RAF Gaydon Victor fox hunt incident
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RAF Gaydon Victor fox hunt incident
What is the story behind the amusing Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Christmas card "Gaydon Incident 1963" by Patricia Forrest GAvA? Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises
(The fox darts in front of a Victor powering up, the jet exhaust and flying ice diverting hounds and hunters). I had the impression security aound V-bombers were quite tight?
Seasons Greetings.
(The fox darts in front of a Victor powering up, the jet exhaust and flying ice diverting hounds and hunters). I had the impression security aound V-bombers were quite tight?
Seasons Greetings.
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...the landed gentry...
Merry Christmas to all, foxes included.
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Its not just the 'Landed Gentry' who hunt.
I would have loved to see a V-bomber spooling up in the snow- but I wasn't even a twinkle in my mother's eye and a twitch in my father's trousers when they were around.
I would have loved to see a V-bomber spooling up in the snow- but I wasn't even a twinkle in my mother's eye and a twitch in my father's trousers when they were around.
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Thanks - a bit of a hornets nest - so to speak. What I was hinting at: There must have been an incident like this, and the painter were told the details. (Yes, i could ask her! Too easy.)
"Station Commanders" around the world had/have their interpretations of what constitutes a "runway incursion" (in modern "yuck-speak"). Could "he" be one of the hunters? (Yes, I know this was probably not near the runways.)
Glad that 12 Sqn, RAF, is still active. "Leads the field". (From the Fairey Fox bomber, that outran the contemporary fighters, I guess?) A bit like the Swedish Lansen target tugs' motto "Semper Primus" = "Always first"?
Best Regards
P.S. Still using the cards, and got some questions back about the motive.
"Station Commanders" around the world had/have their interpretations of what constitutes a "runway incursion" (in modern "yuck-speak"). Could "he" be one of the hunters? (Yes, I know this was probably not near the runways.)
Glad that 12 Sqn, RAF, is still active. "Leads the field". (From the Fairey Fox bomber, that outran the contemporary fighters, I guess?) A bit like the Swedish Lansen target tugs' motto "Semper Primus" = "Always first"?
Best Regards
P.S. Still using the cards, and got some questions back about the motive.
1Hr 20 mins after the thread was started.
It doesn't take long for the jealous whingers to jump in.
Never hunted a fox, not interested, but having seen what they can do, no sympathy.
That may have been true, but one was not allowed to interupt the landed gentry from pursuing their interest of ripping foxes to pieces for the sheer pleasure of it.
Never hunted a fox, not interested, but having seen what they can do, no sympathy.
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So the fox may have been clever in distracting the hunters with the jet exhaust but surely his plan would have been foiled when he was sucked into the intakes and delivered in finely sliced pieces to the waiting hunters.
Reminds me of an incident a few years ago at the Covert Oxonian Aerodrome....
Before they built the lay by at the RW08 threhsold, we'd have to queue for ages to cross the runway, sitting impatiently at the lights next to bay 7 (or 48 or whatever it's now called under Catarrah). One fine day, with lots of people queuing waiting for the lights, along came the local hunt in full chase pursuing 'Charley' outside the fence.
Who, being cunning, knew of a few fox-sized holes in said fence. He squeezed through, then stopped in the middle of the taxiway. He turned to look at the furious hunt, then turned to look at the queue of cars....before squatting and crapping in the middle of the taxiway as if to say "And that to you buggers" before trotting off to wherever he was going.
Brilliant - it was like something out of 'The Ballad of the Belstone Fox'!
Before they built the lay by at the RW08 threhsold, we'd have to queue for ages to cross the runway, sitting impatiently at the lights next to bay 7 (or 48 or whatever it's now called under Catarrah). One fine day, with lots of people queuing waiting for the lights, along came the local hunt in full chase pursuing 'Charley' outside the fence.
Who, being cunning, knew of a few fox-sized holes in said fence. He squeezed through, then stopped in the middle of the taxiway. He turned to look at the furious hunt, then turned to look at the queue of cars....before squatting and crapping in the middle of the taxiway as if to say "And that to you buggers" before trotting off to wherever he was going.
Brilliant - it was like something out of 'The Ballad of the Belstone Fox'!
Last edited by BEagle; 1st Dec 2008 at 10:44.
Objection:
I am not jealous, I too have never hunted a fox, and I have no desire to witness an animal being ripped to shreds for fun.
Why not just shoot the fox with a poisoned dart, quicker, but less 'fun'.
I am not jealous, I too have never hunted a fox, and I have no desire to witness an animal being ripped to shreds for fun.
Why not just shoot the fox with a poisoned dart, quicker, but less 'fun'.
Death from a poisoned dart would be problematic, slow and painful.
A hound kills a fox instantly with its first bite. Really, yes it does. The pack then rip the carcase to bits, which is distressing to onlookers.
I have never hunted, but lived in the country and was exposed to such things when I was young. We considered it normal country pest control.
But those who breed foxes so that they can later kill them deserve nothing but contempt.
The pro-hunting lobby don't really put up very convincing arguments, though and are their own worst enemy. Also, it is the 'ritual' aspect of it all which probably enrages the 'antis' more than anything; 'blooding' youngsters at their first kill is hardly a 21st century contribution to rural pest control, for example.
A hound kills a fox instantly with its first bite. Really, yes it does. The pack then rip the carcase to bits, which is distressing to onlookers.
I have never hunted, but lived in the country and was exposed to such things when I was young. We considered it normal country pest control.
But those who breed foxes so that they can later kill them deserve nothing but contempt.
The pro-hunting lobby don't really put up very convincing arguments, though and are their own worst enemy. Also, it is the 'ritual' aspect of it all which probably enrages the 'antis' more than anything; 'blooding' youngsters at their first kill is hardly a 21st century contribution to rural pest control, for example.
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This is not the thread to re-examine the pros and cons of fox hunting. Suffice it to say that this stalinesk government has ineffectively banned it in the same unenforcable way that they have passed many new laws. The only effective thing they have achieved is to wreck a healthy economy.
PS Ta for the winter fuel allowance that I didn't need - why not find a way to help those who need it.
PS Ta for the winter fuel allowance that I didn't need - why not find a way to help those who need it.
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Note: the horses and hunters are the other side of the fence.
In those days a simple wooden fence was sufficient to keep out spies, saboteurs and other riff-raff - particularly when an airframe was on a remote pan for an engine run. The fox, as can be seen, has nicked through the fence leaving the hunt to look on in exasperation as it makes its getaway.
Chain link fences and barbed wire only started to appear in the early 70s when Paddy started taking pot shots.
Now what could be simpler?
Nothing to see here, move along please.
In those days a simple wooden fence was sufficient to keep out spies, saboteurs and other riff-raff - particularly when an airframe was on a remote pan for an engine run. The fox, as can be seen, has nicked through the fence leaving the hunt to look on in exasperation as it makes its getaway.
Chain link fences and barbed wire only started to appear in the early 70s when Paddy started taking pot shots.
Now what could be simpler?
Nothing to see here, move along please.
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working farmers...
Like the working farmer and his NFU mates who started waffling on about 'acreage' (and our lack of it) when we claimed for damage caused by his cattle.
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In those days a simple wooden fence was sufficient to keep out spies, saboteurs and other riff-raff
..before squatting and crapping ..
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I was a very young co-pilot on Valiants at Wittering in the late 50s. I understood that, just before I arrived, the Burleigh hunt had held up operations when it crossed the airfield in full cry. Apparently, when the land was compulsorily purchased from the Lord of the manor during the war, the scribes failed to include his ancient hunting rights in the paperwork, so the hunt was within its legal rights. I make no claim as to the truth of this story but it was quite current at the time. That may be the source of the painting in question.
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Gaydon Painting.
Much discussion recently about this painting.This is what happened.
I was in the crewroom of "A" squadron , 230 O.C.U.at R.A.F.Gaydon.There was no flying due to the bad weather.A blizzard was blowing outside.A sergeant stuck his head round the door and said there was an instrument problem on XA 941 and to get down there and fix it.I put on my anorak and went outside.I arrived at the aircraft and saw the Warwickshire Hunt milling about in the jet exhaust of the Victor.Large sheets of ice were being picked up and sent spinning towards the riders , horses and hounds.The horses were panicking and there seemed to be much confusion , with the result that the hunt was circulating in the worst part of the ice storm.Chiefy Swinburne , the crewchief , had not seen the riders as he was looking down [due to the weather] and they were hidden by the flying ice.I signalled that he should cut the engines and he then saw the hunt and did so.The rest of the groundcrew had got into the cockpit , pulled up the ladder and shut the door.Only the crewchief [obviously made of sterner stuff] remained outside the aircraft.
I commissioned the painting , and 17 prints of it have so far been sold , and numerous Christmas cards.I was contacted by the ex Station Commander , Group Captain Everitt , who told me of an earlier intrusion by the hunt.Print No.17 was bought by Tom Swinburne [ex Chiefy] and I am told by John Bishop , Master of Hounds and in charge of events at the Heritage Museum at Gaydon , that there is at least one hunter still living that was there.To conclude , the fence was as it is in the painting.
I was in the crewroom of "A" squadron , 230 O.C.U.at R.A.F.Gaydon.There was no flying due to the bad weather.A blizzard was blowing outside.A sergeant stuck his head round the door and said there was an instrument problem on XA 941 and to get down there and fix it.I put on my anorak and went outside.I arrived at the aircraft and saw the Warwickshire Hunt milling about in the jet exhaust of the Victor.Large sheets of ice were being picked up and sent spinning towards the riders , horses and hounds.The horses were panicking and there seemed to be much confusion , with the result that the hunt was circulating in the worst part of the ice storm.Chiefy Swinburne , the crewchief , had not seen the riders as he was looking down [due to the weather] and they were hidden by the flying ice.I signalled that he should cut the engines and he then saw the hunt and did so.The rest of the groundcrew had got into the cockpit , pulled up the ladder and shut the door.Only the crewchief [obviously made of sterner stuff] remained outside the aircraft.
I commissioned the painting , and 17 prints of it have so far been sold , and numerous Christmas cards.I was contacted by the ex Station Commander , Group Captain Everitt , who told me of an earlier intrusion by the hunt.Print No.17 was bought by Tom Swinburne [ex Chiefy] and I am told by John Bishop , Master of Hounds and in charge of events at the Heritage Museum at Gaydon , that there is at least one hunter still living that was there.To conclude , the fence was as it is in the painting.
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ZH875
You sound like a real leftie city dweller, you could write all you know about the countryside on the back of a first class stamp.
Animal rights also on your mind? Anti fur trade and anti vivisection as well?
You sound like a real leftie city dweller, you could write all you know about the countryside on the back of a first class stamp.
Animal rights also on your mind? Anti fur trade and anti vivisection as well?