LUTON History and Nostalgia
Full credit now given that you first published the photo on Flickr but the photographer remains a mystery. The photo I put on here actually came from another website around a year ago.
It is always incredibly difficult to track down the original photographer but where I can I ask permission. With the power of the internet making it possible to copy and paste I usually get informed that the source did not take the actual photo.
It is always incredibly difficult to track down the original photographer but where I can I ask permission. With the power of the internet making it possible to copy and paste I usually get informed that the source did not take the actual photo.
When the Heralds were withdrawn, they all returned to Luton one Saturday morning and carried out a "display", calling up "Herald Formation". I wonder if there are any photos of that.
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There is so much knowledge and nostalgia on this forum, it never fails to brighten my day.
Who can tell me what this - blue circled - fuselage front section was from? Presumably it's used for some kind of training but how did it get here?
Who can tell me what this - blue circled - fuselage front section was from? Presumably it's used for some kind of training but how did it get here?
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A moment in time. The reason I really like this photo is the man in the trilby walking across the shot. No doubt from the snappers point of view the man ruined his picture.
(edit name correction) Mark Harper
(edit name correction) Mark Harper
Last edited by LTNman; 11th Aug 2017 at 15:45. Reason: name corrected
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I have my doubts about the snapper ruining the picture; personally I think it is a well constructed photo what with the fuel bowser and baggage truck conveniently situated. Note the airline bag as well.
Not quite the right name credit LTNman for the Ambassador. Mike Harper not Mark Haroer! Taken on the 28th April 1968 boarding for a flight to Copenhagen. We all got on, then all taken off as there wasn't enough fuel on board! It was a charter taken a plane load of Danes back to Denmark. Then flew back empty, where I spent most of the flight in the Captains seat while the Capt, don't know his first name but was commonly known as 'Speedy Williams' apparantly, sat down the back!
Ah - Speedy Williams - A Second War Veteran who was originally based in Berlin with Autair's Vikings. Unflappable - when experiencing an engine failure on The Pig in The Berlin Corridor he took out his pipe and filled the cockpit with smoke whilst telling his young Jewish First Officer Joe 'Foreskins' Foster to "Sort it all out!"
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More likely he was hoping to impound an Ace Freighter Connie but was not up to scratch on his identification skills.
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Originally Posted by Level bust
while the Capt, don't know his first name but was commonly known as 'Speedy Williams' apparantly, sat down the back!
I think OUAQUKGF Ops can confirm, but I think Speedy Williams retired with the Ambassador. I don't know how true it was, but my dad told me he was seen pacing the distance between the lighting gantries to see if there was enough room to fly an Ambassador between them!
Yes there were two Captain Williams in Autair and 'Speedy' retired on the demise of the Ambassadors. Mike also flew the Ambassadors and was universally known as 'MGW' or,in the days of his piston flying with the company, less charitably as 'Serviceability Charlie'. This latter nick-name came about from his habit, when making his inbound call on the Company Frequency, of almost without fail declaring with relish that the status of his aircraft's serviceability was 'Charlie'.
I.E. Alpha = Fully Serviceable. Bravo = Just about Serviceable (Replace or tighten up a few bolts) and Charlie = Well and truly knackered.
I hope his son David won't mind this mention of his late Dad who went on to fly the One Eleven and Tristar.
I.E. Alpha = Fully Serviceable. Bravo = Just about Serviceable (Replace or tighten up a few bolts) and Charlie = Well and truly knackered.
I hope his son David won't mind this mention of his late Dad who went on to fly the One Eleven and Tristar.