Coldwar RAF U-2 Pilots
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Fascinating thread! Became acquainted with Taff Taylor at RAF Muharraq, when he was boss of 208 Sqn. He let slip his U2 experience to me in the bar one lunchtime (mandatory p**s - up every day) - and never mentioned it again. I think he might've now departed the patch? And I never realised JF was actually reasonably good-looking in his youth ----
Last edited by jindabyne; 6th Jul 2009 at 10:30. Reason: Just to emphasise the word 'reasonably'
James May from TopGear got a flight...quite interesting to see what he had to go through in 3 days of training....but his long hair length and its overall bushyness and his beer tasting pot belly and taste in fashion were never a question!!
Ive got no hair or pot belly and am roughly the same age!
does that mean i can go up??
Ive got no hair or pot belly and am roughly the same age!
does that mean i can go up??
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Two seat U-2 landing with Richard May - Beale AFB 2009
See .. Richard May landing :: 4 - two seat U-2R landing at Beale AFB 2009 picture by fmhshoes - Photobucket
Note the ice under the cold fuel in the wings .......
See .. Richard May landing :: 4 - two seat U-2R landing at Beale AFB 2009 picture by fmhshoes - Photobucket
Note the ice under the cold fuel in the wings .......
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"Ice under wings " comment
Hmmmm, are you sure you're anything to do with flying?
Lots of aircraft land with ice under the wings, especially when the fuel may still be at - 30 or so.
Lots of aircraft land with ice under the wings, especially when the fuel may still be at - 30 or so.
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ACW599
I have heard lot's of rumours, but have never come across any hard evidence either on the A-12 or SR-71.
Talking about "Gentlemen in black Omegas", in 1968 I installed the very first Police National Computer (PNC) at the Home Office (Police), so had to visit there there quite frequently while they were building up a Database. I would get the Tube to Westminster & walk down Millbank towards the Home Office. I found though, that every time I passed Thorney Street, that there would be guys staring menacinly at me. That was the back of a Government Building so thought that it was just the "Ministry of funny looks" I then found out that it was Thames House & these guys were "Spooks" giving me the evil eye!
I have heard lot's of rumours, but have never come across any hard evidence either on the A-12 or SR-71.
Talking about "Gentlemen in black Omegas", in 1968 I installed the very first Police National Computer (PNC) at the Home Office (Police), so had to visit there there quite frequently while they were building up a Database. I would get the Tube to Westminster & walk down Millbank towards the Home Office. I found though, that every time I passed Thorney Street, that there would be guys staring menacinly at me. That was the back of a Government Building so thought that it was just the "Ministry of funny looks" I then found out that it was Thames House & these guys were "Spooks" giving me the evil eye!
Last edited by VIProds; 16th Jul 2009 at 12:48.
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Did any RAF pilots fly the SR-71?
Appendix 14 to 'Lockheed SR-71 - The Secret Missions Exposed" by Paul Crickmore, published by Osprey in 1993 ISBN: 1 85532 681 7, lists all the pilots and RSOs in the order that they were checked out in the SR-71 from 1965 to 1988.
There are no RAF names on the list and I think it highly unlikely that anyone serving RAF ever joined that select list in secret - if they had, word would have got out by now.
Perhaps someone managed to bag a ride in the SR-71B, but I think that's unlikely as well, given the high demand for the trainer.
Visitation
There are no RAF names on the list and I think it highly unlikely that anyone serving RAF ever joined that select list in secret - if they had, word would have got out by now.
Perhaps someone managed to bag a ride in the SR-71B, but I think that's unlikely as well, given the high demand for the trainer.
Visitation
>I then found out that it was Thames House & these guys were "Spooks" giving me the evil eye!<
Far be it from me to spoil a good story, but MI5 weren't in Thames House in 1968. They moved there in 1994...
...allegedly!
Far be it from me to spoil a good story, but MI5 weren't in Thames House in 1968. They moved there in 1994...
...allegedly!
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ACW599
Thanks for putting me right ACW, so I was right all along it must of been the "Ministry of Funny Looks". Quote from the MI5 Website: "The two blocks of Thames House were aquired by the Government at the end of the 80's & refurbished for use by the Secret Service"........"The Security Service returned to the old Headquarters in December 1994 which it had occupied a few decades before". But this doesn't help us with tartanterror's quest to locate ex RAF pilots that flew U-2's.
Thanks for putting me right ACW, so I was right all along it must of been the "Ministry of Funny Looks". Quote from the MI5 Website: "The two blocks of Thames House were aquired by the Government at the end of the 80's & refurbished for use by the Secret Service"........"The Security Service returned to the old Headquarters in December 1994 which it had occupied a few decades before". But this doesn't help us with tartanterror's quest to locate ex RAF pilots that flew U-2's.
Thanks for that heads up Green Flash, caught the programme this time - brilliant. Particularly impressed with the pilot (forget his name) a typical quiet, unflashy guy, obviously at the top of his trade, the only resemblance to Tom Cruise being his slight stature! Sympathised with May's claustrophia in the helmet - I think it would freak me out as well, was always glad to get my bone dome off at every opportunity.
BTW what sort of gear was worn by the Canberra guys when setting altitude records eventually over 70,000' in the 50's in pre-U2 days - something similar presumably?
BTW what sort of gear was worn by the Canberra guys when setting altitude records eventually over 70,000' in the 50's in pre-U2 days - something similar presumably?
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U2/SR 71/Canberra
An interesting thread indeed! Dick Cloke and Martin Bee were at Cranwell just ahead of me. I often wondered what Martin did in the US. I never met him in later years, but a senior ex-Marham character, supposedly qualified as a navigator, let it out a few times that he flew "no log book" flights with Martin during a US tour. That begs the question what did they fly? The high altitude Canberras? Did Martin progress to the U2 from the Canberra or vice versa? The 'Special relationship' certainly covered some interesting assignments!!
Yes, Him
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Bit confusing there Bob, which Martin? The Cranwell product or the B-57 Canberra maufacturer? Or did one fly t'other as there were no two-seat U-2s way back when?