last letter was the aircraft code.
Laurence
You are right about the old callsign system dedicated to individual A/C
53 MODB
99 MOJA
53 & 99 MOGA
Its at the bottom of this:
List of RAF Squadron Codes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
53 MODB
99 MOJA
53 & 99 MOGA
Its at the bottom of this:
List of RAF Squadron Codes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia