EE Lightning – nuclear Bomber!?

[Flap40]

I miss the days of flying with WIWOL's, WIWOP's, WIWOC'c or WIWOV's. I've just had my first WIWOT (and I don't mean Tornado!).

[newt]

Obviously lower deck on finishing FTS!

[Flap40]

That's not T for Tankers. I'm talking about a twin engined single seater.

[bill fly]

Originally Posted by oxenos

bill fly, I think we might have upset the wiwols

If I knew what a Wiwol was I might agree!

However I don’t think referring to the range of the Lightning carrying a bomb without refueling is thread drift - or should that be dinghy drift...

[oxenos]

If I knew what a Wiwol was I might agree!

Seems to stand for "when I was on Lightnings"
They do rise to bait very easily and lack a sense of humour. I'm getting bored. I shall throw them back, and in future fish in deeper water.

[newt]

Thank god for that! We are rather old and maybe past our prime but we did our bit. Oh and I think you meant “When I Was On Lightnings!” WIWOL!

[oxenos]

Wibble, wobble ,whatever. Of course you did your bit, and no-one else did anything, and now it's time for your Horlicks.

[Herod]

WIWOW. Some of us got shot at. I won't bore you with the war stories

[newt]

Children, children, children! This is supposed to be light hearted banter! Not we did more than you did! We only corrected
Brewster on his ridiculous statement that the Lightning was considered as a nuclear bomber! As obvious experts on Lightning matters, our opinion should be respected! I retire to my bunker with a glass of single malt! Sod the bloody Horlicks!

[BEagle]

WIWOLs were definitely the top of the tree back in the mid-'60s. As far as the genpub were concerned, the RAF had Fighter Command Lightnings, Bomber Command V-bombers and Flying Training Command's Red Arrows.

Although there were a few aged aviators in yellow Whirlwinds which made the local news clattering about fishing idiots out of the sea when their lilos drifted too far from land, or dropping hay bales to sheep on Dartmoor, they were seen as rather lower deck.

Jets ruled the skies - anything else was definitely lower order. Quite right too!!

Hope the single malt was good, newt!

[Herod]

BEagle. Wrong "W"

[bill fly]

Just to Keep everyone Happy

Thanks for the education! I guess I am a WIWOVK1A but this shot should satisfy all, 54, 55, 56 and 57 Sqn over the Med one sunny day...

[dook]

Very nice photo.

From what aeroplane was it taken ?

I assume close to Cyprus since you mentioned 56 Squadron.

[nipva]

Originally Posted by dook

Very nice photo.

From what aeroplane was it taken ?

I assume close to Cyprus since you mentioned 56 Squadron.

Probably from one of 56Sqn's Canberras shortly after 54 Sqn's detachment to Akrotiri at the end of January 1973. I also recall there having been a huge kebab at the Britannia with all 4 Sqns being represented.

[bill fly]

Originally Posted by nipva

Probably from one of 56Sqn's Canberras shortly after 54 Sqn's detachment to Akrotiri at the end of January 1973. I also recall there having been a huge kebab at the Britannia with all 4 Sqns being represented.

Yep, Was a Canberra,

There is another shot over Ackers which might however show too much of the facility.

Missed the kebab unfortunately...

[India Four Two]

How about replacing one of the engines with a Vigilante-style bomb bay?



Plenty of room for a Mk 28 and more fuel. What more could you want?

[dook]

For non- WIWOLS, wossis ?

[India Four Two]

PR pod, innit Mister?



PS I love the “Waste of Space” Strikemaster in the background!

[megan]

PR pod

Public Relations? That'd be where you carry the brochures to hand out at air displays then.

[treadigraph]

You learn something new every day - wasn't aware of the Vigilante's bomb bay. Mind you, don't think I've ever seen one even in a museum though I see one is the gate guardian at Key West NAS which I've flown over several times.

Sorry, back to EE's finest...