Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
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Thanks for taking the time to check in here, Danny, when you have so much more to think about. Have a cyber-hug from Virginia, via the wonderful world-wide web of crewroom friendship 
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I totally concur with everything said, remember you are not alone, we are all here for you Danny.
Danny
I have just come in from walking our dog, there seems to be an awful lot of dust in the air this morning.
The words of the poem will help me respond better to a great friend's loss - my Herc mate lost his wife 6 weeks ago, ( he is 20 years younger than you and she was 67 ) and he is coming to stay for the night next Monday. Chugalug may remember Ron J*****y as they overlapped, as skippers, on 30 Sqn for 6 months or so.
Another Herc' mate Chug will remember from their Hastings days, Sir J C, also lost his soul mate earlier this year - I don't know why but it seems that it is not the natural order of things for a man to be widowed.
Still thinking of you Danny, take care.
The words of the poem will help me respond better to a great friend's loss - my Herc mate lost his wife 6 weeks ago, ( he is 20 years younger than you and she was 67 ) and he is coming to stay for the night next Monday. Chugalug may remember Ron J*****y as they overlapped, as skippers, on 30 Sqn for 6 months or so.
Another Herc' mate Chug will remember from their Hastings days, Sir J C, also lost his soul mate earlier this year - I don't know why but it seems that it is not the natural order of things for a man to be widowed.
Still thinking of you Danny, take care.
Danny, that the many expressions of sympathy here have at least been of some comfort to you is in turn an enormously positive comment on this amazing media by which we are united in our virtual crewroom. There are so many negative stories about the evils of the internet and yet it can just as easily become a fantastic power for the good. Here we have now encompassed that power and aimed it squarely at our beloved Senior Pilot. Not an obit but a Master Green endorsement, Sir!
B48N, I am sorry to hear of past colleagues that have also lost their soul mates. It is a hard blow indeed and please pass on my sincere condolences to them if you would be so kind. The comradeship of service was always a two edged sword because it meant that you also felt the pain when such comradeship was cruelly severed. This happened within mere months of my entry's graduation in 1962, and continued on and off thereafter. I fear it is more on these days than off, but I wouldn't have wished to be denied that Bond of Friendship that service bequeathed us all. We are all united and blessed by it!
Chug
B48N, I am sorry to hear of past colleagues that have also lost their soul mates. It is a hard blow indeed and please pass on my sincere condolences to them if you would be so kind. The comradeship of service was always a two edged sword because it meant that you also felt the pain when such comradeship was cruelly severed. This happened within mere months of my entry's graduation in 1962, and continued on and off thereafter. I fear it is more on these days than off, but I wouldn't have wished to be denied that Bond of Friendship that service bequeathed us all. We are all united and blessed by it!
Chug
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Danny's back in town !
Well put (as always), Chugalug. D.
(this put out earlier on "Wg Cdr Gill" Thread):
Danny.
(this put out earlier on "Wg Cdr Gill" Thread):
MPN11, Thank you ! Danny (who has crept, purple with confusion, under the nearest flat stone !)
NigG,
What a marvellous bit of extempore verse - I can't match that !
The King of PPRuNe ? Not bloody likely ! ("....Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown...." ?)
No, it's a democracy here - back to the old cyber-crewroom, chaps, poke the stove, get the kettle on and the cards out - and SHUT THAT DOOR ! It's cold outside !
NigG,
What a marvellous bit of extempore verse - I can't match that !
The King of PPRuNe ? Not bloody likely ! ("....Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown...." ?)
No, it's a democracy here - back to the old cyber-crewroom, chaps, poke the stove, get the kettle on and the cards out - and SHUT THAT DOOR ! It's cold outside !
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Here you go Danny, taken on the weekend with you in mind 
Sorry I couldn't manage a Vengeance, click on them then click again for bigger versions.
Sorry I couldn't manage a Vengeance, click on them then click again for bigger versions.
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Vaguely OT (there's a novelty for this thread) the ATC "Old and Bold" photo library has just been substantially enhanced with a hundred or so Radar Appraoch Control Course photos. A massive technical effort that took the 2 individuals concerned a LOT of time.
I shall eventually, when on a proper computer, search for Danny42C to see if he really was trained, or just launched blind upon an unsuspecting aircrew community. I have, however, seen my RAC Course photo for the first time ... as the sole plt off amidst a bunch of grizzled flt lts, MACR and WOs, all festooned with medal ribbons!
I shall eventually, when on a proper computer, search for Danny42C to see if he really was trained, or just launched blind upon an unsuspecting aircrew community. I have, however, seen my RAC Course photo for the first time ... as the sole plt off amidst a bunch of grizzled flt lts, MACR and WOs, all festooned with medal ribbons!
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Nutloose,
Thank you ! Lovely photographs of a Mk.VC, bulled-up to perfection - the nicest thing that ever flew IMHO.
MPN11,
I'll have you know, Sir, that I'm pukka through and through ! - will look up my old Certificate of Competency (F 5994 ?) and give you chapter and verse - if I can find it.
EDIT: Found it ! ...13/4-1/7/55 42 J.A.T.C. and 14/1-8/3/57 91 G.C.A.OP. (Auth F292s).
Looking forward to a look at the Radar Approach pics (if anyone can scan them from the "Old 'n Bold" library and put them on an ATC Forum). Hope they have a few on the dear old MPN-1 of blessed memory.
Cheers, both,
Danny.
Thank you ! Lovely photographs of a Mk.VC, bulled-up to perfection - the nicest thing that ever flew IMHO.
MPN11,
I'll have you know, Sir, that I'm pukka through and through ! - will look up my old Certificate of Competency (F 5994 ?) and give you chapter and verse - if I can find it.
EDIT: Found it ! ...13/4-1/7/55 42 J.A.T.C. and 14/1-8/3/57 91 G.C.A.OP. (Auth F292s).
Looking forward to a look at the Radar Approach pics (if anyone can scan them from the "Old 'n Bold" library and put them on an ATC Forum). Hope they have a few on the dear old MPN-1 of blessed memory.
Cheers, both,
Danny.
Last edited by Danny42C; 8th Sep 2016 at 17:30. Reason: Addn.
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It my interest you to know you get quoted these days Danny
Wg Cdr A R Hindley RAF (OBE, DFC, AFC) ??)
Wg Cdr A R Hindley RAF (OBE, DFC, AFC) ??)
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Nutloose,
Thank you - just shows, you can't keep a good man down !
"Boss" Hindley (AFC but not DFC) was the best of "Bosses" - even though he did send me off on a bright summer day from Valley to St. Athan in a Spitfire to "pick up some MT spares" - which turned out to be two massive truck brake drums ! (Story on p.181 #3619 and p.182 #3629).
Incredibly small world: some fifty years later we were visiting my brother-in-law in a North Yorkshire Retirement Home. It was a Christmas lunch, and an elderly Indian lady was across the table. Somehow the topic of Alex Hindley's Company came up: "did you ever come across him ?" I asked. "He was my Boss" she replied.
You couldn't invent it!
Danny.
Thank you - just shows, you can't keep a good man down !
"Boss" Hindley (AFC but not DFC) was the best of "Bosses" - even though he did send me off on a bright summer day from Valley to St. Athan in a Spitfire to "pick up some MT spares" - which turned out to be two massive truck brake drums ! (Story on p.181 #3619 and p.182 #3629).
Incredibly small world: some fifty years later we were visiting my brother-in-law in a North Yorkshire Retirement Home. It was a Christmas lunch, and an elderly Indian lady was across the table. Somehow the topic of Alex Hindley's Company came up: "did you ever come across him ?" I asked. "He was my Boss" she replied.
You couldn't invent it!
Danny.
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Danny... we are not allowed to re-post the pictures, I regret. In any case, they are just the course photos, and contain nothing of a technical nature. Sadly the Radar/GCA Op courses only go back to around 130 course. Perhaps another Dead Sea Scroll will be discovered in a Shawbury basement later?
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Dastardly Tricks.
MPN11,
A pity. Never mind. And I would surmise that the Missing Scrolls covered the early years with the old "Bendix" (MPN-1), and when that was replaced at Sleap by the far superior CPN-4, the records of the Bendix Courses followed the old thing into the bin.
On second thoughts, not quite ! There was a Bendix kept in mothballs at Gatow as late as 1961 (and hurriedly put back into service when the Wall went up and a second Airlift was on the cards). A hue and cry went round RAF(G) to find old hairies who could still work the thing.
Many were the tales told of the early days at Sleap, where the dastardly Marshalls pilots (mostly ex-FAA, I hasten to add) would take their Chipmunks and hide behind the Wrekin, refuse to answer the R/T, and reduce some (usually) girl student to floods of hysterical tears, believing she'd killed her man.
Another ploy was when two Chipmunks were under control of one student. 'A' would enter the 'dark area' in the radar shadow of the Wrekin from one direction, 'B' from another. Once out of radar sight, each would do a smart 180, and 'A' would emege on the same heading as 'B'had gone in, and vice versa, and the stude would have two misidents on his/her hands.... How we laughed !
The girls quickly learned never to say "you're in my dark area" - for that provoked unseemly rejoinders.
But they were good days.....................Danny.
A pity. Never mind. And I would surmise that the Missing Scrolls covered the early years with the old "Bendix" (MPN-1), and when that was replaced at Sleap by the far superior CPN-4, the records of the Bendix Courses followed the old thing into the bin.
On second thoughts, not quite ! There was a Bendix kept in mothballs at Gatow as late as 1961 (and hurriedly put back into service when the Wall went up and a second Airlift was on the cards). A hue and cry went round RAF(G) to find old hairies who could still work the thing.
Many were the tales told of the early days at Sleap, where the dastardly Marshalls pilots (mostly ex-FAA, I hasten to add) would take their Chipmunks and hide behind the Wrekin, refuse to answer the R/T, and reduce some (usually) girl student to floods of hysterical tears, believing she'd killed her man.
Another ploy was when two Chipmunks were under control of one student. 'A' would enter the 'dark area' in the radar shadow of the Wrekin from one direction, 'B' from another. Once out of radar sight, each would do a smart 180, and 'A' would emege on the same heading as 'B'had gone in, and vice versa, and the stude would have two misidents on his/her hands.... How we laughed !
The girls quickly learned never to say "you're in my dark area" - for that provoked unseemly rejoinders.
But they were good days.....................Danny.
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Hey Danny, something to make you smile
Vengeance-EZ897
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...-Road-Aircraft
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...ngeances-AN796
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...Z854-Vengeance
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...engeance-AP114
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...ance/TakingOff
Vengeance-EZ897
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...-Road-Aircraft
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...ngeances-AN796
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...Z854-Vengeance
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...engeance-AP114
http://www.rafcommands.com/galleries...ance/TakingOff
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Nutloose,
Thanks !
"...AN796"
What on earth is that thing aticking out of the port leading edge? (probably no armament at all fitted, as nothing in the rear, but in any case wing guns all buried deep in wing).
VV pitot head is on outer tip of stbd wing - good view on last link "...Taking Off"
Danny.
Thanks !
"...AN796"
What on earth is that thing aticking out of the port leading edge? (probably no armament at all fitted, as nothing in the rear, but in any case wing guns all buried deep in wing).
VV pitot head is on outer tip of stbd wing - good view on last link "...Taking Off"
Danny.
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Stanwell,
Got out the magnifying glass (old eyes not so good today). Clearly a thin metal hollow tube in the right place.
You are correct, Sir ! - thank you.
(Used on occasion to make unwelcome appearance on firing) - the gun mountings were not man enough for the job, vibration worked the gun loose. First sign was when the rounds started to touch the tube side on the way out. They imparted enough push to slide the tube slowly forward and out (it did not seem they were locked in position in any way). If you kept on firing (not recommended), or had a "runaway gun", things got worse and the rounds popped out all over the leading edge.
A rare occurance, as you were lucky if the (original fit) 0.300 Brownings got 20 rounds away before a stoppage. That was one reason why all the Mks I and II supplied to you and to us in India had the rear two replaced with British 0.303s. Also, the 0.303 was a "open-bolt" gun, so could not (should not ?) runaway unless the trigger was pressed or defective. We did not bother with the front ones, as they were hardly ever used.
Don't know anything about the 0.50s in the Mk.IV.
Danny.
Got out the magnifying glass (old eyes not so good today). Clearly a thin metal hollow tube in the right place.
You are correct, Sir ! - thank you.
(Used on occasion to make unwelcome appearance on firing) - the gun mountings were not man enough for the job, vibration worked the gun loose. First sign was when the rounds started to touch the tube side on the way out. They imparted enough push to slide the tube slowly forward and out (it did not seem they were locked in position in any way). If you kept on firing (not recommended), or had a "runaway gun", things got worse and the rounds popped out all over the leading edge.
A rare occurance, as you were lucky if the (original fit) 0.300 Brownings got 20 rounds away before a stoppage. That was one reason why all the Mks I and II supplied to you and to us in India had the rear two replaced with British 0.303s. Also, the 0.303 was a "open-bolt" gun, so could not (should not ?) runaway unless the trigger was pressed or defective. We did not bother with the front ones, as they were hardly ever used.
Don't know anything about the 0.50s in the Mk.IV.
Danny.
Nutloose, fascinating pics indeed, thank you! In particular the "Elephants' Graveyard" at Drigh Road must be a very sad one for you, Danny. Is this where all the RAF ones in India (then) ended up, ie just outside Karachi? Presumably once stripped of props, engines, instruments, radios etc, they then fell to the scrap merchant's axe. At least the Hastings ended up in the main dispersed, as "one off" trainers for various RAF Stations' Fire Sections to practice on and so fulfilling their duty to the very end...
On second thoughts, have I got it all wrong, and are these not being stripped but assembled? The RAF (as against SEAC) roundels might be a clue?
On second thoughts, have I got it all wrong, and are these not being stripped but assembled? The RAF (as against SEAC) roundels might be a clue?
Last edited by Chugalug2; 11th Sep 2016 at 09:18. Reason: Roundels
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Any old Iron ?
Chugalug (#9260),
Yes, in the early days these would have been "British Contract" (ie we'd bought them for scarce (borrowed) dollars). So we could do what we liked with them. In the end all mine (Mk.IIIs) were Lend-Lease; we had to destroy them. I was ordered to chop mine up and burn them where they stood. Luckily wiser counsels prevailed: we flew them to a MU in Nagpur to be scrapped.
Spot on ! These are clearly "fresh off the boat", as evidenced by the protective packing on the front screens, the pristine hand holes along the fuselsge (what does the little notice say ? ["Hand Hold"], I suppose), no sign of SEAC roundels, squadron letters or nose art. Mint condition.
Perhaps this batch were some of the first ones assembled "by guess and by God ", and they hadn't found the (12 ft) propellers (check the box again !) yet. The dark vertical lines on the fuselage have me foxed. Any ideas ?
Cheers, Danny.
...Presumably once stripped of props, engines, instruments, radios etc, they then fell to the scrap merchant's axe...
...On second thoughts, have I got it all wrong, and are these not being stripped but assembled? The RAF (as against SEAC) roundels might be a clue?...
Perhaps this batch were some of the first ones assembled "by guess and by God ", and they hadn't found the (12 ft) propellers (check the box again !) yet. The dark vertical lines on the fuselage have me foxed. Any ideas ?
Cheers, Danny.
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Loved that one... "check the box again".
"The dark vertical lines.."?
Visual indicators to help locate the toe-steps when alighting - particularly for the gunner.
"The dark vertical lines.."?
Visual indicators to help locate the toe-steps when alighting - particularly for the gunner.