228 OCU Query
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Now here's a challenge from that era - does anybody remember Horace the aircrew coach driver - always there ready to pick you up from debrief and run you back to the coffee bar courtesy of his multi-band radio.
Guess he must be pushing up the daisys now - does anybody know?
Guess he must be pushing up the daisys now - does anybody know?
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I certainly do remember Horace. A true gentleman. And here's the spotter coming out, I do believe it was a Bedford crew bus. Given how old we are now I suspect he's long gone.
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Horace died in the mid 70's. His funeral was attended by many Phantom aviators and groundcrew alike. He was a very kind man - especially to under confident young student aircrew. Some of the aircrew flew from far afield for Horace's send off.
I returned to the OCU for a visit some 3 years after joining my first squadron. Horace met me at the aeroplane, greeted me by name and asked after many others by name.
A lovely guy - absolutely dedicated to helping everybody he possibly could.
I often raise a glass to Horace and shall do tonight.
I returned to the OCU for a visit some 3 years after joining my first squadron. Horace met me at the aeroplane, greeted me by name and asked after many others by name.
A lovely guy - absolutely dedicated to helping everybody he possibly could.
I often raise a glass to Horace and shall do tonight.
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Thankyou for the update - he was indeed a fine character - sad that I was out of the country at the time of his moving on for otherwise I would have been there to pay my respects
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Crikey, it's 36 years since I was a techie on 228 and I remember Horace. A true gentleman in every sense of the word. Talking about the 'older end' (of which I'm very much one myself now!) what happened to Arthur Vine, QFI on 228? I always remember strapping Arthur in when some Luftwaffe F4's were taxying in and Arthur said in his laconic way 'Look at that, I was shooting at those buggers 30 years ago'.
Arthur Vine
Talking of Arthur Vine, he and I diverted to Kinloss sometime around 1977 (in the days when we still flew in the Torso Harness). When we got to the Officers' Mess, Arthur insisted we both went straight into the Bar, still in goon suits, torso harnesses and with bone domes. I couldn't dissuade him and wondered his reasoning until, in a loud voice he asked the general question "Is Arthur Vine here?" I thought he'd finally flipped, but the response came "He's in the Scruffs Bar" to which Arthur (the dad) said "Tell him his Dad's here, would you?"
Arthur Vine (son) was a maritime pilot at Kinloss!
Arthur Vine (son) was a maritime pilot at Kinloss!
Dog Tired
Thats an interesting picture with 2 outboard tanks and a gun. Quite rare to fly that fit as most gunnery was conducted clean wing. My guess would be the QWIs doing air-to-air gunnery off the East Coast.
Also, no-one has mentioned the figure on the patch; he's Spook.
Last edited by fantom; 30th Jul 2010 at 15:22.
Thats an interesting picture with 2 outboard tanks and a gun. Quite rare to fly that fit as most gunnery was conducted clean wing. My guess would be the QWIs doing air-to-air gunnery off the East Coast.
Ah, Arthur Vine a true gent!. We always tried to give him the air tests because we always got a completely dispassionate and accurate account of what the aircraft was doing.
Whoever drew up that table in Post #6 and then published it on the RAF website needs a smack
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As I recall, this was the standard fit for 19 & 92 at Wildenrath. The gun only came off for ACMI.
True. We flew with the gun as standard fit in RAFG but not in UK. Tanks off for ACMI and gunnery in Cyprus and normally in UK if the airspace was close enough. Dropping the gun for ACMI gave a tad extra help against the lower wing loaders. The QWIs needed longer to talk.........................
True. We flew with the gun as standard fit in RAFG but not in UK. Tanks off for ACMI and gunnery in Cyprus and normally in UK if the airspace was close enough. Dropping the gun for ACMI gave a tad extra help against the lower wing loaders. The QWIs needed longer to talk.........................
Last edited by Geehovah; 16th Aug 2010 at 18:49.
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Hi Rhino11, A couple of folk have already mentioned the origins of the 3 sqn 228 OCU. I myself was in 3 sqn 228 OCU from 75 to 78. (I worked in the hangar). 64 Sqn was their reserve number in time of war. I do have a sqn photo from 1976. Hope this works. 1st time on this forum
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Some one tells me that in the days of 228 training both Mud Movers and Air Defenders 1 Sqn was the dark side and 2 Sqn was where the Fighter Mates were trained. Any thoughts.
