Handley Page Hastings
Great stuff Geri. Thanks for taking the time to write your post.
rewired with cable from the B-29 Washingtons on Aldergrove'’s salvage dump, and with a section of B-29 bomb door just the right curvature for riveting over the boot,
Then 202 Sqn. was Halifaxs using the squadron code YE. They obtained two replacements that were painted white as opposed to the Bomber Command finish of the rest. One was 'A' and the other 'H' which was my and my sister's initials. YE-H undershot the westerly runway and took out the BABS van, which reciprocated by removing the port mainwheel. I lived with my parents in a quarter next to the WAAF accommodation adjacent to the perimeter track by the officers' mess so I had a grandstand view of it sliding down the runway.
One more for the salvage dump.
I read the sort of things that get posted on this forum, (and some of the others,) and I sometimes wonder why no one puts them into some sort of order and publishes a book.
I am well into my dotage now and have no interest in serious work, but would have thought some enterprising sole could have taken advantage of the postings and made a few shillings. I suspect most of us would be happy to be of assistance.
Perhaps the meanderings and memories of a few of us oldies have no monetary value, but perhaps some they may have some historic interest?
I am well into my dotage now and have no interest in serious work, but would have thought some enterprising sole could have taken advantage of the postings and made a few shillings. I suspect most of us would be happy to be of assistance.
Perhaps the meanderings and memories of a few of us oldies have no monetary value, but perhaps some they may have some historic interest?
@ India 42
You're welcome, but to be honest most people in the UK are only too glad to find something to pass that time and this Hastings thread has kept me occupied for many hours! It's fatal to browse these threads 'for a few minutes' as the minutes expand rapidly until the inevitable angry bellow down the hallway: I won't call you again, get off that damn computer NOW !
@ staircase
Your time on Prune has been far longer than mine so I'm sure you have visited the Brevet thread which Cliffnemo launched in June 2010. It began with wartime training but by 2012 had widened into all aspects of the postwar RAF, from training to overseas postings, from airfields to ATC, from flying experiences to family life.
Rob the Mod has assured me that the Brevet thread will remain as a living history of aviation written by those who created it. Sadly the thread has become almost moribund since the passing in 2018 of our much loved Danny42C, who flew Vultee Vengeance dive-bombers against the Japanese and became so bored when he returned to civilian clerical work that he rejoined the RAF and at last was posted to a Spitfire squadron.
His stories kept us spellbound and as you suggest were edited into two e-books, In with a Vengeance and Danny and the Cold War. The cover picture is of Danny and his Vengeance over the Western Ghats of southern India, and the objects below the wings are not bombs -- they are mustard gas spray canisters! I don't recognise your callsign so if you (or anyone else) want copies please send me your email via PM as Prune cannot handle attachments.
All we (and the late Danny) ask in return is a £10 per book donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund, his favourite charity. And many thanks to the scores of Pruners who have contributed – we reckon you have given well over £1000 to the Fund. Best wishes everyone, and may we all stay safe.
Have thought about this for some years, but now it's time to reveal another side of TG507.
The country due south of this sceptred isle was a little miffed about 58 Squadron Canberras (other PR Squadrons as well I assume but I only know about 58).
flying over their land with the ability to photo. anything and so, any that did had to have their camera windows taped up, this was to ensure that perfidious Albion did not have PR access to their "secrets"
Enter TG507. This had two large cameras fitted, port and stbd. just aft of the flight deck, the optical windows were covered by roller doors that could be uncovered in flight
I must admit that on the ground it was nearly impossible to make out the apertures, they were so well done. 8k ft and 175kt what more could be asked?
So, 51, as well as doing it's major job was, for a brief time, a PR unit.
The country due south of this sceptred isle was a little miffed about 58 Squadron Canberras (other PR Squadrons as well I assume but I only know about 58).
flying over their land with the ability to photo. anything and so, any that did had to have their camera windows taped up, this was to ensure that perfidious Albion did not have PR access to their "secrets"
Enter TG507. This had two large cameras fitted, port and stbd. just aft of the flight deck, the optical windows were covered by roller doors that could be uncovered in flight
I must admit that on the ground it was nearly impossible to make out the apertures, they were so well done. 8k ft and 175kt what more could be asked?
So, 51, as well as doing it's major job was, for a brief time, a PR unit.
denachtenmai
I had read somewhere that a F96 Camera had been installed in the oblique mode on a Hastings, whether this was used with the door off or through a clear panel fitted in the door I do not know but your clandestine version sounds much better.
Do you know what happened to TG507 after it was retired from use in 68 or 69, I know where most Hastings ended up but not 507.
I had read somewhere that a F96 Camera had been installed in the oblique mode on a Hastings, whether this was used with the door off or through a clear panel fitted in the door I do not know but your clandestine version sounds much better.
Do you know what happened to TG507 after it was retired from use in 68 or 69, I know where most Hastings ended up but not 507.
A chap named Victor F Bingham wrote a book 'Handley Page Hastings and Hermes. ISBN 1 870384 63 6
In the back is the fate of all the Hastings and the entry for TG 507 reads;
'EFS; 47; 202; 24-36; 242 OCU; MoA; To Handley Page for special camera installation. RAF Wyton for special trials'.
SOC 23.4.69
In the back is the fate of all the Hastings and the entry for TG 507 reads;
'EFS; 47; 202; 24-36; 242 OCU; MoA; To Handley Page for special camera installation. RAF Wyton for special trials'.
SOC 23.4.69
A chap named Victor F Bingham wrote a book 'Handley Page Hastings and Hermes. ISBN 1 870384 63 6
In the back is the fate of all the Hastings and the entry for TG 507 reads;
'EFS; 47; 202; 24-36; 242 OCU; MoA; To Handley Page for special camera installation. RAF Wyton for special trials'.
SOC 23.4.69
In the back is the fate of all the Hastings and the entry for TG 507 reads;
'EFS; 47; 202; 24-36; 242 OCU; MoA; To Handley Page for special camera installation. RAF Wyton for special trials'.
SOC 23.4.69
Thanks staircase, I didn't know that HP did the mod, really was a work of art. 
sandringham1, 2 oblique cameras, not seeing through door, dedicated optical windows, situated in compartments just aft of the F/Eng and Nav stations.
sandringham1, 2 oblique cameras, not seeing through door, dedicated optical windows, situated in compartments just aft of the F/Eng and Nav stations.
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Must be lockdown to find myself watching 'The Iron Maiden' movie last evening not realising that it had anything to do with aviation never mind some of it filmed at Radlett.
The white thing (outdoors) was a supposed new supersonic airliner whilst indoors was clearly the HPR7 Herald production line.
The white thing (outdoors) was a supposed new supersonic airliner whilst indoors was clearly the HPR7 Herald production line.
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Two tales from a Hastings FE
I trained on 707s with an ex Hastings FE who told me a few tales.
He was doing a trip having just returned from leave, and they got to the TOD/Pre Landing(?) checks. At some point in the list the Captain asked for ‘Minus 4’, Derek dutifully reduced power, the next call followed immediately, ‘Minus 2’. Power is reset. Next an annoyed call from Captain “What’s going on with the power Eng?”
”You asked for minus 4 then minus 2” says our hero.
“I did not, I was responding to the (new) checklist item: ‘seats and harness(?)’ with ‘mines secure’ to which the co replied ‘mine is too’.
Note to self, must read FM/checklist amendments when returning from leave.
Another Captain was fond of saying at the flare, “Yours is the power Engineer, but mine is the glory.”
Apropos nothing at all, Derek’s son is now a training Captain with Virgin.
He was doing a trip having just returned from leave, and they got to the TOD/Pre Landing(?) checks. At some point in the list the Captain asked for ‘Minus 4’, Derek dutifully reduced power, the next call followed immediately, ‘Minus 2’. Power is reset. Next an annoyed call from Captain “What’s going on with the power Eng?”
”You asked for minus 4 then minus 2” says our hero.
“I did not, I was responding to the (new) checklist item: ‘seats and harness(?)’ with ‘mines secure’ to which the co replied ‘mine is too’.
Note to self, must read FM/checklist amendments when returning from leave.
Another Captain was fond of saying at the flare, “Yours is the power Engineer, but mine is the glory.”
Apropos nothing at all, Derek’s son is now a training Captain with Virgin.
I spent two years as a Hastings 2nd pilot in 1957/9. I hated the job, but we had two Chipmunks and an Anson to play with. In fact we were meant to get at least 100 hours a year on them to qualify for flying pay, but most second pilots didn't bother with them. I did quite a lot of flying in them and also flew Meteor 7 and 8's at Nicosia to relieve the boredom. When I first joined the squadron I was sent to Lajes Field in the Azores to look after a Hasting which was damaged during landing in a gale when on the way back from Christmas Island. I have a few photos of the bent Hastings.
Last edited by brakedwell; 23rd Nov 2021 at 13:33.
brakedwell,
great pics thanks. One of our Hercules broke loose from the tie downs at Lajes in a gale. IIRC only damage was a few scratches on the radome as it nestled into the fence.
great pics thanks. One of our Hercules broke loose from the tie downs at Lajes in a gale. IIRC only damage was a few scratches on the radome as it nestled into the fence.
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I am currently preparing colour scheme drawings of the RNZAF's fleet of Hastings'. Im have little information on the servicing/maintenance markings that were applied to the aircraft. We followed the RAF standard in those days. I was wondering if anyone had any drawings, pictures or other info regrading these markings.
'It's a bloody Halifax with nobs on', one of the aircrew administers a gentle clip round the ear to the impertinent ATC cadet heading towards one of Lindholmes T5,s
'Just you mind your Ps and Qs laddie' We trudged round the sky seeing nowt on account of it being well dark so take off must have been late in the day it being August. I seem to remember a roller at Jurby before flogging back to cocoa and bed
Seriously though just how much Halifax was there in evidence?
'Just you mind your Ps and Qs laddie' We trudged round the sky seeing nowt on account of it being well dark so take off must have been late in the day it being August. I seem to remember a roller at Jurby before flogging back to cocoa and bed
Seriously though just how much Halifax was there in evidence?
Nice to see the Hastings thread pop back up. The last time I saw one was at Lindholme while on UBAS Summer Camp in 1969. I presume it was a T5.
A Hastings nearly caused my flying career to come to an early abrupt end in September 1966. I was flying a Piper Colt with my instructor, heading west between Reading and Newbury at about 2000', when a dot in the distance suddenly morphed into a head-on Hastings that flashed over our heads before we could do anything. It was so close we both ducked. That was the closest I have knowingly been to a mid-air.
A Hastings nearly caused my flying career to come to an early abrupt end in September 1966. I was flying a Piper Colt with my instructor, heading west between Reading and Newbury at about 2000', when a dot in the distance suddenly morphed into a head-on Hastings that flashed over our heads before we could do anything. It was so close we both ducked. That was the closest I have knowingly been to a mid-air.
'It's a bloody Halifax with nobs on', one of the aircrew administers a gentle clip round the ear to the impertinent ATC cadet heading towards one of Lindholmes T5,s
'Just you mind your Ps and Qs laddie' We trudged round the sky seeing nowt on account of it being well dark so take off must have been late in the day it being August. I seem to remember a roller at Jurby before flogging back to cocoa and bed
Seriously though just how much Halifax was there in evidence?
'Just you mind your Ps and Qs laddie' We trudged round the sky seeing nowt on account of it being well dark so take off must have been late in the day it being August. I seem to remember a roller at Jurby before flogging back to cocoa and bed
Seriously though just how much Halifax was there in evidence?
The Halifax at Elvington, regularly derided as being a model or replica, has as I recall entirely Hastings wings with the only glaring discrepancy being a wider centre section.
I understand veterans considered it to be a Halifax. Good enough for me...