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Aviators Extraordinary
Aviators Extraordinary
British TPs and FTEs were photographed at a recent reunion by the Editor of the Aeroplane magazine and published in the August 06 issue. The 59 ageing aviators photographed have made enormous contributions to aircraft development and safety. The numbers would have been more than doubled but for the sacrifices made by so many of their compatriots when flight testing to and beyond the limits. Can anyone provide names to the 25 in the back row and the 34 in the front row ? |
Milt,
I would be interested to see the photograph, and also a list of the names if you receive a response. Best wishes Neil |
Sad to hear that Dickie Martin who is in the picture mentioned above (he is the chap with the eye patch) passed away recently. I worked with him for a number of years. A true aviator.
God bless you Dickie. Temps |
tp phot.
Originally Posted by Milt
(Post 2883464)
Aviators Extraordinary
British TPs and FTEs were photographed at a recent reunion by the Editor of the Aeroplane magazine and published in the August 06 issue. The 59 ageing aviators photographed have made enormous contributions to aircraft development and safety. The numbers would have been more than doubled but for the sacrifices made by so many of their compatriots when flight testing to and beyond the limits. Can anyone provide names to the 25 in the back row and the 34 in the front row ? I too would like to see the phot. Is it in the Aeroplane mag? In the UK the tp/fte list is slowly but steadily reducing.... |
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...sandMartin.jpg
Ken Wallis and Dickie Martin http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...TSONLYcrop.jpg Reid Simpson Pass Farley Wallis Martin Blackman Pass Henley |
Excuse my ignorance - is Ken Wallis the gentleman who holds records for flights in his own design Gyrocopter(?) which featured in an early James Bond film? Whether he is or not it is good to see such a collection of vintage aviators!
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Yes, that is the man
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John
Thanks for the close up photo of Dickie. Temps |
A few more names
A few more names to that photo in Aeroplane, August 2006:-
Rear Row, counting from the left: 1) David Lockspeiser, 3) Neville Duke, 7) George Aird Front Row, counting from the left: 7) Mike Goodfellow, 9) Des Penrose, 12) Winkle Brown |
Katrina
I'm not quite sure I'm in the right place, but here goes.
Saw the picture of Dicky Martin and thought you might like to know (possibly do know already) that there is a Memorial Service being held for him in Cheltenham College Chapel on Sunday 26th November at 2.00pm. Similarly (you may well already be aware) that John Charnley, ex RAE Farnborough, Martlesham Heath and Bedford is giving a lecture on 'The Contribution of RAE to All-Weather Landing' to the Farnborough Branch of the RAeS on Tuesday 5th December at 7.30. It may be of interest to those of you nostalgic for the RAE of the 50s and 60s. |
Thankful to have some responses to my efforts to name the 59 superb aviators in the photo taken recently at Popham airfield on the occasion of a reunion of TPs and FTEs.
Dick Richardson, Popham airfield manager, has provided a listing of attendees of the reunion dinner. I have undertaken the task of identifying each of the 59 for posterity. Sadly the suriving numbers are dwindling but "We Will Remember Them" The photo is very wide angle to cover the two rows but resolution is high as indicated by the above extracts. Will chop the photo in half and rediscover the method for posting photos. There are 25 in the back row and 34 in front. Watch this space for a listing of the male attendees. |
Milt
I do realise that you volunteered to undertake a huge task but wonder if you have any results to share with us yet. |
Here are my observations on the line up of TP,s at the reunion
Test Pilot Reunion Back Row L-R David Lockspeiser,Geoff Worrall, Neville Duke,?, Bob Thompson, ?,George Aird,?,Brian Wilby,??,?,?,?,?,?,?,Duncan Simpson,Alistair Christie,John Farley,Chris Roberts,Eric Brown,Roy Rafdord,?,? Front Row L-R ?,John Fairey,Alan Smith,Sox Hosegood,Mike Oliver,?,Mike Goodfellow, ?,Jimmy Dell, ?,?,?,?,Brian Powell,Malcom Muir, John Allam, ?,Harry Rayner, ?,Peter Baker, ?,?,Peter Ayerst, Ken Wallis,Dickie Martin, Tony Blackman,Desmond Penrose, Peter Henley, Tommy Thompson,Sir David Evans,?,Roger Topp,Jack Sherburn,Alex Henshaw Cheers Neil |
A few ? removed
Back Row L-R David Lockspeiser,Geoff Worrall, Neville Duke,?, Bob Thompson, ?,George Aird,?,Brian Wilby,?,Dave Southwood, Clive Rustin?,?,Sir Charles Masefield,?,Jock Reid,Duncan Simpson,Alistair Christie,John Farley,Chris Roberts,Eric Brown,Roy Radford,?,? Front Row L-R Roy Moxam,John Fairey,Alan Smith,Sox Hosegood,Mike Oliver,Vic Lockwood,Mike Goodfellow, ?,Jimmy Dell, ?,?,?,Len Houston,Brian Powell,Malcom Muir, John Allam, Dick Whittington,Harry Rayner, ?,Peter Baker,Geoff Cairns,?,Peter Ayerst, Ken Wallis,Dickie Martin, Tony Blackman,Desmond Penrose, Peter Henley, Tommy Thompson,Sir David Evans,Reggie Spiers,Roger Topp,Jack Sherburn,Alex Henshaw 14 to go! |
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Rear row, last but one on the right - Mike Brooke
lm |
Latest Listing
Further help needed to name the unknowns. POPHAM TEST PILOTS' GROUP PHOTO as of 18 Feb 07 REAR ROW FROM LEFT 1 DAVID LOCKSPEISER 2 GEOFF WORRALL 3 NEVILLE DUKE No 4 Course ETPS 1946 4 5 BOB THOMPSON 6 7 GEORGE AIRD 8 9 BRIAN WILBY 10 11 DAVE SOUTHWOOD 44 ETPS 1985 12 CLIVE RUSTIN 20 ETPS 1961 13 14 15 SIR CHARKES MASEFIELD 16 17 JACK REID 18 DUNCAN SIMPSON 45 ETPS 1986 19 ALISTAIR CHRISTIE 14 ETPS 1955 20 JOHN FARLEY 22 ETPS 1963 21 CHRIS ROBERTS 36 ETPS 1977 22 ERIC BROWN 23 ROY RADFORD 18 ETPS 1959 24 MIKE BROOKE 34 ETPS 1975 25 FRONT ROW FROM LEFT 1 ROY MOXAM 18 ETPS 1959 2 JOHN FAIRLEY 3 ALAN SMITH 4 SOX HOSEGOOD 5 MIKE OLIVER 6 VIC LOCKWOOD 34 ETPS 1975 7 MIKE GOODFELLOW 16 ETPS 1957 8 9 JIMMY DELL 10 11 12 13 LEN HOUSTON 14 BRIAN POWELL 15 MALCOM MUIR 16 JOHN ALLUM 17 DICK WHITTINGTON 9 ETPS 1950 18 HARRY RAYNER 19 20 PETER BAKER 12 ETPS 1953 21 GEOFF CAIRNS 22 23 PETER AYERST 24 KEN WALLIS 25 DICKIE MARTIN 4 ETPS 1946 26 TONY BLACKMAN 13 ETPS 1954 27 DESMOND PENROSE 17 ETPS 1958 28 PETER HENLEY 29 TOMMY THOMPSON 25 ETPS 1966 30 SIR DAVID EVANS 31 REGGIE SPIERS 14 ETPS 1955 32 ROGER TOPP 10 ETPS 1951 33 JACK SHERBURN 34 ALEX HENSHAW |
18 DUNCAN SIMPSON 45 ETPS 1986 If so, I suggest the ETPS Course No. and date is a mistake. |
One correction and one addition..
No. 24 is W.J. (Tone) Hancock No. 25 is Ralph Kohn Yes that is THE Duncan Simpson so the EPTS info is wrong!.. Regards.. |
After correcting a few spelling errors and checking of ETPS details I believe this is now the best list we have so far. If anybody can spot errors of fill in blanks please do so
REAR ROW FROM LEFT 1 DAVID LOCKSPEISER 2 GEOFF WORRALL 3 NEVILLE DUKE No 4 Course ETPS 1946 4 5 BOB THOMPSON 6 7 GEORGE AIRD 8 9 BRIAN WILBY 10 11 DAVE SOUTHWOOD 44 ETPS 1985 12 CLIVE RUSTIN 20 ETPS 1961 13 14 15 SIR CHARLES MASEFIELD 16 17 JOCK REID 30 ETPS 1971 18 DUNCAN SIMPSON 19 ALISTAIR CHRISTIE 14 ETPS 1955 20 JOHN FARLEY 22 ETPS 1963 21 CHRIS ROBERTS 36 ETPS 1977 22 ERIC BROWN 23 ROY RADFORD 18 ETPS 1959 24 W.J. HANCOCK 25 RALPH KOHN FRONT ROW FROM LEFT 1 ROY MOXAM 18 ETPS 1959 2 JOHN FAIREY 3 ALAN SMITH 4 SOX HOSEGOOD 5 MIKE OLIVER 6 VIC LOCKWOOD 34 ETPS 1975 7 MIKE GOODFELLOW 16 ETPS 1957 8 9 JIMMY DELL 10 11 12 13 LEN HOUSTON 14 BRIAN POWELL 15 MALCOM MUIR 16 JOHN ALLAM 17 DICK WHITTINGTON 9 ETPS 1950 18 HARRY RAYNER 19 20 PETER BAKER 12 ETPS 1953 21 GEOFF CAIRNS 15 ETPS 1956 22 23 PETER AYERST 24 KEN WALLIS 25 DICKIE MARTIN 4 ETPS 1946 26 TONY BLACKMAN 13 ETPS 1954 27 DESMOND PENROSE 17 ETPS 1958 28 PETER HENLEY 29 TOMMY THOMPSON 30 SIR DAVID EVANS 31 REGGIE SPIERS 14 ETPS 1955 32 ROGER TOPP 10 ETPS 1951 33 JACK SHERBURN 34 ALEX HENSHAW JF |
Here are a few more to the list that i have identified, well done to John for adding the ETPS courses as well, thats excellent
REAR ROW FROM LEFT 1 DAVID LOCKSPEISER 2 GEOFF WORRALL 3 NEVILLE DUKE No 4 Course ETPS 1946 4 ERIC BUCKLOW 5 BOB THOMPSON 6 MICHAEL TURNER 7 GEORGE AIRD 8 9 BRIAN WILBY 10 11 DAVE SOUTHWOOD 44 ETPS 1985 12 CLIVE RUSTIN 20 ETPS 1961 13 14 15 SIR CHARLES MASEFIELD 16 17 JOCK REID 30 ETPS 1971 18 DUNCAN SIMPSON 19 ALISTAIR CHRISTIE 14 ETPS 1955 20 JOHN FARLEY 22 ETPS 1963 21 CHRIS ROBERTS 36 ETPS 1977 22 ERIC BROWN 23 ROY RADFORD 18 ETPS 1959 24 W.J. HANCOCK 25 RALPH KOHN FRONT ROW FROM LEFT 1 ROY MOXAM 18 ETPS 1959 2 JOHN FAIREY 3 ALAN SMITH 4 SOX HOSEGOOD 5 MIKE OLIVER 6 VIC LOCKWOOD 34 ETPS 1975 7 MIKE GOODFELLOW 16 ETPS 1957 8 9 JIMMY DELL 10 11 12 ALAN BAVIN 13 LEN HOUSTON 14 BRIAN POWELL 15 MALCOM MUIR 16 JOHN ALLAM 17 DICK WHITTINGTON 9 ETPS 1950 18 HARRY RAYNER 19 20 PETER BAKER 12 ETPS 1953 21 GEOFF CAIRNS 15 ETPS 1956 22 NICHOLAS GOODHART 23 PETER AYERST 24 KEN WALLIS 25 DICKIE MARTIN 4 ETPS 1946 26 TONY BLACKMAN 13 ETPS 1954 27 DESMOND PENROSE 17 ETPS 1958 28 PETER HENLEY 29 TOMMY THOMPSON 30 SIR DAVID EVANS 31 REGGIE SPIERS 14 ETPS 1955 32 ROGER TOPP 10 ETPS 1951 33 JACK SHERBURN 34 ALEX HENSHAW Cheers Neil |
9 famous names to go.
Perhaps we can add to the value of the list by one liners describing the major achievments of each. Alex Henshaw - Production and experimental flight tests on most of the Spitfires produced. John Farley - tell us yourself John. MC |
.. just about makes us mere mortal folks want to go and sit in a dark corner for a week or so ...
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Milt,
I was so lucky to attend the re-union at Boscombe back in '93. Purely as a guest. It was probably the most privileged experience of my life seeing TP's that I had read about and whose experiences I had marvelled at let alone their displays at Farnborough in years gone by. The banter was just amazing - such fertile minds, but I guess you had to have same to not only survive but also to deal with what then were somewhat frequent tragedies and friends lost. The modern travelling public owe so much to those of you whose testing has made modern air travel so safe & reliable. |
John Tullamarine - our worthy Moderator
Come out of your dark corner. Some of us know that you could have been on the list had you attended Popham. |
Just a 'minimal' couple of paras on John in the link to his Harrier lecture, Milt.
Eternal memories of watching his Farnborough Harrier 'manoeuvres' - and the pleasure of seeing him again just before Christmas + Duncan Simpson the year before. A great thread here with outstanding people. |
From another forum
It is with great sadness that I post on the Forum that Alex Henshaw died in his sleep last night. He was 94 and looking forward, as ever, at new projects. Michael Turner and I were with him on Thursday and he was in excellent spirits, apart from his great concern for one of his beloved dogs (Purdey) who was under the weather. Alex was one of the greatest pilots of all time. His pre-war record breaking flights have gone down in history and some of them will never be broken. His remarkable wartime career with Vickers Supermarine, flying Spitfires, Lancasters and other types as required made him a legend. He never lost his love for flying and was delighted when he was able to fly in the two-seat Spitfire, which he took control of once airborne, on more than one occasion recently. Alex Henshaw will always be remembered by all aviation minded people. We send our deepest sympathy to his son Alex Jnr and his family. The funeral will be family only. Please respect Alex's wishes. Only met him once, a real gent, |
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I never knew the gentleman, but just look at the glint in his eye! He looks like a right chracter. RIP
Rgds Dr I |
SQ Ldr Neville Duke
Sadly being reported elsewhere;
Neville Duke passed away on Saturday 7th April He died in Hospital after landing at Popham and collasped shortly after. My condolences to His Wife and Family.. Nik We will miss him at Dunsfold. I placed this sad information here due to the thread content. |
Neville Duke LINK
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I was very sad to learn that Neville Duke passed away on Saturday.
He was truly one of the great British Pilots and such a gentleman.He always made time to answer my questions and offer information and encouragement to my Test Pilot Tribute site. It was an honour to have known such a wonderful,modest and sincere gentleman. I received a letter from Neville 2 weeks ago, thanking me for sending him copies of the signed Dinner Menu and cartoon from the Royal Aero Club dinner in 1954 which honoured his World Speed Record. He said he was very pleased to take a trip down memory lane,and reminisced about that evening. My thoughts go out to his family and friends Neil |
Sadly we've lost another - Jimmy Harrison
I was very sad to learn that we have lost yet another 'Aviator Extraordinary'.
Former AVRO CTP, Jimmy Harrison, died on the 16th April 2007. Link to his Obituary |
Sorry about the late Post but I've just returned from a long weekend away. Very sad news about one of my childhood heroes.
Not wishing to detract from the spirit of the obituary, I regret that the drafting journo could have been more factually correct. The only Vulcan I can recall being lost in the circumstances described, Taking off from Avro's Woodford aerodrome, near Stockport in July 1957 Harrison lost all control at 200ft, due to a total electrical failure, with no hope of being able to land safely. One of his crew, Bob Hodgson, now 88, described to me how Harrison skilfully nursed the aircraft up to 16,000ft to provide them with time to escape, before ejecting himself. The Vulcan then crashed harmlessly on a Yorkshire farm. "We owe our lives," said Hodgson, "entirely to his skill and knowledge of the aircraft." |
The world is too big, and life is too short....
With Jim Harrison, yet somebody else is gone, that I would have liked to meet over a pint, or maybe hear a lecture from. Has somebody written a biography of him? |
ChristiaanJ,
There's an excellent article on Jimmy Harrison's career in the November edition of 'Aeroplane' magazine, writen by former colleague and friend Tony Blackman. G_B_Z, The article also mentions the incident with XA891, and confirms your comment about the date - 24 July 1959. |
Popham Photograph
This is a very late post because I have only just discovered the Forum.
For m5dnd's benefit, The ETPS info is not wrong: ETPS never had any info on Duncan Simpson because Duncan was never a student at the school! |
J. B. 'Tommy' Thompson
It's my sad duty to inform you that Tommy passed away on Tuesday, July the 24th after a fight with cancer that prevented his getting up for the past six-odd weeks. He would have been 91 in September.
Tommy will be remembered most recently for having flown restored Seafire SX336 on her maiden flight ('Seafire flies again'), but for a detailed account of his wartime career please refer here: PORTSMOUTH MEMORIES Tommy's funeral will take place at Portchester Crematorium on August the 7th at 12 noon. My deepest sympathy goes to his wife Joan, his family, and many friends. R.I.P. Tommy |
David Lockspeiser RIP
Forwarded message:
"David has flown his last flight. He died on Sunday March 23rd peacefully at home with us at his side and other family members nearby. David had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for several years. Thanks to his fighting spirit and excellent care he lived longer and better than expected. By last Sunday the time had come for him to use the ejector seat. The funeral will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday April 9th at Aldershot Crematorium, Guildford Rd, Aldershot, Hampshire GU12 4BP and will followed by a gathering nearby. No flowers please. Those wishing to may make a donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund here or by sending a cheque to them at 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR. David had a wide network of friends and contacts and pursued his interests through several organisations and clubs. Please feel free to forward this email to others who may like to know." |
David's obit from today's Daily Telegraph
David Lockspeiser - obituary - Telegraph
I remember meeting David (and as a 15 year old) sitting in the cockpit of the LDA01 at Farnborough when Dickie Martin was doing some test flying. A fantastic day for an aviation-mad teenager! MB |
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