Bye Bye 72
Join Date: Jan 2001
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As one of the many who spoke to you 72, it has been a pleasure. But what are you leaving us with?. .I heard the party was great on Saturday night, would have been nice to have been invited though!. .Not all us ATCers are mid 50's and even worse male. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> . .Could have had so much fun!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" /> . .. .Lots of luck. CF
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Farewell 72 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> . .. .Best tour I ever did in the Air Force to date, incuding, believe it or not sunny Cyprus. Fantastic flying (even in the rain!), great parties (finished off with a bottle of poteen mostly back on the street) and always a great and professional bunch to work with (except when with the Nav who was only ever lost for the first time - with EACH crewman... Blah! Blah!). .. .It's a shame that a Sqn with such a distinguished (recient) helicopter history has to go (perhaps) fast and pointy, but time moves on.. .. .All the best 72 guys who are finishing up this month. Walter still flies with us until (at least) next March so he's not dead yet!. .. .Yours Aye,. .Hoot and Roar! (I'd add something like RA!RA!RA! Tiger!Tiger! Etc if I knew what noise a scorpion made!). .. .PS Oh Yeah! SHDude - 'Emerald Toilet' - We could really fall out over that term! . .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" /> . .. .PPS 230 Sqn. Your Tiger mascot passed through here reciently on his way to the Middle East, I believe that he was liberated from your crewroom by some 72 Sqn mates. I can report that he was safe and well and that we passed him into good hands in Oman. RA ra. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Cheerio 72,. .. .I had some good times in Omagh and Dungannon a few years back with the chicken leg. Hope to see you in the future with or without the daffey duck!. .. .Fly army! When you can! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
Join Date: Jul 2000
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CF. .. .Are you by any chance one of the lovely young ladies we hosted on 230 / 72 about 3 to 4 months ago when you arrived at EGAA? If you are then trust me, you're welcome in the O's mess anytime.. .. .Gentlemen, berate me if you wish, but you know you were thinking it as well!. .. .EC
The 10 ship just flew over my house. Great sight - people stopped all around gawping at it. Number 9 and 10 were straggling a bit mind.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . .. .WWW
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland
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Just out of interest, I live on the North Down coast and always wondered why the Search and rescue Wessex which frequently buzzed my golf course had a yellow rotor blade? Is/was this a fairly standard thing to do? . .. .It's been sad seeing the helicopters leave. Any plans that 72 Sqn will be reborn with Merlins?. .. .And also, in the event I should go missing at sea some day, how much longer will it take for a Seaking to come from Prestwick or Valley to, say, Belfast?
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Sapcote, Leics
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Gents, talking of all things Wessex, I'm currently researching the history of No 28 Sqn, with a view to writing a history for future publication. Can anyone help with info,. .or dose any body know any ex 28 personnel who maybe interested in this project or even have a contact for the Sqn association?. .. .Regards. .Dave Jackson. .. .mail to. [email protected]
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Death Star
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The single yellow blade was there so we could see them and tell them when to stop and drop off/pick up the blokes/turn left/right etc! Saves them carrying maps..v dangerous. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> . .. .Farewell to a fab sqn, top bunch of blokes and a great old bird. Always preferred working with you chaps as opposed to the big pussies.. sorry Tigers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> Big Gazelle at the end of the day!
In defence of 72, the formation was an eight ship one ... the other two were spares because no one really expected all eight [10] of the old ladies to complete the journey. The spare pair were ragged because they were add-ons ... and they all made it.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Thank god that week is over!! I am now going to sleep for the same amount of time the Wessex was in service. I was part of the formation and can tell you that, when we arrived at Shawbury, there were a few roughty toughties with damp eyes, myself included!! Thanks for all the nice posts about Walter, aren't Wessex brilliant!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />
Join Date: Apr 2001
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an absoult pleasure and a honour! as part of the crew on Foxtrot, i think we all shead a tear on that final close down at Shawbury. many thanks to the guys from Benson, Odiham and Shawbury for helping the week run so smooth!. .Too many memories, too many beers.. .And i don't care what anyone says, she was'nt that fat?!. .. .Long live 72 !!!
Join Date: Mar 2002
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What a party. Goodbye to 72 and the "Mighty Wessex". The weekend at Aldergrove was huge and the departure from V813 brought quite a lump to the throat. It was certainly a sad day to see a Sqn with such a distinguished history disband. Its service in the Province may often have been routine, but it was equally vital and, I know, regularly appreciated. It may have been a while ago, but I am very proud to have served and flown with such a fine Sqn and top people; moreso since after a number of years, the spirit on the Sqn was identical to that which I remember. Thank you very much to 72 for putting in so much effort to make the final weekend such a memorable one, and to all those ex-members who missed it just 'cos they couldn't be ar**d - SHAME ON YOU. Let's hope the old Sqn regains an operational role soon; somebody finds out where the "Big Scotsman" really is and that the "Blond Ones" ribs get better soon.
North Weald Airfield Museum - now the spiritual home of the 72 Squadron Association - have posted a farewell series of photographs of the final overflight of the airfield on that final day at <a href="http://fly.to/northweald" target="_blank">http://fly.to/northweald</a> . .. .It has been great fun - and an honour - spending time with you during your final days at the 'Weald and Benson. May all your future postings be as great fun as 72.
Just a numbered other
Almost tempted to indulge in a spot of crab bating here, but it's not really the place.. .. .Having served alongside 72 in the province some 20 odd years ago, I worked with some good blokes (I suppose that includes the big scotsman if it's who I think it is). Spent a couple of days flying the then RUC chief (Hermon) around in a 72 Sqn wessy 2 with Roy Citrine (lord rest his soul).. .. .Still, the Mk 5 was best, and 845 sadly said goodbye to the Wessex in 1986. Who'd have thought that she would last this long with the light blues. The reason of course being that she was irriplaceable, certainly not bettered by the SK4.. .. .Good luck 72, in whatever guise you reappear.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Now the old lady has gone to her well-deserved rest, what are the plans for preservation in museums? Are the RAF Museum and the IWM Duxford getting one each and, if not, why not?
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: United Kingdom
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Newark Air Museum already have one, complete with a nice 2FTS (red) nose, and the Ulster Aviation Society head the que for one. The politics involved in donating an aircraft for museum use are beyond belief hence thay will no doubt stay at Shawbury pending the scrapman whose money is as good as anybodies. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />
It seems unlikely that there will be many - if any - ex-72 HC2s with museums.. .. .The story goes that the ten [or whatever number remain] will stay tucked away for about a year acting as Christmas Trees to the Cyprus aircraft. When the Cyprus SAR Wessex pass to commercially contracted hands [Bell 412 or AS365N] they will then be sold to work again.. .. .If it is to be a scrapman you can be sure he is South American and not just yet.. .. .I bet Westland are heaving a huge sigh of relief... spares for one of their products for 40 years was definitely not planned!