SHFNI Stories!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Close to the Arctic Circle
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You must have been very unhappy Flick..
I was there 90-93 as a wet-behind-the-ears PO, first tourist who was guided and tutored by all across the rank spectrum. I met the likes of the sadly late Wally Wilson and Paul Green there who went out of their way to show us young stick monkeys how to properly interact and respect ALL on 72, regardless of rank or trade. Those were defining times of my burgeoning SH career..
I was there 90-93 as a wet-behind-the-ears PO, first tourist who was guided and tutored by all across the rank spectrum. I met the likes of the sadly late Wally Wilson and Paul Green there who went out of their way to show us young stick monkeys how to properly interact and respect ALL on 72, regardless of rank or trade. Those were defining times of my burgeoning SH career..
Flick you ask for ''bites'' well all I can say is you must have been very unhappy with your posting for some reason that you do not elude to. I served 4 tours on 72, including the time you were there. At no time during those times do I recall the feeling that you have and never received anything but true friendship and respect between those of us that flew and those who didn't whether engineers, stores or admin. I served with both of the two venerable gentlemen mentioned both in UK and Hong Kong and although I could not attend Wally's funeral I was certainly at Paul's which was attend by aircrew and groundcrew alike, such was the respect he commanded.
Your comment about SAR also doesn't ring true as the majority of the aircrew were SH through and through, SAR was our secondary role although it did demand a priority when called for. As for elderly Warrant Officers, I was a Master when I departed before Christmas 91 to set up 60 Sqn at Benson at the grand old age of 38. If you truly did find it bad well maybe if you join the 72 Association, you might find it is one of the most successful of the Sqn associations consisting as it does of both aircrew and groundcrew alike.
Your comment about SAR also doesn't ring true as the majority of the aircrew were SH through and through, SAR was our secondary role although it did demand a priority when called for. As for elderly Warrant Officers, I was a Master when I departed before Christmas 91 to set up 60 Sqn at Benson at the grand old age of 38. If you truly did find it bad well maybe if you join the 72 Association, you might find it is one of the most successful of the Sqn associations consisting as it does of both aircrew and groundcrew alike.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
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I did a tour as a JT and later as a pilot. On duty I was Sir and in the bar my old shiftmates called me John (unless the boss was there). We are all still Facebook friends now. Flick, I’m really sorry that you experienced what you did, you should get to an association do to see if it has changed.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wiltshire
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https://www.crumlinroadgaol.com/late...lin-road-gaol/
Yesterday, Crumlin Road Gaol took delivery of a decommissioned Westland Wessex helicopter from RAF Aldergrove. The Wessex XR 529 ‘ECHO’ will be the focal point of a new tour being launched at the 5 star visitor attraction in 2019.Carefully guided into placed beside the Sanger at D Wing the Westland Wessex HC Mk2 Helicopter will be on display to visitors. It will give them an insight into the happenings during the conflict in Northern Ireland and tell the story which the British Army and RAF played both at the jail and in the wider community.Once an iconic feature of the skyline in Northern Ireland the Westland Wessex XR 529 ‘ECHO’ was part of a batch of 30 HC2s built by Westland Aircraft Ltd. They were operated by 72 Squadron at RAF Aldergrove until 2002. 72 Squadron served in an Army support role and the Wessex was used as troop carrier for up to 16 passengers. XR 529 ‘ECHO’ was decommissioned and displayed as the RAF Aldergrove Gate Guardian on 16th May 2003.Phelim Devlin, Director at Crumlin Road Gaol commented “After several months of planning we are excited to finally see the Wessex arrive at Crumlin Road Gaol. The Wessex Helicopter will play an important part in the next phase of development at the jail.”He continued “2019 will see the launch of a brand new tour at Crumlin Road Gaol which will cover all aspects of the more recent history here at this site and in the local area including the insights from security services, loyalists and republicans sides. This tour will provide an enhanced visitor experience at our 5 star visitor attraction in addition to contributing and enriching the growing tourism industry here in Belfast.”RAF Northern Ireland Community Relations Officer Wing Commander Tara Scott said: “At the end of the Royal Air Force’s centenary year, we are pleased that the Wessex is moving to a new home where it will be on display to the public. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn the history of a helicopter that served the RAF for over 40 years from 1961 to 2002 including in a search and rescue role.”Crumlin Road Gaol is one of Belfast’s leading visitor attractions and since opening it has welcomed more than 900,000 visitors. Known as ‘The Crum’ by locals the prison was built in 1845 and closed in 1996. After extensive renovations the gaol re-opened as a visitor attraction and conference centre in 2012. Today the attraction offers guided tours daily from 10am – 4.30pm which allows the public to explore within the walls and hear the history of the prison and its inmates. The site also boasts a quirky restaurant, Cuffs Bar and Grill, The Crum coffee shop and hosts #LiveAtTheCrum concert nights on a regular basis.
Gentleman Aviator
Landed in Crumlin Road gaol a few times in the Mighty Wessex in the early 70s, when we were flying internees about. Must check the logbook to see if any of my trips were in 529.
Knowing me, I've probably still got the maps somewhere with the "Holidaymakers" routes marked on them. Crumlin Road, Ballyrkinler, The Kesh and Magilligan. And of course, not forgetting HMS Maidstone alongside at Belfast........
Maybe the Museum would like the maps if I find them!
Knowing me, I've probably still got the maps somewhere with the "Holidaymakers" routes marked on them. Crumlin Road, Ballyrkinler, The Kesh and Magilligan. And of course, not forgetting HMS Maidstone alongside at Belfast........
Maybe the Museum would like the maps if I find them!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
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Crumlin Road, Ballyrkinler, The Kesh and Magilligan. And of course, not forgetting HMS Maidstone alongside at Belfast........
Just a numbered other
Jailbird Wessex
Ta for remembering 845 Naval Air Squadron then!
Mind you...... We did remove the ‘Royal Navy’ from our fuselages for some reason!
Mind you...... We did remove the ‘Royal Navy’ from our fuselages for some reason!
Gentleman Aviator
We did remove the ‘Royal Navy’ from our fuselages for some reason!
The only time I recall "Royal Navy" being removed/obscured from a Wessex 5 was the one that "fell over" at Otterburn on Sky Warrior in '72. It was trucked out on a RAF Queen Mary, but - for some reason (!!) - hid its provenance.........
25 Years of Silence
It’s been 25 years now, anyone going to own up as the “Phantom [email protected]”, the one that adorned Mr Blobby’s staff car with a new bonnet mascot.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Everywhere
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Gentleman Aviator
It’s been 25 years now, anyone going to own up as the “Phantom [email protected]”, the one that adorned Mr Blobby’s staff car with a new bonnet mascot.
OC Police replies : "What makes you think it was the other Sqn?????"
Oh how I larfed (silently of course).
(Forensic question: Does poo have DNA? Technically it's never been inside the body, only in the alimentary canal, which is - ahem - open at both ends.)
[Edited to add:] I suppose if the Chalfonts were bleeding there would be some blood; ergo DNA.......
Last edited by teeteringhead; 29th Jan 2019 at 13:14. Reason: Further forensic thoughts.......
Hi all,
I’m about to start a 1/32 Revell Puma and I’m planning on a NI rolled cab in the Green/Grey/black scheme in the 80’s. I am inclined to do a P2 cab with the GPMG and Nitesun fitted. I have a few questions but cannot find any info out there, but was advised to look at this forum and read this thread and ask accordingly.
Does anybody have any photo’s of the armoured seats that were fitted when the cab arrived in the province?
How many aircrew would routinely fly in the cab on ops?
There will be more questions I suspect as I like to get these details correct.
great recollections and it’s made me laugh over the couple of days it’s taken me to read all these pages. I’m ex-RAF and served at Aldergrove 88-91, 92-95 & 98-01.
Steve.
I’m about to start a 1/32 Revell Puma and I’m planning on a NI rolled cab in the Green/Grey/black scheme in the 80’s. I am inclined to do a P2 cab with the GPMG and Nitesun fitted. I have a few questions but cannot find any info out there, but was advised to look at this forum and read this thread and ask accordingly.
Does anybody have any photo’s of the armoured seats that were fitted when the cab arrived in the province?
How many aircrew would routinely fly in the cab on ops?
There will be more questions I suspect as I like to get these details correct.
great recollections and it’s made me laugh over the couple of days it’s taken me to read all these pages. I’m ex-RAF and served at Aldergrove 88-91, 92-95 & 98-01.
Steve.
Is that the old Puma in the civi scheme on the box lid or the later kit, I ask as the later on the BGS is improved over the original with a new load pole etc and bar the decals has all the parts to do the orignal cab plus it has the option of the later intakes.
useful link
Matchbox 1/32nd Puma
https://steemit.com/planes/@crypto-b...raf-aldergrove
GMPG Mounting
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...pmg-and-mount/
https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.or...helicopter-hc1
Wasn't the pilots armour a strap on chest plate that curved around the torso?
second thoughts is this them?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Puma-Airc...-/183965897720
useful link
Matchbox 1/32nd Puma
https://steemit.com/planes/@crypto-b...raf-aldergrove
GMPG Mounting
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...pmg-and-mount/
https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.or...helicopter-hc1
Wasn't the pilots armour a strap on chest plate that curved around the torso?
second thoughts is this them?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Puma-Airc...-/183965897720
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Apr 2020 at 09:34.
Thanks for replying Nutloose.
The kit I have is indeed the later kit in the tiger scheme, not seen very often nowadays so grabbed it when I found one a few years ago.
The Ulster Aviation is a good find thank you and the Britmodeller again cheers.
i have been informed the Seats were fitted when the cab arrived. I also found those seats but they look handed as the starboard shoulder is bigger than the port side. Are they all right hand seats or do those seats do both positions?
The kit I have is indeed the later kit in the tiger scheme, not seen very often nowadays so grabbed it when I found one a few years ago.
The Ulster Aviation is a good find thank you and the Britmodeller again cheers.
i have been informed the Seats were fitted when the cab arrived. I also found those seats but they look handed as the starboard shoulder is bigger than the port side. Are they all right hand seats or do those seats do both positions?
