EE Canberra book contributor request

[nazca_steve]

No probs, Crabro, and yes, 'PM' is indeed a Private Message. I have sent one to you so by now you should have my details for email chat.

Steve

[nazca_steve]

No.1 PRU and 231 OCU at Wyton 1983

Hello all,

while the thread has gone a bit quiet, work has been proceeding nicely with lots of new contacts made. The project is really spanning the globe a lot more now, and on that note, I've recently been in touch with a former Chilean Air Force PR.9 pilot, Carlos Graneris.

He remembers training with 231 OCU at Wyton in 1983 with Peter Challis, Dave Humpreys-Evans, and Dave Horton in the T.4 and Dave Watson in No.1 PRU. Does anyone here remember these men by chance, or better yet have contact details for them? I would love to get in touch with them about this time.

Steve

[nazca_steve]

Thanks to those that have PM'd me with some details on Dave Watson; still looking for others if you have them. Does anyone here recognise any of the following 231 OCU personnel below?

[Ian Sturgess]

231 OCU names

Hi, From left to right: Geoff Lamb(P) Dave Horton(P) Dave Humphrey-Evans (P)
Dave Ward(P) Terry Cairns(P) Pete Challis(P) Brian Angel(N) Tony Williams(N) Roy Smith(N) Max Murray(N).

If you Pm me I can probably fill in a few gaps on the Canberra world, from 1972 to 1987. Flew most types, ex recce and QFI on 13 Sqn, 100 Sqn and 231 OCU.

Cheers

Ian Sturgess

[nazca_steve]

Hello Ian,

thanks for getting touch and providing the names. I would love to hear more on your experiences and will send you a PM now.

Best,

Steve

PROJECT UPDATE:

Research continues to go well with lots of superb contributions for the former Rhodesian Air Force and some excellent new material from the RNZAF. Research into the Chilean training sessions at Wyton and Waterkloof in SA continue to go well.

I am always looking for more stories, anecdotes and photos from any Canberra background - the more the merrier at this point still.

[nazca_steve]

Hello all,

I'm going to do a bit of blatant thread bumping here and see if any new or existing members might be able to add something more. It's been a while and gone a bit cold. If anyone wants to drop me a PM that is equally fine.

I do occasionally post project updates here if anyone wants to get something of scoop on the nature of the book and where its going:

The Canberra Experience | Facebook

Cheers to all,

Steve

[Rerun 57]

Canberra's over Castlemartin

I have just come across this thread, and I am fascinated by the information about the PR Canberra's. I hope you do not mind me barging in!

My only connection with the aircraft is that of watching them practice night flash photography over Castlemartin range in West Wales, UK. (Now D113). Overview from ONC E-1 (8-GSGS) here:

http://sdrv.ms/QRMyLu

The aircraft ran in from the east and popped their cartridges over the western part of the range (over land), and then did a left turn (usually) to clear the area. I'm not sure whether they came back round again.

Like you, it would be great to hear from any aircrew who flew these sorties from the 1960s to the 1980s. I am writing a history of the range, and would love to hear first hand accounts of such sorties, and a photo or two of the range would be a major treat! Do photographs exist of flashes being used?

I have had some info from RF-4C aircrew who might have used Castlemartin for the same purpose, but the more the merrier!

You could tell the difference (in the dark) between the Canberras and the RF-4s in two ways:

1. The nav/anticollision lights;

2. The position of the bursting cartridges. The Canberra's flashes were below the aircraft and those of the RF-4 were always at the same height as the aircraft.

The RF-4s often used to start in daylight! The Canberras never did - which seemed sensible to me!


Castlemartin was also used during Royal Flush Competitions, and any info about these sorties from anyone would be most welcome. Likewise if I can help you in any way, please ask.

MTIA

[Hipper]

On the subject of Pilot's Notes (PNs), you can buy them from this site on CD-Roms:

Flight Manuals: Aircraft and Helicopter Flight Manuals on CD

If you look at 'Bombers', then scroll down to Jet Bombers and click on the Canberra, you'll find PNs for a whole range of variants.

I bought the Vickers Valiant CD from these people a few years ago and find it very handy.

[nazca_steve]

I spent a long time trying to figure out the details of how the photoflashes worked, i.e. time before flash, what kind of area could be lit with them for photography, altitude flown for release etc. So to hear from someone who saw this from the ground was very interesting.

I do have some 13 Sqn PR contributors onboard who did talk about flashes and para flares. The consensus was night photography was not popular because in a war situation it would have of course been fairly easy to plot the position of the offending aircraft from the ground and deal with it. Of course anyone here has had operational experience (perhaps any Indian AF pilots?) I would be very keen to hear how it performed during the real thing. PR pyrotechics are an interesting subject; similarly if anyone knows armourers who fitted them that would be useful too.

Hipper - good link, I have a lot of AP Manuals on PDF - they have been very useful in building Canberras for MS Flight Sim I can tell you!

Steve

[Hipper]

I nearly forgot. I posted this on here a while back:

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...on-1956-a.html

If any of the photos interest you, please let me know. There are a couple of others, one a similar view of the 'Comete' visit, the other maybe a picnic of some of XV squadron and families.

[nazca_steve]

Hello Hipper,

thanks for posting these rare pics, and sharing them on here. Nice to see your your father with XV Sqn there, especially the two 'return from Suez' shots. What is especially interesting about them is WD980 is shown wearing the old Bomber Command 1 scheme with Suez stripes- this is the first time I've seen this for Suez - everything else was High Speed Silver or a few rare Bomber Command 2 jobs.

I have the Brian Cull book (superb) and it will be nice to match the Radio Cairo story to the photo of your father and Sqn Ldr Thompson. With your permission I'd like to include a few of these in the book. If you have larger versions of the two post Suez and the profile shot of WK122 (full body shot) I can PM you an email address.

In certain circumstances where a family member has clear memories of a late father's experience with the Canberra, I am including these accounts - if you are interested in relating some tales please do let me know.

Kind regards,

Steve

[pghoward]

Hi Steve,
Came accross your letter in 213 sqdn,s web site.I left the service as a corporal airframe fitter,served from 1964-1977 and served on 24SQDN (HASTINGS),213 SQDN CANBERRA B(I)6,71 M.U.---CRASH AND SALVAGE and the REPAIR FLIGHT (CAT 3,s /mod,s,28 SQDN-HELICOPTER HANDLING FLIGHT and finally 72 SQDN WESSEX.I have many memories of the CANBERRA from 213 SQDN at BRUGGEN 1967--1969 --DISBANDMENT.Some tales are on the funny/serious side to the sad with the loss of 213,s last CANBERRA a mid air collision with a VICTOR from MARHAM over the WASH/WAINFLEET RANGE.If I can help at all please get in touch.
BEST WISHES
PETER HOWARD
P.S.
I worked on the belly landed TT.18 AT ST.MAWGAN WJ 566 I think.

[nazca_steve]

Hello Peter,

Yes indeed, I would love to hear some of your stories. The response from that posting on the 213 Sqn web site was very fruitful shall we say and I have had some very good stories from former 213 men. I will send you a PM now with my email address and we can talk further.

Steve

[pghoward]

"E" Mail Address

Hi Steve,
Not received your "E" Mail Address, or a P.M. yet so that I can get to you the types of stories you need.
See You Soon
peter

[nazca_steve]

Apologies, Peter, I thought I had sent it earlier - please check your PMs, it should be there now.

[BSweeper]

Steve

Do you, or anyone else, know what happened to the "all black" B(I) 8 that was flown out of Boscombe Down in the late 70/80s. My friend Jim Cox, of the aero team fame, flew it on several occasions. I believe it was converted to single seat.

The sweep.

[nazca_steve]

Hello Sweep,

Yes, I believe you are talking about WV787.

Air-Britain : WV787

If this is the same machine, it is preserved at the Newark Air Museum. Some additonal info on it here:

Aircraft WV787, 1952 English Electric Canberra B.2 C/N EEP71644

Wikipedia states:

"WV787 was built as a Canberra B2 in 1952, it was loaned to Armstrong Siddeley and was fitted with Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engines. It was later transferred to Ferranti for trials for the Blackburn Buccaneer radar and fitted with a B(I)8 type nose and a Buccaneer style radome. It next was moved to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment where it was modified to be used as a water-spray tanker aircraft for de-icing trials. It would fly in front of the aircraft being tested which would fly into the artificial cloud created by the sprayed water to induce icing. It was retired in 1984 and later preserved at the Newark Air Museum and is a National Benchmark airframe on the National Aviation Heritage Register".

Are you still in touch with Jim Cox by chance? Also, I still need your final rank on leaving the RAF for my book!

Cheers,

Steve

[BSweeper]

Steve

Yes I have his (Jim Cox's) address and I have (just) written to him for his phone number so that I can drop in and see him one day.

I was seriously thinking of organising a 7 Sqn (Canberra) reunion in Evesham (Jim's town) if anyone is interested. It could be easily enlarged to be Canberra's (for anyone) buffet, drinks and chat.

I left in 1990 after a further tour on F4's and 4 years at A&AEE Boscombe Down in the rank of Flt Lt. My current title(s) are MSc, PhD, C.Eng, FIET, AFRIN.

Ps. Did I ever tell of the navaid-less return from Cyprus with George Nettleship (or the FIR dodging trip out there). By the way George and Jim are mentioned in the "Bucket of Sunshine" book which I have just acquired and which is an excellent read (even though some dates are slightly dodgy - e.g. B61 entry to service).

[nazca_steve]

Thanks for the details, there is one left I need to collect, but I will PM you for it.

No, I do not believe I had your nav-aid (or lack of) story, but would love to hear it. On a related note, when you do talk to Jim Cox, I would be grateful if you could mention my quest for Canberra stories and that as a pilot of the fabled 'dark horse' WV787, I would love to talk to him a bit about his experiences, should he be willing.

The reunion idea sounds good, indeed there have been many of these going on around the globe for the Canberra of late, but sadly, none in my neighbourhood! There is an excellent forum dedicated to the Canberra in which others might like to attend your reunion, should it go ahead:

Canberra Crazy - Login

Might be worth mentioning it on there too and there might be some takers. Most however are enthusiasts like me rather than ex-RAF.

[BSweeper]

Further to my last, Jim has written to me to report he is alive and well, but I know he is missing his wife Dena and is a bit depressed from time to time.

I plan on meeting him for lunch on 6 Nov in Evesham. Iif anyone who knew him wishes to come along , please feel free to do so.

Please PM me for further details.

The Sweep